The religious movement known as Frankism emerged from the claim by Jakub Lejbowicz, later known as Jacob Frank, that he was the reincarnation of the messianic figure Sabbatai Zevi. Born in 1726, Frank rose to prominence in the mid-18th century as a leader who challenged established rabbinical authority through controversial theological assertions and radical social practices.
Early influences and wanderings
Born in Korołówka, Frank moved with his father to the Carpathian region of Bukovina in 1730, where Sabbatean ideas were prevalent. Working as a merchant trading in precious stones and textiles, Frank travelled extensively through Ottoman territories, residing in Salonica and Smyrna. These cities were core centers for the remnants of the Sabbatean movement. By the early 1750s, he had established close ties with leaders of the Sabbatean sect, eventually gaining a following in Podolia after returning in 1755.
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Frank’s teachings, which included self-deification and the belief in purification through transgression, drew immediate ire from Jewish religious authorities. A 1756 gathering in Lanckoroń resulted in a public scandal, as adherents were accused of performing illicit rites. This led to his expulsion from Podolia and a subsequent rabbinical court at Satanów, where the sect faced accusations of violating fundamental moral and religious laws.
Baptism and imprisonment
Seeking a path toward a new religious identity he called 'daas', Frank engaged with the Catholic Church, leading to the mass baptism of his followers in Lwów in 1759. Frank himself underwent baptism with King Augustus III acting as his godfather. Despite this public conversion, ecclesiastical authorities remained skeptical. In 1760, he was arrested in Warsaw and charged with heresy. He spent thirteen years imprisoned in the monastery of Częstochowa, where his isolation served to enhance his standing among his disciples until his death in 1791.
Fast facts
- Born: 1726, Korołówka
- Died: 1791, Offenbach am Main
- Original name: Jakub Lejbowicz
- Primary religious associations: Judaism, Islam, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy
- Baptism name: Joseph
- Imprisonment duration: 13 years
- Burial location: Offenbach am Main
Questions readers ask
What was the core tenet of Frankism?
Frankism was centered on the belief that Jacob Frank was a reincarnation of Sabbatai Zevi and the biblical patriarch Jacob, advocating for redemption through the transgression of traditional laws.
Why was Jacob Frank arrested in 1760?
Following his public conversion to Catholicism, church authorities accused him of teaching heresy, leading to his trial and thirteen-year imprisonment.
Achievements
- Worked as rabbi, astrologer and heresiarch