See Also: Frank, Jacob(encyclopedia)
Jacob(dictionary)
Jacob(encyclopedia)
Jacob(dictionary)
Jacob Evertsen(dictionary)
Epstein, Jacob(dictionary)
Lawrence, Jacob(encyclopedia)
Moll, Jacob(medicine)
Perkins, Jacob(encyclopedia)
Jordaens, Jacob(encyclopedia)

Frank, Jacob (sh)




orig. Jacob Leibowicz

born 1726, Berezanka or Korolowka, Galicia, Pol.
died Dec. 10, 1791, Offenbach, Hessen

Jewish false messiah.

He was an uneducated visionary who claimed to be the reincarnation of Shabbetai Tzevi. He proclaimed himself messiah in 1751 and founded the Frankist, or Zoharist, sect, based on the Sefer ha-zohar, which he sought to put in the place of the Torah. The sect rejected traditional Judaism, and their practices, including orgiastic rites, led the Jewish community to excommunicate them in 1756. Protected by Roman Catholic authorities, who hoped Frank would help in the conversion of the Jews, Frank and his followers were baptized in Poland. In 1760 he was imprisoned by the Inquisition, who had realized that Frank's followers regarded Frank, not Jesus, as the messiah. Freed in 1773 by invading Russians, he settled in Germany and lived as a baron until his death.