434) Why was R. Natan Adler of Frankfurt excommunicated?

The anonymous work entitled Ma'aseh Ta'atuim (Act of Deception).

Introduction

This article, based extensively on the research by Professor Rachel Elior,^[1] explores the little-known story of R. Natan Adler of Frankfurt and his Chassidim, who were excommunicated twice, in 1779 and 1789 respectively. These Chassidim of Frankfurt were in some ways similar, but technically unrelated, to the better-known Chassidim of the Baal Shem Tov. 

410) Overview and character of Frankian ideology

 

Jacob Frank's passing in 1791

Introduction

I have always been interested in possible areas of overlap between the three movements of Sabbatianism (under Shabbatai Tzvi), Frankism (under Jacob Frank) and Chassidism (under the Baal Shem Tov) which all emerged relatively at the same period in Jewish history. The last of these movements, the Chassidic movement, presented itself at the very zenith of the Sabbatian and Frankian storm. It is, therefore, important to understand some of this background because it is unlikely that movements suddenly emerge in a vacuum.

This article, based on previous and new research, explores the rather understudied movement known as Frankism.