As the Colombian ignoramus President has elected as his representative of religious affairs a false self-proclaimed rabbi, ( his so called title is available for 150 dollars online, even for dogs, I recently learned). Let’s be reminded of what misleading leaders can provoke.

The phenomena of Shabbtai Tzvi and Jacob Frank represent two significant and controversial rabbis that emerged in the early modern period. Both figures gained substantial followings, promising redemption, only to ultimately lead their followers into chaos and disillusionment.

Shabbtai Tzvi, born in 1626 in Izmir, Turkey, was proclaimed as the Messiah by himself and his followers in 1648. His sudden emergence came during a time of great distress for Jews, marked by pogroms and hardships following the Chmielnicki Uprising in Poland. Tzvi captivated many with his charismatic presence and claims of divine inspiration. He encouraged a type of antinomianism, challenging traditional Jewish laws and practices. This radical shift sought to liberate followers from the confines of halakhic restrictions, promising a direct and personal relationship with the divine.

The movement gained traction across Europe and the Middle East, igniting a fervent belief in an imminent redemptive era. Tzvi’s followers engaged in ecstatic practices and rituals, reflecting a messianic zeal that swept through Jewish communities. However, the hope was shattered in 1666 when Tzvi was confronted by the Ottoman authorities. Faced with the prospect of execution for his beliefs, Tzvi converted to Islam, declaring that he was merely a manifestation of God’s will, but in a different guise. This act of conversion devastated his followers and led to a schism. Many, unable to reconcile the reality of his apostasy with their belief in his messiahship, either abandoned the movement or formed sects that continued to hold onto the messianic vision he had cast.

The legacy of Shabbtai Tzvi set the stage for later messianic figures, including Jacob Frank, who emerged in the mid-18th century. Frank, born in 1726 in what is now Ukraine, was a disciple of Tzvi’s movement and adopted a similar role as a self-proclaimed Messiah. He introduced radical doctrines that combined elements of Tzvi’s ideas with a distinct reinterpreting of Jewish beliefs and practices. Frank’s teachings included the notion of “adopting” the beliefs of other faiths, including Christianity, as a means to achieve salvation.

Like Tzvi’s movement, the Frankist movement attracted a considerable number of followers, particularly among those disillusioned by the traditional Jewish community’s rigidity and the socio-economic upheavals of the time. Frank’s charisma and persuasive rhetoric appealed to many, leading them to embrace his controversial teachings. Nevertheless, this movement, too, was riddled with conflicts and controversies, resulting in condemnation from the Jewish establishment.

In conclusion, Shabbtai Tzvi and Jacob Frank represent two significant yet misleading figures in Jewish history. Their charismatic claims to messianic status and the radical transformations they offered led many to hope for salvation, only to face disillusionment and crisis. Their legacies serve as cautionary tales about the dangers of blind faith in wrong spiritual leadership. The impact of their movements reverberates through Jewish history as reminders of the complexities of faith, identity, and the quest for redemption.

We have now self proclaimed rabbis, and quasi Messias that think they will save the world by extending their governance, Mr Petro is the next self proclaimed Great Bolivarian American saviour, following the steps of dictators Chavez, Peron  and Pinochet that so much pained caused in the Continent, and who will he be anointed by, no other than this “Baptist” rabbi. 

Wake up Colombia !!!