In the Egalitarian ‘Family’ of Jacob Frank
In the Egalitarian ‘Family’ of Jacob Frank
This chapter discusses the egalitarian impulse that disposed Sabbatianism to promote women to the status of men either on an equal but separate basis or by breaking down traditional gender barriers. It examines the kabbalistic conceptualization of bisexuality as a cosmic principle, which stirred Jacob Frank to a fresh mode of mythical thinking and turned his messianic project into a series of remarkable applications and manipulations of the principle. It also talks about the resultant shifts in the balance of power and scheme of relations between the sexes that applied simultaneously to the divine sphere. The chapter analyses the kabbalistic tradition that had equipped Frank with the basic structure of his mythical universe. It cites the union of the supernal brothers and sisters with their earthly male and female counterparts.
Keywords: Sabbatianism, women, gender barriers, Jacob Frank, divine sphere, bisexuality
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