FRANK, Jacon JOSEPH, 1712-91; b. in Poland; was the founder of a Jewish sect named Frankists, after himself, and Zoharites, after their sacred book. When a young man traveling in the east, the Turks called him a Frank, which was their common appel lation for a European. This surname he always retained. After his return to Poland lie settled in Podolia, where he became famous as a Cabalist and gathered around him many persons skilled in the mystical science, some of whom were rabbis. The doctrine which he taught, drawn from that of the celebrated false Messiah Sabbathai Seri, he published in a book which his followers regarded as inspired of God. The rabbis, becoming jealous, annoyed him in many ways and procured his arrest; but the Roman Catholic clergy obtained his release, and the king authorized him to profess his belief openly. His followers now, in their turn, were severe on their adversaries until they were checked by the opposition of the papal nuncio at Warsaw. Some of them escaped to Moldavia, and others, among whom was Frank himself, professed to embrace Christianity. He was baptized at Warsaw, the king standing by proxy as his sponsor.
Soon afterwards he was charged with heresy and imprisoned. When the Russians invaded Poland (1773), lie was released by then, and finding that his adherents had greatly increased be gathered large collections from them in Poland and Bohemia. From Vienna he went to Brunn in Moravia, where lie lived luxuriously on the money which his followers supplied. On his way to the daily public service, lie rode in a gor geous carriage, followed by persons on splendid horses and in glittering attire. Iu 1780, he removed to Offenbach, where he displayed even greater magnificence, declaring him self to be the messiah, and regarded as immortal by his adherents, until he was stricken down with apoplexy. The sect still exists in Poland, numbering among its members persons in all classes of society.