The Train Wreck part 7

We will now go back to the immediate aftermath of the Shabbatean debacle. As I have written previously, few rabbis of the time dared oppose Shabbetai Tzvi. Most either supported him, or else took a wait and see attitude. The primary opponents to the new heresy were Rabbis Yaakov Sasportas and Tzvi Ashkenazi. Their lives were under constant threat from the Shabbateans, even well after Shabbetai's apostasy, as it was felt that the failure of Shabbaetai's mission was due to their opposition. After Rav Tzvi Ashkenazi passed away, his son, Rabbi Yaakov Emden (named for a city he had lived in, but more commonly known as Yaavetz; Yaakov Ben Tzvi) took up the cudgel of fighting the holdouts of Shabbateanism. One of his targets was Rabbi Moshe Hayyim Luzzato (RAMCHAL), whom historians have exonerated. His other main target was Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschütz, who served as rabbi of communities in Poland, Moravia, Bohemia, as well as several important German cities. Both men published extensively on matters of Halachah and Kabbalah. Rabbi Emden was the center of controversy, as he challenged the antiquity of the Zohar (although he steadfastly defended its doctrines), and declared RAMBAM's "Guide" to be a heretical forgery, that could not have been written by the same author as RAMBAM's legal code. He also accepted Christianity as an excellent alternative to Judaism for non Jews. Rabbi Eybeshutz was long rumored to be guilty of Shabbatean leanings. Already suspicious, the controversy erupted full blown, when there came into the hands of Rabbi Emden, some amulets allegedly written by Rabbi Eybeshutz, which upon examination were seen to contain numerous reference to Shabbetain Tzvi, declaring him to be the Messiah. Rabbi Eyebshutz denied having written the amulets. The 1750s was marked by declarations of excommunication from both sides. Even German nobility entered the fray. Rabbi Emden accused Rabbi Eybeshutz of incest, and the resulting issue was now a Shabbatean leader. Defenders of Rabbi Eybeshutz countries that he had, years earlier, been on a Beit Din that excommunicated the Shabbatrans. Others suggested that this was a ploy, meant to take the heat off of Rabbi Eybeshutz. In the meantime, several students of Rabbi Eybeshutz's yeshiva were outed as active Shabbateans. His own son declared himself to be a Frankist "prophet".  Many documents have come to light in the intervening centuries, that showed many of Rabbi Emden's accusations to be true. Many claim that these are forgeries. In any case, nearly all historians completely accept the accusations, as well as most Orthodox historians, although the latter tend to play down the incident. In strictly Orthodox circles, the accusations are considered to be utter nonsense. One Modern Orthodox rabbi wrote a  book on Rabbi Eybeshutz, calling it "Bechor HaSatan" (The First Born of Satan), thus giving away his stance already in the title. The after effects of this dispute were several. For one, Shabbateans and Frankists were now out in the open, and it was perfectly acceptable to oppose and censure them. Secondly, the spectacle of two Jewish leaders out to destroy each other, caused a great decline in respect for rabbis, and even for Orthodoxy itself. This paved the way for greater acceptance of Reform. In addition, Rabbi Eybeshutz's approach to halachah was, ironically, very strict. A number of modern day groups base their approach on him. Was his strictness merely a means of driving people away from halachic observance, by making it very onerous? Theories abound. One additional aspect of the controversy was that one famous rabbi defended Rabbi Eyebshutz to the hilt, even granting him a letter of ordination. That document, however, is filled with Shabbatean catchphrases. Again, some argue "forgery", albeit without a shred of proof. I will not say who this defender was. If you know, please don't say, as it would draw me into a fight I am not strong enough for. A prominent Orthodox historian, speaking on condition of anonymity, told me "we know all of this, and are doing out best to keep it quiet". Yes, the influence of Shabbateanism and Frankism continues.