Book Summary1666, by Robert Sepehr

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of 1666

The core tenets of the Sabbatean-Frankist movement.

Sepehr highlights the Sabbatean-Frankist movement, focusing on its paradoxical approach to achieving redemption. He proposes that this faction, emerging from the teachings of Sabbatai Zevi and further energized by someone who strayed markedly from traditional Jewish teachings, advocated the idea that behaviors generally considered unethical could result in spiritual liberation. The writer clarifies the idea that pieces of the divine essence are scattered throughout the material world.

Sabbatai Zevi proclaimed himself as the Messiah and attracted a substantial following by promoting the idea that redemption could be achieved through the commission of sins.

In the year 1666, Rabbi Sabbatai Zevi, who was deeply knowledgeable in the teachings of Kabbalah, declared himself the Messiah. Sepehr highlights the global fervor Zevi ignited among Jewish communities, with followers making up approximately fifty percent of the Jewish people at the time. The author attributes the extensive dissemination of these texts, particularly those from the Lurianic tradition, to the advent of print technology, which significantly amplified the spread of Kabbalistic literature. Jewish individuals, weighed down by the hardships of religious persecution, were drawn to Zevi's charismatic presence and his claims of divine revelation, which, along with their recent acquaintance with mystical Jewish doctrines, intensified their desire for a messianic redeemer.

The followers of Zevi believed that by violating sacred prohibitions and commandments, they could liberate the holy essences trapped in the physical world.

Sepehr characterizes Zevi's fundamental teaching as the belief that redemption is achieved through the release of sacred aspects trapped within the physical world, which he viewed as inherently corrupt. The divine light, shattered in the moment of creation, might be liberated through unconventional practices – by challenging societal and religious norms and doctrines. Sepehr details the behaviors of Zevi, which encompassed the consumption of forbidden foods and participation in sexual improprieties, behaviors that were deemed extremely unconventional by Jewish community authorities. Sepehr argues that this deliberate deviation from established norms was not an embrace of malevolence but rather a calculated tactic to cleanse and refine the corrupted aspects of existence. The movement's subsequent evolution was deeply impacted by the belief that committing sins could lead to spiritual upliftment, and this notion became a fundamental aspect of its progression, especially when guided by an individual known as Jacob Frank.

Practical Tips

• Engage in a personal writing exercise where you journal about instances where breaking a rule or norm led to a positive outcome. Reflect on times when going against the grain has been beneficial for you or others. This practice can help you identify and understand the value of questioning and, when appropriate, violating certain prohibitions to achieve a greater good.
• Engage in a 'sacred audit' of your daily activities to find and uplift the sacred aspects of your routine. For example, if you enjoy gardening, approach it with the intention of nurturing life and contributing to the balance of nature, rather than just as a chore. By reframing your perspective, you can transform ordinary tasks into acts of redemption, releasing the sacredness in the physical world through your actions.
• Engage in a community swap event where participants exchange items they no longer need or want. This promotes the idea of reusing and...

1666 Summary The sect known as the Sabbatean-Frankist extended its reach to several secret societies, among them the Illuminati.

Sepehr posits that the Sabbatean-Frankist movement significantly contributed to the emergence of secretive societies like the Illuminati. He argues that the attraction of Sabbatean-Frankist ideologies, which emphasized the subversion of established structures and the appreciation of arcane knowledge, resonated with some, including Adam Weishaupt, who is recognized for founding a secretive group known as the Illuminati.

Adam Weishaupt collaborated with the influential Rothschild banking family to establish a secret society known as the Order of the Illuminati, concurrently forming an alliance with the Sabbatean-Frankist sect.

Sepehr highlights the establishment of the Illuminati on May 1, 1776, as a pivotal moment marking the union of mystical objectives and ambitions for political power. The author points out the symbolic significance of the date itself, chosen by Weishaupt for its numerological power within Kabbalistic traditions. Sepehr suggests a deep connection between the establishment of the Illuminati and the esoteric beliefs propagated by the Sabbatean-Frankists.

The goal of the Illuminati was to deconstruct the core tenets of worldwide religious faiths and...

1666 Summary The Sabbatean-Frankist movement's objective was to erode the foundations of religious faith, national allegiance, and the ties that bind families together.

Sepehr argues that Jacob Frank guided the Sabbatean-Frankist movement in a deliberate effort to undermine the core elements of traditional societies, which encompassed spirituality, national loyalty, and family ties. He interprets their ideology as a calculated assault on these institutions, driven by the belief that their destruction was a necessary step towards achieving a higher spiritual reality.

The Sabbatean-Frankists held the conviction that ascending to spiritual peaks required the dismantling of established religious, societal, and governmental frameworks.

Sepehr emphasizes the deliberate conduct of the Frankists, who knowingly breached religious norms and community standards. He points to their acceptance of sexual deviancy and their efforts to subvert religious authority, highlighting their disdain for the concept of personal ownership as prime illustrations of their harmful tendencies. This assault on established order, Sepehr contends, was not driven by mere rebellion but by a deeply held belief that these traditional structures represented obstacles on the path to spiritual enlightenment.

This encompassed advocating for the dissolution of personal asset...