Asher Lämmlein

Asher Lämmlein [also Lämmlin, Lemmlein] was a German who appeared in Istria, near Venice, in 1502 and, encouraged by the works of Isaac Abrabanel, [cite book
title = The Messiah Idea in Jewish History
first = Julius Hillel
last = Greenstone
year = 1906
publisher = The Jewish Publication Society of America
pages = 189] proclaimed himself a forerunner of the Jewish Messiah. He declared that if his fellow Jews would show great repentance and charity, the Messiah would not fail to appear in six months. He gained a troop of adherents who spread his prophesies though Italy and Germany, and his message met with such acceptance that the year became known as the "year of penance." Existing institutions were willfully destroyed in the belief of coming redemption and a return to Jerusalem. However, Lämmlein died or suddenly disappeared and the extravagant hopes of his followers came to an end.cite book
title = History of the Jews
first = Heinrich
last = Graetz
coauthors = Philipp Bloch
year = 1894
publisher = Jewish Publication Society of America
pages = 482]

Salo W. Baron suggests that disillusionment over the failed prophesies Lämmlein helped lead to the conversion of a few Jewish intellectuals to the Christian faith, including Victor von Carben and Johannes Pfefferkorn.cite book
title=The Red Jews: Antisemitism in an Apocalyptic Age, 1200-1600
last=Gow
first=Andrew Colin
year=1995
publisher=Brill Academic Publishers
isbn=9004102558
pages=135]

ee also

* List of messiah claimants

References