Abraham Yachini

Abraham Yachini(Heb: אברהם יכיני; also transliterated as Abraham Yakhini, or Abraham ha-Yakini; 1611-1682)was one of the chief agitators in theSabbateanmovement, the son ofPethahiah of Constantinople.

Life

He studied underJoseph TraniofConstantinople(died 1644), and under Mordecai, a Germankabbalist.From the latter he probably derived the touch of mysticism which, combined with cunning and great intelligence, made him the most suitable representative ofSabbatai Zevi.Yachini persuaded Sabbatai Zevi, who at that time was convinced that he was theMessiah,but was timid and fearful of proclaiming himself, boldly to declare his claims. It was in Constantinople, about 1653, that Sabbatai Zevi became acquainted with Yachini, who, on account of his learning and oratorical powers, enjoyed a great reputation in his native town.He is described by contemporaries as the best preacher of his day.

Yachini is said by some to have put into the hands of Sabbatai Zevi a spurious book in archaic characters, which, he assured him, contained theScripturalproof of his Messianic origin. This fabrication, entitledThe Great Wisdom of Solomon,began as follows:

I, Abraham, was confined in a cave for forty years, and I wondered greatly that the time of miracles did not arrive. Then was heard a voice, proclaiming, "A son will be born in the year 5386 [1626] to Mordecai Ẓebi and he will be called Sabbatai. He will humble the great dragon... he, the true Messiah, will sit upon My [God's] throne."

In this manner, and in a style imitating the ancient apocalypses, this fabrication, attributed by some scholars to Yachini, who was a master of Hebrew diction, continues to describe the vision which had appeared to the fictitious Abraham. (Other scholars attribute the letter to Nathan of Gaza.) Sabbatai Zevi accepted this work as an actual revelation and determined to go toThessaloniki—the paradise of kabbalists—and there begin his public activity. Zevi was not ungrateful, and later appointed Yachini among the kings whom he purposed to enthrone over his prospective worldwide empire.

Yachini on his side proved himself not unworthy of the confidence shown by his master. He gave proof of his devotion at the time when Sabbatai Zevi was in prison inConstantinople,and when even the greatest enthusiast could no longer be in doubt concerning his true character. He forged official opinions of the rabbinical council of Constantinople in favor of Sabbatai's claims to Messiahship. With great subtlety he obtained influence over twoPolishrabbis who, as delegates of the Jews of eastern Europe, had come to Constantinople in order to investigate the claims of Sabbatai, and exercised such influence over them as to lead them to declare themselves his adherents. The conversion of Sabbatai toIslamput an end to the career of Yachini as an agitator.

Works

Notwithstanding his activity in this direction, he found time for literary work, which is of such merit that, had it not been for the deceptions he practised, it would have secured him an honorable place among the Jewish scholars of his time. He is the author of one hundred and fifty psalms (composed in imitation of those in theBible), which appeared under the titleHod Malkut(Glory of the Kingdom), Constantinople, 1655. He also wroteEshel Abraham(Abraham's Oak), a collection of sermons, andTosefet Merubbah(Additions to Additions), a commentary upon theTosefta,and responsa. At the request of the Dutch scholar and bibliophileLevinus Warner,whom he knew personally and for whom he copied manyKaraite Jewishmanuscripts, he composed a work on the genealogy of the patriarchAbraham,which is still preserved in the Warner collection atLeiden.From a Hebrew letter of Yachini to Warner it is learned that the former was in favor with the Dutch minister at theTurkishcourt, and it must be stated to the credit of Yachini that he used his influence in behalf of strangers.

Among theKrymchaks(Crimean Jews), Yachini is still a name to conjure with. At their prayers in memory of Israel's great dead, his name is mentioned with special solemnity.

Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography

• Moritz Steinschneider,Cat. Bodl. No. 4240;
• idem, Leyden Catalogue, p. 290;
• Julius Fürst,Gesch. d. Karäert. iii. 53;
• Anmerkungen, p. 92;
• Heinrich Grätz,Gesch. d. Juden, 3d ed., x. 191, 211, 217;
• D. Kahana, Eben ha-To'im, pp. 6, 29, 37;
• Azulai,Shem ha-Gedolim he-Ḥadash, letter Aleph, No. 58;
• Deinard, Massa Krim, ii. 159.

Notes

This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Singer, Isidore;et al., eds. (1901–1906)."Abraham ha-Yakini".The Jewish Encyclopedia.New York: Funk & Wagnalls.