Asher Lämmlein, a German born Jew who…

Asher Lämmlein, a German born Jew who appears in Istria, near Venice, in 1502 and, encouraged by the works of Isaac Abrabanel, proclaims himself a forerunner of the Jewish Messiah, declares that if the Jews show great repentance and charity, the Messiah will not fail to appear in six months.

He gains a troop of adherents who spread his prophesies though Italy and Germany, and his message meets with such acceptance that the year becomse known as the "year of penance."

Existing institutions are willfully destroyed in the belief of coming redemption and a return to Jerusalem.

However, Lämmlein dies or suddenly disappears and the extravagant hopes of his followers come to an end.