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Hasidism, a kabbalah-inspired movement founded by Israel Ba'al Shem Tov (c1700-1760), transformed Jewish communities across Eastern and East Central Europe. In Men of Silk, Glenn Dynner draws upon newly discovered Polish archival material and neglected Hebrew testimonies to illuminate Hasidism's dramatic ascendancy in the region of Central Poland during the early nineteenth century. Dynner presents Hasidism as a socioreligious phenomenon that was shaped in crucial ways by its Polish context. His social historical analysis dispels prevailing romantic notions about Hasidism. Despite their folksy image, the movement's charismatic leaders are revealed as astute populists who proved remarkably adept at securing elite patronage, neutralizing powerful opponents, and methodically co-opting Jewish institutions. The book also reveals the full spectrum of Hasidic devotees, from humble shtetl dwellers to influential Warsaw entrepreneurs.
List of contents
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: - Hasidism in Central Poland, 1754-1830
- Chapter 2: - Anatomy of a Hasidic Conquest
- Chapter 3: - Warsaw and the Patrons of Polish Hasidism
- Chapter 4: - Yihus: The Social Composition of Early Hasidic Leadership
- Chapter 5: - Charlatans or "Lovers of Israel"? Evaluating Hasidic Populism
- Chapter 6: - Sermons, Stories and Songs: Marketing Hasidism
- Conclusion
- Appendix A - Yihus and Marriage Strategies of early Zaddikim Outside Central Poland: Examples through 1815
- Appendix B - An Exorcism in Warsaw, 1818
- Appendix C - Works by Hasidic Authors, through 1815
- Bibliography
- Notes
- Index
About the author
Glenn Dynner is a Professor of Religion at Sarah Lawrence College
Summary
Hasidism, a kabbalah-inspired movement founded by Israel Ba'al Shem Tov (c1700-1760), transformed Jewish communities across Eastern and East Central Europe. In Men of Silk, Glenn Dynner draws upon newly discovered Polish archival material and neglected Hebrew testimonies to illuminate Hasidism's dramatic ascendancy in the region of Central Poland during the early nineteenth century. Dynner presents Hasidism as a socioreligious phenomenon that was shaped in crucial ways by its Polish context. His social historical analysis dispels prevailing romantic notions about Hasidism. Despite their folksy image, the movement's charismatic leaders are revealed as astute populists who proved remarkably adept at securing elite patronage, neutralizing powerful opponents, and methodically co-opting Jewish institutions. The book also reveals the full spectrum of Hasidic devotees, from humble shtetl dwellers to influential Warsaw entrepreneurs.
Additional text
Dynner's book addresses the heretofore neglected but crucially important subject of 19th-century Hasidism, shedding much light on this vital chapter of Jewish (and Polish) history.
