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Hasidism has been a seminal force and a source of controversy in the Jewish world since its inception in the second half of the 18th century. Indeed, almost every ideological trend that has made itself felt among Jews since that time - from Zionism and Orthodoxy to contemporary Jewish feminism and movements within the yeshiva world - has claimed to have derived some inspiration from this vibrant movement. While this is sure testimony to its vitality and originality, it has also given rise to many misconceptions as to what hasidism is about. The monumental volume that Ada Rapoport-Albert has produced is a critical history of this intriguing movement in English. It offers a comprehensive treatment of the subject in all its aspects by what is effectively the entire present generation of scholars working in the field. With contributions ranging from the history of theology and of ideas through social and economic history to sociology, Hasidism Reappraised encompasses a complete field of contemporary scholarship in a discipline that is central to our understanding of modern Jewish history and the contemporary Jewish world.
This text shows an intellectual world at an important juncture in its development. The study of hasidism was long dominated by scholars trained by Gershom Scholem, the great master of academic Jewish mysticism, but their achievements are now being questioned in a process of post-Scholem revisionism. This book captures this mood and points forward to the direction in which hasidic scholarship is likely to develop in the years to come. But the extent to which the figure of Scholem still dominates the field is clear from the introductory section of this volume: the personal correspondence of the late Joseph Weiss, one of the leading historians of hasidism, with Sara Ora Heller-Wilensky, a fellow student of Scholem's and later professor of Jewish philosophy and kabbalah. These letters, written over a period of many years, offer an insight into the complex intellectual and emotional relationships that Scholem inspired. The 28 authors who have contributed to the main body of the book are almost without exception established scholars with international reputations; those who are not are well-known in Israel for their scholarship but have previously published little in English.
Their contributions are arranged thematically under seven headings: the social history of hasidism; the social functions of mystical ideals in the hasidic movement; distinctive outlooks and schools of thought within hasidism; the hasidic tale; the history of hasidic historiography; contemporary hasidism; and the present state of research on hasidism. The book also incorporates an extensive introduction that places the various articles in their intellectual context, as well as a bibliography of hasidic sources and contemporary scholarly literature.
This text shows an intellectual world at an important juncture in its development. The study of hasidism was long dominated by scholars trained by Gershom Scholem, the great master of academic Jewish mysticism, but their achievements are now being questioned in a process of post-Scholem revisionism. This book captures this mood and points forward to the direction in which hasidic scholarship is likely to develop in the years to come. But the extent to which the figure of Scholem still dominates the field is clear from the introductory section of this volume: the personal correspondence of the late Joseph Weiss, one of the leading historians of hasidism, with Sara Ora Heller-Wilensky, a fellow student of Scholem's and later professor of Jewish philosophy and kabbalah. These letters, written over a period of many years, offer an insight into the complex intellectual and emotional relationships that Scholem inspired. The 28 authors who have contributed to the main body of the book are almost without exception established scholars with international reputations; those who are not are well-known in Israel for their scholarship but have previously published little in English.
Their contributions are arranged thematically under seven headings: the social history of hasidism; the social functions of mystical ideals in the hasidic movement; distinctive outlooks and schools of thought within hasidism; the hasidic tale; the history of hasidic historiography; contemporary hasidism; and the present state of research on hasidism. The book also incorporates an extensive introduction that places the various articles in their intellectual context, as well as a bibliography of hasidic sources and contemporary scholarly literature.
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About the Author:
Ada Rapoport-Albert is Reader in and Head of the Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies at University College London. Born in Israel, she studied at University College London, and has also taught at the Oriental Institute in Oxford and been a visiting lecturer at the Harvard Divinity College.
She is the author of various studies on the history of hasidism, and the editor of Essays in Jewish Historiography (1988) and, with Steven J. Zipperstein, Jewish History: Essays in Honour of Chimen Abramsky (1988). Her forthcoming books to be published by the Littman Library, include Women and the
Messianic Heresy of Sabbatai Zevi, 1666-1816, Female Bodies, Male Souls: Asceticism and Gender in the Jewish Tradition; Emergent Hasidism: Spontaneity and Institutionalization; and Messianic Hasidism: From Nineteenth-Century Bratslav to Twentieth-Century Habad.
Review:
She is the author of various studies on the history of hasidism, and the editor of Essays in Jewish Historiography (1988) and, with Steven J. Zipperstein, Jewish History: Essays in Honour of Chimen Abramsky (1988). Her forthcoming books to be published by the Littman Library, include Women and the
Messianic Heresy of Sabbatai Zevi, 1666-1816, Female Bodies, Male Souls: Asceticism and Gender in the Jewish Tradition; Emergent Hasidism: Spontaneity and Institutionalization; and Messianic Hasidism: From Nineteenth-Century Bratslav to Twentieth-Century Habad.
'Ce fort volume ... Cet ouvrage represente sans conteste une etape importante pour la connaissance du hasidisme.' - Jacques Gutwirth, Archives des Sciences Sociales des Religions 'A magnificent account of that phenomenon from the Jewish past-Hasidism. Not only is it a consummate work of scholarship, but the editor has drawn together some of the personal relationships between scholars to show how this has also been the yeast in the splendid lekakh. Before all else, a word of praise for the editor ... to be read as well as to be dipped into and also to have as a major reference work. Trawling the index alone kept me fascinated for many evenings. Some wealthy Jews build synagogues, Jewish centres, but Louis Thomas Sidney Littman, who founded the Littman Library for the love of God and in memory of his father, gave us the wisest gift of all. Our richest past. His memory for a blessing. Ada Rapoport-Albert is an Israeli lecturer at University College, London. She is a considerable editor, writer, and scholar, and by all personal accounts an inspired teacher.' - Alex Auswaks, Jerusalem Post 'Probably the most important analytical study of the Hasidic movement to have appeared in the English language, and it can be read with profit by anyone seriously interested in Jewish history.' - Edgar Samuel, Jewish Historical Studies 'Undoubtedly of great value for our knowledge of hasidism.' - Jacques Gutwirth, Jewish Journal of Sociology 'An opportunity to encounter virtually all the most important trends in the study of Hasidism and to move beyond the approaches and theories that have until now constituted conventional wisdom ... It is a volume that will be essential for anyone with a serious interest in Hasidism and indeed for any Judaica collection.' - Miles Krassen, Journal of Jewish Studies 'Handsome collection of twenty-eight essays by world-ranking scholars ... comprehensive indeed, and profound, articulate, often gripping, and frequently counter to conventional wisdom ... amply rewarded by the superb job of translating, editing and reducing to easily readable length ... a reflection of major watersheds in the study of Hasidism.' - Lewis Glinert, Le'ela
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- PublisherThe Littman Library of Jewish Civilization
- Publication date1996
- ISBN 10 187477420X
- ISBN 13 9781874774204
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages896
- EditorRapoport-Albert Ada
- Rating
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Hasidism Reappraised (Littman Library of Jewish Civilization)
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The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization in association with Liverpool University Press July 1996
(1996)
ISBN 10: 187477420X
ISBN 13: 9781874774204
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Large 8vo in burgundy boards, gilt spine title. Corners and spine ends bumped but not rubbed, very light shelf wear, former bookseller sticker on the front free endpaper. The dustjacket has virtually no rubbing at the spine ends, just a bit of widely scattered shallow crinkling. A very nice copy overall. Seller Inventory # 244342
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