Hasidism and Politics

The Kingdom of Poland, 1815-1864

AvMarcin Wodziński

Häftad, Engelska, 2016

Del i serien Littman Library of Jewish Civilization

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Beskrivning

Analysing the political relations between the Kingdom of Poland and the hasidic movement, this book examines plans formulated by the government and by groups close to government circles regarding hasidim, and describes how a hasidic body politic developed in response. Marcin Wodzinski demonstrates that the rise of hasidism was an important factor in shaping the Jewish policy of both central and provincial authorities and shows how the creation of socio-political conditions that were advantageous to the hasidic movement accelerated its growth. While concentrating on the dynamic that developed in the Kingdom of Poland, the discussion is informed by a consideration of the relationship between the state and the hasidic movement from its inception in the Polish - Lithuanian Commonwealth. The novelty of this study lies in the fact that, whereas most analyses of political culture concentrate on states and societies with well-established electoral systems of representation, Wodzinski focuses on the under-researched area of political relations between a non-democratic state and a low-status community lacking authorized representation.Applying concepts more often associated with cultural history, his analysis draws a distinction between the terms of reference of high-level political debate and the actual implementation of policy middle- and low-level officials. Similarly, in analysing hasidic responses he differentiates between high-level hasidic representations in the state and the grassroots politics of the community. This combination enables a broad contextualization of the whole subject, integrating the social and cultural history of Polish Jewry with that of Polish society in general.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2016-09-01
Mått:155 x 235 x 18 mm
Vikt:367 g
Format:Häftad
Språk:Engelska, Polska
Serie:Littman Library of Jewish Civilization
Antal sidor:348
Förlag:Liverpool University Press
ISBN:9781906764944

Utforska kategorier

Religion: allmänt inom Filosofi och religion
Judendom inom Filosofi och religion
Historia inom Historia och arkeologi

Mer om författaren

Marcin Wodziński is Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Wrocław.

Recensioner i media

Reviews ‘Marcin Wodziński, in another masterful book on Hasidism, turns his expert attention to analyzing the political history of the Kingdom of Poland and its relationship to the Hasidic movement . . . best suited to the scholar or serious student.’David Tesler, AJL Reviews

Innehållsförteckning

List of IllustrationsNote on Transliteration, Place Names, and SourcesList of AbbreviationsIntroduction1 To 'Civilize' the Jews: Polish Debates on the Reform of the Jewish People, 1789- 1830The Framework of the Debate * Diagnosis * The Goal * Measures: What are 'Civil Christians?' * What does 'to Civilize' Mean? * Conclusions2 Origins: Controversies over Hasidic ShtiblekhBefore the Congress Kingdom * Nameless: The First Ruling on Hasidic Shtiblekh * Investigating the Kitajowcy in Plock * Michels: Shtiblekh, Mikveh, and Burial Societies * Conclusions3 The Investigation of 1823-4Hussites: Beginnings of the Investigation * Hasidism is Banned * Counteroffensive * Stanislaw Staszic against the Tsadikim * Hasidism Delivered: Conclusions4 Between Words and ActionsState Politics and Local Politicians * Silent Turning Point : Hasidism in the Politics of the Kingdom after 1831 * The Last Investigation * Ignorance, Inertia, Frustration * Who Profited? On the Ostensible Equality of Hasidism * Epilogue: The 1860s * Conclusions5 The Hasidim Strike Back: Development of Hasidic Political InvolvementsBeginnings: Berek Sonnenberg and his Circle * Offensive: Meir Rotenberg of Opatow * Triumph: Isaac Kalisz of Warka * The Third Phase * Digression: Corruption * The Local Context: Conclusions6 Communal Dimensions of Hasidic PoliticsWho? Agents of Hasidic Communal Politics * Whom? Protagonists * Why? Goals * How? Means * Local or Universal? * Conclusions7 Haskalah and Government Policy towards HasidismThe Role of Hasidism in the Political Activity of the Polish Maskilim * Myth and Reality in the Role of the Maskilim * How did Maskilic and Hasidic Shtadlanim Differ? * ConclusionsConclusionBibliographyIndex