Hasidism: A New History

For this remarkably well-researched and expansive history of Hasidism, a team of scholars has collaborated to produce an intelligent and eminently readable exploration of a branch of Judaism that has made an extraordinary mark on Jewish life. The authors chart, with an impressive array of sources, Hasidism’s evolution from its roots in 18th-century Poland to its present-day influence, and provide in-depth assessment of the geographical, sociological, and cultural conditions that contributed to its growth. Unlike previous histories that assert that Hasidism was the response to Jewish crises (particularly the massacres of the Khmelnytsky Uprising in the 17th century), this book provides a wealth of evidence to prove that Hasidism’s development resulted from a blossoming of Jewish communities in early modern Eastern Europe and that its traditionally recognized founder, the Ba’al Shem Tov, continued, rather than originated, its “spiritual revolution.” This effort is rich with detail and insight, and captures the vibrancy and innovation of a thriving, multifaceted movement. It belongs on the bookshelf of any serious student of Jewish history. (Nov.)