Hasidism: A New History

Review\n"This remarkable volume will find its rightful place as a veritable landmark in the historiography of Hasidism."―Ada Rapoport-Albert, University College London\n"A monumental scholarly achievement and a great contribution to the understanding of one of the most important movements in Jewish life in the modern period."―Moshe Halbertal, New York Review of Books\n"Enormously informative."―George Prochnik, Los Angeles Review of Books\nA must-read book for understanding this vibrant and influential modern Jewish movement\nHasidism originated in southeastern Poland, in mystical circles centered on the figure of Israel Ba’al Shem Tov, but it was only after his death in 1760 that a movement began to spread. Today, Hasidism is witnessing a remarkable renaissance around the world. This book provides the first comprehensive history of the pietistic movement that shaped modern Judaism. Written by an international team of scholars, its unique blend of intellectual, religious, and social history demonstrates that, far from being a throwback to the Middle Ages, Hasidism is a product of modernity that forged its identity as a radical alternative to the secular world.