Men of Silk The Hasidic Conquest of Polish Jewish Society [Paperback]

Hasidism, a kabbalah-inspired movement founded by Israel Ba'al Shem Tov (c1700-1760), transformed Jewish communities across Eastern and East Central Europe. InMen 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 humbleshtetldwellers to influential Warsaw entrepreneurs.

A ground-breaking study of Jewish-run taverns in Poland...Although scholarly,Yankel's Tavern: Jews, Liquor, & Life in the Kingdom of Polandmakes for fascinating reading, particularly if you are among the many modern Jews whose ancestors were tavern-keepers. --The Canadian Jewish News

Dynner's book represents an important contribution to the previously understudied historiography of nineteenth-century Hasidism. His thorough and careful archival research, combined with his nuanced analysis of importantzadikim, their ideology, and their social power, sets a new standard for the study of Hasidism. This is an indispensable volume for scholars and enthusiastic students of nineteenth-century East European Jewish culture and society. --American Historical Review

Men of Silkis an original research study which contextualizes the emergence of Hasidism as a wide ranging popular movement taking place throughout central Poland between the years 1754 and 1830. The bookl“N