Orthodox Judaism Books

Book SynopsisExpanding the Palace of Torah offers a broad philosophical overview of the challenges the women’s revolution poses to Orthodox Judaism, as well as Orthodox Judaism’s response to those challenges. Writing as an insider—herself an Orthodox Jew—Tamar Ross confronts the radical feminist critique of Judaism as a religion deeply entrenched in patriarchy. Surprisingly, very little work has been done in this area, beyond exploring the leeway for ad hoc solutions to practical problems as they arise on the halakhic plane. In exposing the largely male-focused thrust of the rabbinic tradition and its biblical grounding, she sees this critique as posing a potential threat to the theological heart of traditional Judaism—the belief in divine revelation. This new edition brings this acclaimed and classic text back into print with a new essay by Tamar Ross which examines new developments in feminist thought since the book was first published in 2004.Trade ReviewAddressing the practical and the theological challenges that feminism poses to halakah, Ross offers a brilliant study, informed not only by ancient, medieval, and modern Jewish sources, but also by postmodernism, the history of feminism, process theology, mysticism, and legal theory . . . She finds the key to change in women's increasing knowledge of halakah, whose meaning women can transform by weaving a different narrative . . . Highly recommended.”—CHOICE“[Expanding the Palace of Torah is] a brave, in many ways radical and essential, attempt to deal with the problem seriously, and is a model of erudition and scholarship… Her book offers a powerful alternate theological vision that challenges some of the basic assumptions of the Orthodox Jewish world, and gives a glimpse of just how revolutionary feminism could be to Orthodoxy.”—Forward"Ross' conjoining of the patriarchal past with a feminist future in the single unfolding process of divine revelation is an unprecedented, and I would suggest brilliant, move in the world of Jewish feminism... this book is ground-breaking in the field of theology (Jewish, feminist and otherwise). It is beautifully written, masterfully insightful in its analysis of earlier feminist attempts to resolve a similar set of challenges and subtly brilliant in the presentation of its own solutions. I simply cannot say enough positive things about it. It is thought-provoking and sophisticated. I have no doubt that this book will become a standard textbook for courses on Jewish feminism.”—Nashim: A Journal of Jewish Women's Studies and Gender Issues"In this exceptional book, Ross brings together philosophical, theological, legal, and feminist writings, presenting a many faceted critique of Jewish legal developments and an account of the latest thinking on problematic issues. Writing as a passionately engaged Orthodox Jew, her approach is a refreshing combination of the critical and the respectful, and her solutions to the problems she raises are both provocative and eloquent. Writing in a postmodernist vein, she offers a quantum leap in her complex yet trenchant perspective on the challenge posed by feminism to the concept of Revelation.”—Aviva Gottlieb Zornberg, author of Genesis: the Beginning of Desire, winner of the National Jewish Book Award for nonfiction"This may be one of the most important works to date in tracking the changes in Judaism over the past 2000 years." --Jewish Book World"This may be one of the most important works to date in tracking the changes in Judaism over the past 2000 years." * Jewish Book World *"[Expanding the Palace of Torah] is a brave, in many ways radical and essential, attempt to deal with the problem seriously, and is a model of erudition and scholarship. . . . Her book offers a powerful alternate theological vision that challenges some of the basic assumptions of the Orthodox Jewish world and gives a glimpse of just how revolutionary feminism could be to Orthodoxy." * Forward *"Addressing the practical and the theological challenges that feminism poses to halakah, Ross offers a brilliant study, informed not only by ancient, medieval, and modern Jewish sources, but also by postmodernism, the history of feminism, process theology, mysticism, and legal theory. . . . She finds the key to change in women's increasing knowledge of halakah, whose meaning women can transform by weaving a different narrative . . . Highly recommended." * Choice *Table of ContentsPreface, Acknowledgments, Part I: The First Stage: Acknowledging the Problem, Chapter 1 Feminism and the Halakhic Tradition, Chapter 2 Sources of Discontent and the Conservative Response, Part II: The Second Stage: Working Within the System, Chapter 3 Exploring Halakhic Malleability and Its Limits, Chapter 4 The Meta-Halakhic Solutions of Modern Orthodoxy, Chapter 5 Does Positivism Work?, Part III: The Third Stage: Revamping the System, Chapter 6 Sociological and Historical Revisionism, Chapter 7 Evaluating Revisionism, Chapter 8 Halakhic Proactivism, Part IV: Beyond the Third Stage: Expanding the Palace of Torah, Chapter 9 Halakhah Contextualized: Nonfoundationalism and the Role of Interpretive Traditions, Chapter 10 The Word of God Contextualized: Successive Hearings and the Decree of History, Chapter 11 Some Theological Remarks for the More Philosophically Inclined, Part V: Epilogue, Chapter 12 Visions for the Future, Afterword by Tamar Ross, Notes, Index

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Book SynopsisOrthodox Jewish women are increasingly seeking new ways to express themselves religiously, and important changes have occurred in consequence in their self-definition and the part they play in the religious life of their communities. Drawing on surveys and interviews across different Orthodox groups in London, as well as on the author’s own experience of active participation over many years, this is a thoroughly researched study that analyses its findings in the context of related developments in Israel and the USA. Sympathetic attention is given to women’s creativity and sophistication as they struggle to develop new modes of expression that will let their voices be heard; at the same time, the inevitable points of conflict with the male-dominated religious establishment are examined and explained. There is a focus, too, on the impact of innovations in ritual: these include not only the creation of women-only spaces and women’s participation in public practices traditionally reserved for men, but also new personal practices often acquired on study visits to Israel which are replacing traditions learned from family members. This is a much-needed study of how new norms of lived religion have emerged in London, influenced by both the rise of feminism and the backlash against it, and also by women’s new understanding of their religious roles.Trade Review'Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz's in-depth study of the religious experience of Orthodox women raises questions for the rabbinic establishment... an important new book.'Simon Rocker, The Jewish Chronicle'Taylor-Guthartz's precise academic writing, interwoven with her own personal knowledge and experience of the community, gives the women represented here agency and authority, exemplifying how traditional groups and practices do not exist at odds with the modern world, or even in parallel, but rather as an integral part of it, adding rich diversity and colour to the pattern of Jewish life today. This is a timely and important treatise, reflecting modern feminist values and shining a light on a previously unexamined segment of the community.'Noa Gendler, Jewish Renaissance'Challenge and Conformity opens up for our understanding a subject of immense importance to Judaism and the Jewish community. The religious lives of Orthodox women is a topic that has previously attracted little research. Taylor-Guthartz approaches it with academic skill and real empathy for the women she interviews and their communities. We learn of the great variety of women’s beliefs, customs and practices that are spread across the Orthodox Jewish world and, through Taylor-Guthartz’s eyes, we gain a greater understanding and appreciation of Jewish life that might otherwise have remained hidden.'Neville Teller, The Jerusalem Post‘Challenge and Conformity serves as a rich chronicle of Orthodox British womanhood and the challenge of creating uniquely female Jewish spaces. It is well rooted in history, community context, and robust ethnographic data and will be helpful to bridge the lacuna on British scholarship of religious practices of Jewish women.’ Ilana C. Spencer, Religious Studies ReviewTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Studying Jewish WomenThe Double Invisibility of Orthodox Jewish WomenThe Scope of Women’s Religious LivesOverlapping Worlds I: The Intersection of Men’s and Women’s Religious LivesOverlapping Worlds II: Living in Jewish and Western ContextsPower and Patriarchy: Do Orthodox Women Have Agency? 2. Setting the Scene: The Jewish LandscapeJews in London: Historical BackgroundCommunity, Communities, Networks, and IdentityThe Development of British Orthodoxy and the British Jewish LandscapeJewish Religious Topography TodayChanging Moods among British Jewish WomenDefining Terms: Talking about the Anglo-Jewish CommunityPrevious Research on British Orthodox Women 3. The View from the Ladies’ Gallery: Women’s ‘Official’ Life in the CommunityWomen and the SynagogueThe Changing Place of Women in Other Communal Arenas 4. Contested Prayers and Powerful Blessings: Women’s ‘Unofficial’ Life in the CommunityCreating Sacred SpacesNuturing the CommunityNew Developments: Sharing the Sacred with Men 5. Women’s ‘Official’ Life in the FamilyThe SabbathFood and KashrutPassoverMikveh and ‘Family Purity’ModestyVisiting the DeadPrayer and Relationship with God 6. Red Threads and Amulets: Women’s ‘Unofficial’ Life in the FamilyQuestioning the Community: Limitations and CaveatsDefinitions and Status of PracticesTesting Stereotypes and AssumptionsWhat Customs Are Practised?Who Practises These Customs?Age as a Factor in Knowledge and Performance of CustomsOrigins and DevelopmentThe Question of ‘Magic’Women’s Understanding of Customs and Practices Conclusion Appendices: Background Data Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTells the history of Orthodox Jews in America, from the 17th century onwards, and examines how Orthodox Jewish men and women coped with the personal, familial, and communal challenges of religious freedom, economic opportunity, and social integration. This title is suitable for those seeking to understand the American Jewish experience.Trade ReviewGurock's work is a densely packed, deeply researched, and rich amalgam of history, speculation, and mediation between contending poisitions that is written . . . from within the tradition of Jewish worship he seeks to analyze. * Journal of American Ethnic History *The author has penned the first social history of Orthodox Jews in America from the first arrivals in the 17th century to the present. . . [He] illuminates controversies about the compatibility of modern culture with a truly pious life, thus providing a nuanced view of the most intriguing present-day intra-Orthodox struggle – the relationship of feminism to traditional faith.73 Summer/Fall 2010 * Menorah Review *Jeffrey Gurock is positioned more propitiously than any other historian to take on an overall social history of American Jewish Orthodoxy. -- Karla GoldmanA great storyteller, Professor Gurock masterfully weaves together personal narrative, sermons, and social observations to create gripping narratives of Orthodox Jewry in America. . . . [Orthodox Jews in America] brings together several decades of Gurock's incisive research and thinking on American Orthodoxy while offering a still deeper and more nuanced analysis of its overall development. -- Shuly Rubin SchwartzAlthough there are many good books on the history of Jews in America and a smaller subset that focuses on aspects of Orthodox Judaism in contemporary times, no one, until now, has written an overview of how Orthodoxy in America has evolved over the centuries from the first arrivals in the 17th century to the present. This broad overview by Gurock (Libby M. Klaperman Professor of Jewish History, Yeshiva Univ.; Judaism's Encounter with American Sports) is distinctive in examining how Orthodox Jews have coped with the personal, familial, and communal challenges of religious freedom, economic opportunity, and social integration, as well as uncovering historical reactionary tensions to alternative Jewish movements in multicultural and pluralistic America. Gurock raises penetrating questions about the compatibility of modern culture with pious practices and sensitively explores the relationship of feminism to traditional Orthodox Judaism. There are several excellent reference sources on Orthodox Jews in America, e.g., Rabbi Moshe D. Sherman's outstanding Orthodox Judaism in America: A Biographical Dictionary and Sourcebook, to which this is an accessible and illuminating companion; recommended not only for serious readers on the topic but for general readers as well.May 15, 2009 -- David B. Levy * Touro College, Women's Seminary Library *Gurock systematically describes how the devout built the communal infrastructure and developed a cadre of skilled functionaries to meet the requirements of ritual observance... * Jewish Book World *Gurock's new book is full of interesting details and analysis about how Orthodox Judaism has evolved in America, and how Orthodox Jews have made managed the challenges of American life. This is a well-written social history, illustrated with intriguing photographs. December 4, 2009 * The Jewish Week *Gurock is the unrivaled expert on Orthodox Jews and Judaism in the United States, something he proves ably with this book.February 2010 -- Lila Corwin Berman * Temple University *This volume, superbly written and referenced and the product of dense scholarly research, is well worth the read. Volume LXI, no. 2, 2009 * American Jewish Archives Journal *[T]his is a very good historical and social introduction to the history of Orthodox Judaism and it will certainly find an important place in any collection that deals with American Jewry. The author has a pleasant writing style and provides rich documentation in the notes. Vol. 37, No. 1, March 2011 * Religious Studies Review *Table of ContentsContentsAcknowledgmentsPrologue: Within the Wide Tent of a Bronx Orthodox Congregation, Circa 19601. All Alone and Out of Control2. American Challenges and Jewish Challengers3. Religious Dilemmas of a Treif Land4. Strategies of New York's Orthodox Activists5. Crisis and Compromise6. Brooklyn's Committed Communities7. A More Faithful Following8. Comfortable and Courted9. Orthodox vs. Orthodox10. Open and Closed to FeminismEpilogue: The Tentative Orthodox of the Twenty-First CenturyNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisA compelling account of how a group of Hasidic Jews established its own local government on American soilSettled in the mid-1970s by a small contingent of Hasidic families, Kiryas Joel is an American town with few parallels in Jewish historybut many precedents among religious communities in the United States. This book tells the story of how this group of pious, Yiddish-speaking Jews has grown to become a thriving insular enclave and a powerful local government in upstate New York. While rejecting the norms of mainstream American society, Kiryas Joel has been stunningly successful in creating a world apart by using the very instruments of secular political and legal power that it disavows. Nomi Stolzenberg and David Myers paint a richly textured portrait of daily life in Kiryas Joel, exploring the community's guiding religious, social, and economic norms. They delve into the roots of Satmar Hasidism and its charismatic founder, Rebbe Joel Teitelbaum, following his journey from nineteTrade Review"A New Yorker Best Book of the Year""Honorable mention for the Saul Veiner Book Prize, American Jewish Historical Society""Extraordinary and riveting."---Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker"An extraordinarily detailed and fascinating analysis."---Glenn C. Altschuler, Jerusalem Post"A brilliant, eye-opening, thought provoking, easy to read and enjoyable book."---Israel Drazin, Times of Israel"An impressive charting of the legal, cultural, and political machinery set in motion by the creation of a new religious settlement, which eventually became a bona fide municipality. . . . Stolzenberg and Myers provide a fluidly written, lively account of what happens when game but untested religious pioneers encounter the very different challenges of the suburbanized countryside."---Lis Harris, New York Review of Books"Anyone interested in the future of Jews in diaspora (not only Hasidic Jews) should be grateful to [Stolzenberg and Myers] for what they’ve accomplished. . . . Fine-grained in their narrative, offering impressively detailed documentation, leaving plenty of room for the interplay of contingency, strong and often clashing personalities, and the larger structural issues of capital, territory, and state law."---Jonathan Boyarin, Marginalia"[American Shtetl] describes in arresting detail the trajectory and triumph of arguably one of the most paradoxical villages in the United States. But the fact-intensive story Myers and Stolzenberg captivatingly tell also permits the astute observer to extract an important insight of constitutional significance: religious minorities do not always lack the political power to protect their interests, as is often assumed. Kiryas Joel may not be rich, but it has clout."---Zalman Rothschild, Los Angeles Review of Books"I. . . recommend [American Shtetl] to anyone seriously interested not only in the central topic of religious diversity, whether in the United States or elsewhere, but also the various uses (and abuses) of litigation. . . . American Shtetl is a "must-read" book for anyone interested in the realities of religious pluralism in America."---Sandy Levinson, Balkinization"[American Shtetl is] a tale of religion, race, real estate, identity politics and so much more. An important read for anyone looking to understand American Hasidic Jewishness."---Emily Burack, Hey Alma"Some of the things that make American Shtetl so special is the attention to detail, the fresh perspective, and the respect for the subject matter. Myers and Stolzenberg meticulously describe the major events and lawsuits that defined the early history of [Kiryas Joel], and the personalities that shaped each one."---Joel Petlin, The Monsey Mevaser"Fascinating. . . . This is an American story as well as a Jewish one."---Dominic Green, Jewish Chronicle"Nomi M. Stolzenberg and David N. Myers make a compelling case that the village is far from an unreconstructed throwback to a European shtetl. Rather, it is a thoroughly American phenomenon."---Leah Libresco Sargeant, First Things"An engaging and extremely well-researched history of the growth and development of Kiryas Joel."---Ben Rothke, Jewish Link"Stolzenberg (Univ. of Southern California Gould School of Law) and Myers (Univ. of California, Los Angeles) argue persuasively, if counter-intuitively, that the development of Kiryas Joel is “'quintessentially American'."---J. D. Sarna, Choice"Fascinating and very enlightening."---Chaim I. Waxman, Contemporary Jewry"A knowledgeable, opinionated inventory of the Chinese reception of Greek philosophy."---Carl Mitcham, Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy

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Book SynopsisThis book is a friendly, engaging explanations of the traditions and lifestyles of Orthodox Jews. Informative for both Jews and non-Jews, Eli W. Schlossberg draws on personal experiences as an Orthodox Jew active in the international business world to answer the most commonly asked questions people have about religious Jewish life. The World of Orthodox Judaism is a concise resource for anyone interested in learning more about the customs and standards of Orthodox Jewish life.

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Book SynopsisIn this unprecedented masterwork, The Scholar's Haggadah: Ashkenazic, Sephardic, and Oriental Versions, Heinrich Guggenheimer presents the first Haggadah to treat the texts of all Jewish groups on an equal footing and to use their divergences and concurrences as a key to the history of the text and an understanding of its development.

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Book SynopsisWhen non-Orthodox Jews become frum (religious), they encounter much more than dietary laws and Sabbath prohibitions. They find themselves in the midst of a whole new culture, involving matchmakers, homemade gefilte fish, and Yiddish-influenced grammar. This explains how these newcomers learn Orthodox language and culture through their interactions with community veterans and other newcomers.Trade Review"Benor's engaging and innovative study of language and identity surprises, delights, and educates. Becoming Frum is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand Jewish language and culture today." -- Mary Bucholtz * department of lingustics, University of California, Santa Barbara *“Becoming Frum offers a nuanced visual and sound portrait of Orthodox Jewish life, enabling us to hear the way individuals’ identities evolve.” -- Samuel Heilman * department of sociology, Queens College, CUNY *"This volume by Benor is a sociolinguistic study of non-Orthodox Jews becoming frum (religious) by returning to the beliefs and practices of Orthodox Jewish life. Nine well-researched chapters underscore the state of hesitation, decision, and action of returnees. Becoming Frum encodes dress change, eating habits, social outlook, and an impressive array of 'dos and don'ts' that will identify the newly observant. Very informative is Benor's investigative scrutiny of frumster speech (religious Yinglish). This is a strong ethnographic study of issues and lessons related to becoming religiously Orthodox observant. Recommended." * Choice *"Benor does a superb job of enhancing our understanding of the complex process of cultural change and language socialization that individuals go through as they become observant." * Jewish Link *Table of ContentsList of FiguresList of TablesPrefaceAcknowledgmentsTranscription Conventions1. Introduction: Orthodox Jews and Language Socialization2. "Now You Look Like a Lady": Adventures in Enthnographic and Sociolinguistic Fieldwork3. "He Has Tzitzis Hanging Out of His Ponytail": Orthodox Cultural Practices and How BTs Adapt Them4. "This Is Not What to Record": Yiddish, Hebrew, and the English of Orthodox Jews5. "Torah or Toyrah": Language and the Modern Orthodox Black Hat Continuum6. "Just Keepin' It Real, Mamish": Why Ba'alei Teshuva Adopt (or Avoid) Orthodox Language7. "I Finally Got the Lingo": Progression in Newcomers' Acquisition of Orthodox Language8. "A Ba'al Teshuva Freak": Distinguishing Practies of Newly Orthodox Jews9. Matisyahu and My Fair Lady: Reflections on Adult Language SocializationNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThe ultra-Orthodox yeshiva, or Jewish seminary, is a space reserved for men, and for a focus on religious ideals. This book uncovers evidence that firmly religious and pious young men of this community are seeking to change their institutions to incorporate several key dimensions of the secular world.Trade Reviewn this ground-breaking work, Stadler accomplishes the seemingly impossible by penetrating the exclusive male enclave of the ultra-orthodox yeshiva. Her methods are not merely innovative, but truly inspired. The results are remarkable. -- Shaul Kelner,Vanderbilt UniversityThis brief but exceptionally rich ethnography of the Haredi, the ultra-Orthodox male Yeshiva world in Israel, is an important contribution on many levels. Stadler successfully pioneers a methodology for studying an institution she cannot directly access: the methodologically preferred field approachparticipant-observation of behavioris, in this setting, not possible for a woman. She gets around thisbarrier by using alternative tools. Moreover, given the dearth of true observational studies of this bastion of male Jewish learning, this pioneering effort not only unravels some complexities of the Yeshiva world, but also uncovers the seeds of rebellion brewing among younger scholars who are verbalizing objections to their teachers rejection of integration and full participation in Israeli society. . . . If Stadlers analysis is correct, a mini-revolution is in the offing for Haredi society and its future role and status in Israel. A must read! . . . Essential. * Choice *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Preface 1 Introduction: Redefining Male Piety and Fundamentalism 2 Yeshiva Fundamentalism in Israel's Haredi Community 3 On the edge of transgression: The Study of the Talmud and the "Evil Inclination" 4 Challenges to the Fundamentalist Denunciation of Work 5 The Idealization of Soldiers' Masculinity 6 The Domestication of Masculine Piety 7 A Case Study: Terror, ZAkA, and the "Soldiers of Piety" 8 Conclusion: A Reconstruction of Fundamentalism and Piety Notes References Index About the Author

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Book SynopsisExploring how exiting ultra-Orthodox Judaism is not a single act of defiance, but an interactive process that extends for years after leavingTrade Review“Degrees of Separation is an original and imaginative investigation of the character and consequences of exiting closed and closely knit religious communities. On the basis of extensive interviews and observation of two Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in New York—Lubavitch and Satmar—Newfield examines the experiences and consequences of exiting. He rejects the taken-for-granted assumption that exit can be clean and decisive and hence prefers to talk about ‘exiting.’ Like whistleblowers, exiting individuals are typically subject to symbolic attacks and are often regarded as psychologically unstable by the community. Exiting can never be complete, because individuals have deeply ingrained habits acquired from early socialization in the community. Degrees of Separation is not simply a study of religious communities; it offers important insights into membership of and exit from any community or ‘total institution.’”—Bryan S. Turner, Presidential Professor of Sociology, Emeritus, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and author of The Religious and the Political: A Comparative Sociology of Religion“Degrees of Separation is a nuanced, sensitive book about ‘exiters’—those who leave their Hasidic communities of origin—for all kinds of reasons. Newfield’s account moves beyond a simple binarism, that of staying or going; instead he foregrounds the complicated ways that exiters experience long-term liminality, simultaneously attached to and independent of the totalizing communities in which they grew up. Newfield has written an accessible, fascinating book sure to be of great interest to a wide audience—a real accomplishment.”—Ayala Fader, Professor of Anthropology at Fordham University and author of Hidden Heretics: Jewish Doubt in the Digital Age"[A] fascinating and inspiring read that challenges readers to consider the religious periphery of religious exiters and the development of their new journeys.... Most importantly, it opens a door to a largely unknown world full of mysticism and tradition and highlights the struggle against its oppressive systems. Newfield’s own positionality as an ex-Lubavitcher and the realization of his own transcending liminality make this book a very informative yet intimate story—a story of belonging, curiosity, and bravery but also loss and grief."—Politics, Religion & Ideology

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Book SynopsisExploring how exiting ultra-Orthodox Judaism is not a single act of defiance, but an interactive process that extends for years after leavingTrade Review“Degrees of Separation is an original and imaginative investigation of the character and consequences of exiting closed and closely knit religious communities. On the basis of extensive interviews and observation of two Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in New York—Lubavitch and Satmar—Newfield examines the experiences and consequences of exiting. He rejects the taken-for-granted assumption that exit can be clean and decisive and hence prefers to talk about ‘exiting.’ Like whistleblowers, exiting individuals are typically subject to symbolic attacks and are often regarded as psychologically unstable by the community. Exiting can never be complete, because individuals have deeply ingrained habits acquired from early socialization in the community. Degrees of Separation is not simply a study of religious communities; it offers important insights into membership of and exit from any community or ‘total institution.’”—Bryan S. Turner, Presidential Professor of Sociology, Emeritus, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and author of The Religious and the Political: A Comparative Sociology of Religion“Degrees of Separation is a nuanced, sensitive book about ‘exiters’—those who leave their Hasidic communities of origin—for all kinds of reasons. Newfield’s account moves beyond a simple binarism, that of staying or going; instead he foregrounds the complicated ways that exiters experience long-term liminality, simultaneously attached to and independent of the totalizing communities in which they grew up. Newfield has written an accessible, fascinating book sure to be of great interest to a wide audience—a real accomplishment.”—Ayala Fader, Professor of Anthropology at Fordham University and author of Hidden Heretics: Jewish Doubt in the Digital Age"[A] fascinating and inspiring read that challenges readers to consider the religious periphery of religious exiters and the development of their new journeys.... Most importantly, it opens a door to a largely unknown world full of mysticism and tradition and highlights the struggle against its oppressive systems. Newfield’s own positionality as an ex-Lubavitcher and the realization of his own transcending liminality make this book a very informative yet intimate story—a story of belonging, curiosity, and bravery but also loss and grief."—Politics, Religion & Ideology

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Book SynopsisJews acculturated to Scotland within one generation and quickly inflected Jewish culture in a Scottish idiom. This book analyses the religious aspects of this transition through a transnational perspective on migration in the first three decades of the twentieth century.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Queer Judaism refuses simple narratives that pit queer lives against religion. Instead, it beautifully examines how LGBT activists in Israel work within Orthodox Judaism to give their lives and identities meaning, even as they struggle within this tradition to make space for themselves. Avishai’s brilliant, moving ethnography sets a new standard for scholarship in religion and sexuality. It’s a must read." -- Anthony Petro, author of After the Wrath of God: AIDS, Sexuality, and American Religion"An engaging book about people whose proud, public existence became possible over a very short time. Pushing beyond old notions of reconciling conflicting identities, Avishai illustrates how actors gently seized a political and cultural moment and organized to articulate the meaning their lives derived from existing at the intersection of orthodox religion and `unorthodox’ sexuality. Ultimately, Queer Judaism is a story of how queerness can foster life and growth in institutions, culture, and individuals—and its limits." -- Dawne Moon, author of God, Sex, and Politics: Homosexuality and Everyday Theologies"Drawing on interviews with dozens of gay religious Israeli Jews and activists, experiences at Orthodox LGBTQ events and time researching and reading message boards, Avishai traces the history of gay activism in Israel’s religious worlds and the rapid transformation in attitudes and advocacy." -- Amy Spiro * The Times of Israel *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewQueer Judaism refuses simple narratives that pit queer lives against religion. Instead, it beautifully examines how LGBT activists in Israel work within Orthodox Judaism to give their lives and identities meaning, even as they struggle within this tradition to make space for themselves. Avishai’s brilliant, moving ethnography sets a new standard for scholarship in religion and sexuality. It’s a must read. -- Anthony Petro, author of After the Wrath of God: AIDS, Sexuality, and American ReligionAn engaging book about people whose proud, public existence became possible over a very short time. Pushing beyond old notions of reconciling conflicting identities, Avishai illustrates how actors gently seized a political and cultural moment and organized to articulate the meaning their lives derived from existing at the intersection of orthodox religion and `unorthodox’ sexuality. Ultimately, Queer Judaism is a story of how queerness can foster life and growth in institutions, culture, and individuals—and its limits. -- Dawne Moon, author of God, Sex, and Politics: Homosexuality and Everyday TheologiesDrawing on interviews with dozens of gay religious Israeli Jews and activists, experiences at Orthodox LGBTQ events and time researching and reading message boards, Avishai traces the history of gay activism in Israel’s religious worlds and the rapid transformation in attitudes and advocacy. -- Amy Spiro * The Times of Israel *Queer Judaism includes excerpts from numerous interviews that show the heartbreak of those who have not been accepted by their families and/or community. However, these are the same people who are creating a new version of Orthodoxy simply by living their lives and expecting acceptance. Their use of Jewish texts has also helped them become more actively engaged in Judaism. Queer Judaism will inspire and challenge readers as it shows the active development of religious change in Israel. * The Reporter *

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Book SynopsisThe Life and Teachings of Hillel provides the most comprehensive treatment ever published of one of the greatest figures in Jewish tradition. Yitzhak Buxbaum weaves together the various stories about Hillel along with his teachings and sayings to develop this ground-breaking portrait, shedding new light on Hillel's illustrious career, fascinating life, and profound teachings. Hillel is one of the most important and popular of the talmudic sages, yet he is mostly known only in the context of two or three popular stories told about him. Such stories as teaching the "Golden Rule" of Torah "while standing on one foot," and his saying, "If I am not for myself, who will be for me, and if I am for myself alone, who am I," have eclipsed a more complete view of Hillel's influence and significance. In the rabbinic tradition, there is much debate between the teachings of the school of Hillel and that of his contemporary, Shammai. Hillel is often seen as the more tolerant, softer teacher, with his teachings representing what we consider "normative" Judaism. Often, the traditions passed down to modern times are a result of the rabbis' reconciliation of the two schools, so that Hillel's pure teachings have been lost. The Life and Teachings of Hillel separates out Hillel's teachings and looks at them independently of Shammai's. Studied on their own, it becomes evident that Hillel was actually much more radical and "hasidic" than is commonly thought. While he is known for representing the gentler, more loving side of Judaism, in this work his pious radicalism is also apparent. Readers will be charmed and fascinated by Hillel's fiery gentleness. The Life and Teachings of Hillel offers new information about a radiant religious figure, and it also recovers a side of Jewish tradition that has been lost to most people.Trade ReviewYitzhak Buxbaum's book is a comprehensive study of the quotations and comments found in rabbinic literature about Hillel, who is probably the best known of the ancient sages. In an era of growing religious extremism, Hillel's liberalism in interpreting the halacha could perhaps serve as a beacon to modern-day rabbis to follow in his pious and liberal footsteps.... * Journal Of The Royal Musical Association *Hillel, the oft-quoted sage who lived sometime between the second quarter of the last century B.C.E. and 10 C.E., is captured from all perspectives through his teachings. Some biographical details emerge, but the emphasis is on his gentle personality which suffused his teachings. It is this aspect which the author finds to be so attractive to contemporary Jews. Sample chapter titles are: Charity and Peace; Hillel and Herod; The Humble Man; Hillel's Teaching Style. The book ably demonstrates why Hillel's teachings were so influential and are still so popular. * Jewish Book World *The extraordinary nature of Hillel comes to life in the pages of this book. A long needed spiritual biography of one of the greatest talmudic teachers and religious figures is presented to us in a clear and inspiring fashion. -- Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, author of The Jewish Holidays and co-editor of The Jewish CatalogsThe Life and Teachings of Hillel is a treasure of information relating to all aspects of Jewish life. It is well researched and very well documented. The book brings to life an entire historical period with its giant leaders. It is amazing how much of Hillel's teachings are still applicable in modern times. Any adult Jewish book collection will benefit from the addition of this volume. It is a joy to read! * Journal Of Nietzsche Studies *Yitzhak Buxbaum's book is a comprehensive study of the quotations and comments found in rabbinic literature about Hillel, who is probably the best known of the ancient sages. In an era of growing religious extremism, Hillel's liberalism in interpreting the halacha could perhaps serve as a beacon to modern-day rabbis to follow in his pious and liberal footsteps. * Journal Of The Royal Musical Association *Table of ContentsPart 1 Ascent to Leadership Chapter 2 The Lost Teachings of Hillel Chapter 3 Historical Settings and Family Background Chapter 4 Shebna Chapter 5 Hillel on the Roof Chapter 6 His Great Torah Knowledge Chapter 7 Hillel becomes Nasi Chapter 8 The Nasi as Scholar Chapter 9 The Nasi as Judge Chapter 10 Hillel's View on Leadership Chapter 11 Yeas and Dates Chapter 12 Hillel the Pharisee Chapter 13 Hillel, Menahem, and Shammai Chapter 14 The Prosbul Chapter 15 Hillel and Herod: Religion and Politics Chapter 16 Hillel and Herod: Religion and Politics - Continued Part 17 Mission and Message Chapter 18 Disciples of Aaron Chapter 19 Loving Peace Chapter 20 Being "Mixed in" with Others Chapter 21 Charity and Peace Chapter 22 Loving People Chapter 23 Love and Judging Others Chapter 24 Under the Wings of Divine Presence Chapter 25 A Mission to All Men Chapter 26 Three Proselytes Chapter 27 Receive All Men Part 28 The Hasidic Personality Chapter 29 Hillel's Personality Chapter 30 Hillel the Hasid Chapter 31 A Hasid from Love Chapter 32 The Hasid and Hesed Chapter 33 A Different Way Chapter 34 His Heart Is Firm. Trusting in the Lord Chapter 35 Hasid and Parush Chapter 36 The Way of Hesed Chapter 37 The Humble Man Chapter 38 Hillel and the Once-Rich Poor Man Chapter 39 Gentle and Bearing Insult Chapter 40 Disciple of Ezra Chapter 41 Hillel's Teaching Style Chapter 42 Hillel and the Rich Part 43 Holy Spirit, Holy Legacy Chapter 44 A Good Name versus a Great Name Chapter 45 The Holy Spirit Chapter 46 The Rejoicing of the Water-drawing Chapter 47 Hillel's Death Chapter 48 If I am Not for Myself Chapter 49 In Favor of Shammai Chapter 50 A Unique Balance

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Book SynopsisAbby Chava Stein was raised in a Hasidic Jewish community in Brooklyn, profoundly isolated in a culture that lives according to the laws and practices of an eighteenth-century Eastern European enclave, speaking only Yiddish and Hebrew and shunning modern life. Stein was born as the first son in a rabbinical dynastic family, poised to become a leader of the next generation of Hasidic Jews. But Stein felt certain at a young age that she was a girl. Without access to TV or the internet and never taught English, she suppressed her desire for a new body while looking for answers wherever she could find them, from forbidden religious texts to smuggled secular examinations of faith. Finally, she orchestrated a personal exodus from ultra-Orthodox manhood into mainstream femininity-a radical choice that forced her to leave her home, her family and her way of life.

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Book SynopsisThis is the story of the landfill that operated in Jerusalem during the first century CE and served as its garbage dump during the ca. 50-year period that followed Jesus’s crucifixion through to the period that led to the great revolt of the Jews just prior to the city’s destruction.The book presents an extensive investigation of hundreds of thousands of items that were systematically excavated from the thick layers of landfill. It brings together experts who conducted in-depth studies of every sort of material discarded as refuse—ceramic, metal, glass, bone, wood, and more. This research presents an amazing and tantalizing picture of daily life in ancient Jerusalem, and how life was shaped and regulated by strict behavioral rules (halacha). The book also explores why garbage was collected in Jerusalem in so strict a manner and why the landfill operated for only about 50 years. Half a century of garbage from Early Roman–period Jerusalem provides an abundance of new data and new insights into the ideological choices and new religious concepts emerging and developing among those living in Jerusalem at this critical moment. It is an eye-opener for archaeologists, historians, anthropologists, and theologians, as well as for the general reader.Trade Review“The studies in this volume provide a fascinating window into Early Roman Jerusalem by presenting the results of the meticulous excavation of a massive garbage dump on the southeastern slope of the City of David. The comprehensive and detailed analyses of the various categories of finds—including pottery, coins, stone vessels, glass, animal and fish bones, and wood—indicate the existence of an organized system of rubbish disposal, much of which appears to represent ordinary household waste. These studies therefore add a valuable new dimension to our understanding of daily life in late Second Temple Jerusalem.”—Jodi Magness,University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill“This book is a must read for everyone interested in the up-to-date topic of archaeo-garbology. Gadot and his team vividly demonstrate why ancient refuse is a strong proxy for identifying societal changes in the urban domain of Jerusalem during Roman times. This synthesis is a true goldmine of quantitative data that introduces us to the repertoire of vessels and the diet of the people in this large metropolis temple-city during one of its peak historical periods. It is these mundane leftovers that provide us with the facts and events of the daily life and economy of Jerusalemites 2000 years ago.”—Guy Bar-Oz,University of HaifaTable of ContentsPrefaceYuval GadotPart I: Introduction and StratigraphyChapter 1. IntroductionYuval GadotChapter 2. StratigraphyYuval GadotPart II: The FindsChapter 3. The PotteryHélène MachlineChapter 4. The Numismatic FindsYoav FarChapter 5. The Chalk VesselsYonatan AdlerChapter 6. The Glass FindsRuth E. Jackson-TalChapter 7.1 The Metal ArtifactsChen AntlerChapter 7.2 Report on Glassy Slag FragmentsShan Huang and Ian FreestoneChapter 8. The Plaster FragmentsLena Naama SharabiChapter 9. The Stone Scale-WeightsRonny ReichChapter 10. Miscellaneous FindsNissan Ben MelechPart III: Flora and FaunaChapter 11. Faunal RemainsAbra Spiciarich and Lidar Sapir-HenChapter 12. Fish RemainsOmri LernauChapter 13. Archaeobotanical AnalysisHelena Roth and Dafna LanggutChapter 14. Seeds, Grains, and Other Plant OrgansIlana Peters and Ehud WeissPart IV: Synthesis and SummaryChapter 15. Committing the Kidron’s Western Slopes to Garbage Disposal: Jewish Urbanism Under Roman HegemonyYuval GadotIndex of Loci

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Book SynopsisOrthodox Jewish women are increasingly seeking new ways to express themselves religiously, and important changes have occurred in consequence in their self-definition and the part they play in the religious life of their communities. Drawing on surveys and interviews across different Orthodox groups in London, as well as on the author’s own experience of active participation over many years, this is a thoroughly researched study that analyses its findings in the context of related developments in Israel and the USA. Sympathetic attention is given to women’s creativity and sophistication as they struggle to develop new modes of expression that will let their voices be heard; at the same time, the inevitable points of conflict with the male-dominated religious establishment are examined and explained. There is a focus, too, on the impact of innovations in ritual: these include not only the creation of women-only spaces and women’s participation in public practices traditionally reserved for men, but also new personal practices often acquired on study visits to Israel which are replacing traditions learned from family members. This is a much-needed study of how new norms of lived religion have emerged in London, influenced by both the rise of feminism and the backlash against it, and also by women’s new understanding of their religious roles.Trade Review'Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz's in-depth study of the religious experience of Orthodox women raises questions for the rabbinic establishment... an important new book.'Simon Rocker, The Jewish Chronicle'Taylor-Guthartz's precise academic writing, interwoven with her own personal knowledge and experience of the community, gives the women represented here agency and authority, exemplifying how traditional groups and practices do not exist at odds with the modern world, or even in parallel, but rather as an integral part of it, adding rich diversity and colour to the pattern of Jewish life today. This is a timely and important treatise, reflecting modern feminist values and shining a light on a previously unexamined segment of the community.'Noa Gendler, Jewish Renaissance'Challenge and Conformity opens up for our understanding a subject of immense importance to Judaism and the Jewish community. The religious lives of Orthodox women is a topic that has previously attracted little research. Taylor-Guthartz approaches it with academic skill and real empathy for the women she interviews and their communities. We learn of the great variety of women’s beliefs, customs and practices that are spread across the Orthodox Jewish world and, through Taylor-Guthartz’s eyes, we gain a greater understanding and appreciation of Jewish life that might otherwise have remained hidden.'Neville Teller, The Jerusalem Post‘Challenge and Conformity serves as a rich chronicle of Orthodox British womanhood and the challenge of creating uniquely female Jewish spaces. It is well rooted in history, community context, and robust ethnographic data and will be helpful to bridge the lacuna on British scholarship of religious practices of Jewish women.’ Ilana C. Spencer, Religious Studies ReviewTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Studying Jewish WomenThe Double Invisibility of Orthodox Jewish WomenThe Scope of Women’s Religious LivesOverlapping Worlds I: The Intersection of Men’s and Women’s Religious LivesOverlapping Worlds II: Living in Jewish and Western ContextsPower and Patriarchy: Do Orthodox Women Have Agency? 2. Setting the Scene: The Jewish LandscapeJews in London: Historical BackgroundCommunity, Communities, Networks, and IdentityThe Development of British Orthodoxy and the British Jewish LandscapeJewish Religious Topography TodayChanging Moods among British Jewish WomenDefining Terms: Talking about the Anglo-Jewish CommunityPrevious Research on British Orthodox Women 3. The View from the Ladies’ Gallery: Women’s ‘Official’ Life in the CommunityWomen and the SynagogueThe Changing Place of Women in Other Communal Arenas 4. Contested Prayers and Powerful Blessings: Women’s ‘Unofficial’ Life in the CommunityCreating Sacred SpacesNuturing the CommunityNew Developments: Sharing the Sacred with Men 5. Women’s ‘Official’ Life in the FamilyThe SabbathFood and KashrutPassoverMikveh and ‘Family Purity’ModestyVisiting the DeadPrayer and Relationship with God 6. Red Threads and Amulets: Women’s ‘Unofficial’ Life in the FamilyQuestioning the Community: Limitations and CaveatsDefinitions and Status of PracticesTesting Stereotypes and AssumptionsWhat Customs Are Practised?Who Practises These Customs?Age as a Factor in Knowledge and Performance of CustomsOrigins and DevelopmentThe Question of ‘Magic’Women’s Understanding of Customs and Practices Conclusion Appendices: Background Data Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisNational Jewish Book Awards Finalist for the Nahum N. Sarna Memorial Award for Scholarship, 2018.Hasidism, a movement of religious awakening and social reform, originated in the mid-eighteenth century. After two and a half centuries of crisis, upheaval, and renewal, it remains a vibrant way of life and a compelling aspect of Jewish experience. This book explores the profound intellectual and religious issues that the hasidic masters raised in their Torah commentary, and brings to the fore the living qualities of their sermons (derashot). Ora Wiskind-Elper addresses a spectrum of topics: creation, revelation, and redemption; hermeneutics, epistemology, psychology, Romanticism, poetry and poetics, art history, Hebrew fiction, cultural history, and tropes of Jewish suffering and hope. Fully engaged in the texts and their spirituality, she brings them to bear on postmodernist challenges to traditional spiritual and religious sensibilities. This is a comprehensive study, unique in pedagogy, clarity, and originality. It uses the full range of critical scholarship on hasidism as a social and ideological movement. At the same time, it maintains a strong focus on hasidic Torah commentary as a conveyor of theology and value. Each of its chapters presents a fundamentally new approach. Wiskind-Elper’s translations are in themselves an innovative moment in the tradition and spiritual history of the passages she offers.Trade ReviewReviews 'Hasidism, for Ora Wiskind-Elper, is the crucible into which the whole world flows: creation, revelation, redemption; hermeneutics, epistemology, Freudian psychology, Romanticism, poetry and poetics, autobiography (which she calls “self-perception”), art history, Hebrew fiction, social history, the challenge of modernity, and the major catastrophes that befell the Jewish people in the twentieth century. In order to produce this definitive, synoptic work on Hasidic Torah commentary, she has mastered the entire corpus of critical scholarship; the different schools of Hasidic thought from master to disciple; the relevant methodologies of reading and interpretation; and last but not least, a social-historical guide to the early and later masters and their disciples, down to the present day. Hasidic Commentary on the Torah is magisterial; unique in its scope, pedagogy, clarity and original insight.' David G. Roskies Sol & Evelyn Henkind Professor of Yiddish Literature and Culture Jewish Theological Seminary, New York‘Ora Wiskind-Elper’s ability to utilize the fullest range of academic scholarship on Hasidism as a cultural and religious movement, in all its diversity is exemplary, and always done with the stronger focus on the role and dynamics of the Hasidic derashah. . . . [her] choice of thematics – from the self-conception of the masters, to their hermeneutics and use of language and tradition, and including the role of historical or social factors to condition the thematics, is not only superb, but brings to the forefront the living qualities of these spiritual sermons, and demonstrates the powerful hermeneutics at play . . . we get an excellent survey of issues . . . one is brought to a new level of comprehension and also spiritual-hermeneutical insight.'Michael Fishbane, Nathan Cummings Distinguished Service Professor of Jewish Studies, University of ChicagoTable of ContentsNote on Transliteration Introduction 1. Dimensions of Collective Self-Understanding Beginnings Receiving, Revealing ‘When Your Wellsprings Will Flow Forth’ To Create New Worlds with Words ‘They Made Their Souls Anew’ To See and to be Seen ‘Well said, Moses!’ 2. Modes of Reading Metaphors We Live By A Parable in Wait Imagining the World The Essence of Being Human Bread-Eaters and Dreamers Know Me in Translation Conclusions So Far How to Teach, How to Learn To Know or Not to Know Finding the Words The Secret of Exile The Secret of Redemption Summing Up 3. Responses to a Shifting Landscape Introduction The Space in the Middle ‘For the Times They are A-Changin’ ’ Reason for Hope The Inward Turn Modernity and Its Discontents ‘God is in the Detail’ Prophets of the Past, Prophets of the Future Deep Blue Sky and Yellow Stars Song of Dust and Ashes Postscript Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisInspiring, mystical, and often surprising Chassidic tales combine with teachings and favorite Jewish recipes to nourish body and soul. Stories and food have always been central to Jewish life, and in this book, they are uniquely tied together. Thirty-nine Chassidic tales, revolving around food and eating and accompanied by spiritual teachings, delve into the mysteries of the Kabbalah, the joy of the Chassidim, and the power of religious faith and acts (mitzvot). Sixty-three recipes highlight Kosher cooking and the special foods traditionally prepared for Shabbat and the major Jewish holidays, including such favorites as knishes, latkes, gefilte fish, brisket, kugel, bagels, and challah bread. Many of the recipes are suitable for children to learn to cook.

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Book SynopsisThis book sets forward a series of interesting and less-explored aspects of Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik's teachings. These essays delve into the Rav's approach toward understanding biblical figures, his views on emotions and intellect, his appreciation of R. Yehudah ha-Levi, his understanding of medieval history, and the implications for modernity.Trade Review"This volume addresses a series of fascinating yet until now less-explored teachings of the Rav. And them are the Rav's take on major personalities in the Tanach, in light of his views on emotion, intellect and the interrelationship of these facets in the Rav's teachings" Alan Jay Gerber, The Jewish Star"'In Scholarly Man of Faith ,' said Dr. Kanarfogel, 'outstanding international scholars examine areas of his intellectual endeavors that have not been fully explored, making the volume valuable to anyone interested in the rav's teaching... I have had the pleasure of investigating with my fellow scholars the forces that have shaped the distinct elements of the Jewish character.'" JLNJ Staff, www.jewishlinknj.com"With essays on topics such as Biblical Hermeneutics in the Thought of R. Soloveitchik: A Preliminary Appraisal of the Influence of R. Yehudah Halevi, Science of Hermeneutics? Rav Soloveitchik's Scientific Method Revisited and more, this is a book by serious scholars and meant for a readership well-versed in western philosophy and at home with Rav Soloveitchik's worldview. For such readers, Scholarly Man of Faith is a reminder just how timeless and relevant Rav Soloveitchik was, and is." Ben Rothke, http://www.jewishpress.comTable of ContentsIntroduction, 7 Shalom Carmy, "In Many Respects God was Closer to Abraham than He was to Moses," Themes in Emergence of Ethical Man, 11 Shira Weiss, Biblical Hermeneutics in the Thought of R. Soloveitchik: A Preliminary Appraisal of the Influence of R. Yehudah Halevi, 27 Alex Sztuden, The Identity of Love and Cognition in the Thought of R. Joseph Soloveitchik, 49 Ephraim Kanarfogel, The History of the Tosafists and their Literary Corpus according to Rav Soloveitchik's Interpretrations of the Qinot for Tishah B'Av, 75 Daniel Rynhold, Science of Hermeneutics? Rav Soloveitchik's Scientific Method Revisited, 109 David Shatz, Contemporary Scholarship on Rabbi Soloveitchik's Thought: Where We Are, Where We Can Go, 135 Contributors, 197

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Book SynopsisPatriots without a Homeland dissects an important underexplored theme in Hungarian Jewry: Modern Orthodoxy. This study clearly demonstrates that beginning from the late nineteenth century, a strong modernizing trend developed within Orthodoxy based on the adoption of Hungarian national identity alongside the preservation of tradition. Modern Orthodoxy was receptive to the Hungarian language, culture, and religion. However, the attempt to integrate failed.The book traces the journey of Hungarian Jews from Emancipation to the Holocaust and seeks to understand the reasons for the Jews’ complete trust in Hungarian integrity. For instance, why did they believe until the very last moment that the Holocaust would not affect them? How could they fail to notice the impending disaster?This is the story of a community that felt rooted in the land and contributed greatly to its well-being, but was eventually rejected: the story of patriots without a homeland.Trade Review“While the study of Orthodox Judaism in Eastern Europe tends to focus on halakhic questions and on the ideological struggles with other Jewish streams, with an emphasis on the internal Jewish arena, this book seeks to examine the conduct of Hungarian Orthodoxy in the external arena. Through rabbinic literature, memoirs, and press, it exposes the changes that occurred in the perception and attitudes of different Orthodox groups. … The book makes a positive contribution to modern Jewish history, particularly, Hungarian Jewry, the emergence of Orthodox Judaism, and the relationship between Jews and other citizens from emancipation to Holocaust. Patriots without a Homeland is recommended for all Judaic scholarly collections.”— David B Levy, AJL News & Reviews“This book offers an original interpretation of the history of Orthodox Jews in modern Hungary. Based on a rich selection of sources from Hungarian Jewish press and Hebrew Rabbinical literature, Hartman’s research illuminates the complicated path Orthodox Hungarian Jews underwent towards their self-perception as an integral part of the Hungarian nation. Hartman deftly lays out the story of Hungarian Jewry from the outset of their civil integration up until the eve of the Holocaust while discerning a variety of strategies aimed to balance national Hungarian identity with Orthodox life. The result is a newly considered picture of Orthodox Jewry in Hungary, eye-opening and enriching to anyone interested in modern Jewish history, European nationalism, and Holocaust Studies.”— Guy Miron, Open University of Israel"Jehuda Hartman’s monograph is a significant contribution to three major subtopics within the study of modern Jewish history: Hungarian Jewry, the emergence of Orthodox Judaism as one among a range of Jewish religious trends in emancipatory times, and the relationship between Jews and other citizens during this turbulent period. Contrary to popular assumptions, Hartman’s work presents the contours of a deep-seated Jewish patriotism in nineteenth-century Hungary even among the most zealously religious Jews. These connections were subsequently challenged by the rising official antisemitism from the turn of the twentieth century onwards. As such, not only does this book enrich historical scholarship, it offers a fresh comparative perspective from which to examine the vicissitudes of contemporary Jewish engagements with host societies as well."— Adam S. Ferziger, Professor and holder of the Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch Chair for the Study of the Torah and Derekh Erez Movement, Department of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry, Bar-Ilan UniversityTable of ContentsPrefacePrologue: An Appeal to the Christian Public in HungaryIntroductionPart One: From the Well-Being of the Kingdom to the Well-being of the Nation: Orthodoxy and Hungarian NationhoodIntroduction: Jews and NationhoodThe Turning Point of EmancipationThe Good Years of the MonarchyShaping and Expressing National ConsciousnessZionism in Red, White, and GreenOrthodox Judaism and Christianity: Attraction and RepulsionThe Trianon EraPart Two: Orthodoxy and AntisemitismIntroductionThe Monarchic EraThe Interwar Period“What Should We Do about These Attacks against Us?”—Reactions and Strategies Internal and External Communication StrategiesAfterwordBibliography

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