Overview

During the first half of the twentieth century, nationalizing processes in Europe and Palestine reshaped observant Jewry into two distinct societies, ultra-Orthodoxy and national-religious Judaism. Tracing the dynamics between the two most influential Orthodox political movements of the period, from their early years through the founding of the State of Israel, Daniel Mahla examines the crucial role that religio-political entrepreneurs played in these developments. He frames the contest between non-Zionist Agudat Yisrael and religious-Zionist Mizrahi as the product of wide-ranging social and cultural struggles within Orthodox Judaism and demonstrates that at the core of their conflict lay deep tensions between rabbinic authority and political activism. While Orthodoxy's encounter with modern Jewish nationalism is often cast as a confrontation between religious and secular forces, this book highlights the significance of intra-religious competition for observant Jewry's transition to the age of the nation state and beyond.

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9781108481519

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Reviews

'This systematic, rigorous analysis of Orthodox Judaism in its encounter with nationalism captures the emergence of the very tensions and fissures that continue to define Orthodox politics today. [Daniel] Mahla's account of the rise of two distinct Orthodoxies - Zionist and non-Zionist - highlights the potency of politicized religion during modernity. It is a major achievement in the field.' Glenn Dynner, author of Yankel's Tavern: Jews, Liquor and Life in the Kingdom of Poland 'Daniel Mahla presents a deep and vital study of Jewish Orthodoxy in times of political ferment, in interwar Poland and in Mandate Palestine. With his wide-ranging telescope, he carefully investigates the larger context: politics inside and outside the Jewish community, religion, economics, and the social dimension of Orthodox Jewry at a time of polarization and intense antisemitism. Because of the rise of religious Orthodoxy in today's Israel, this work matters; it reveals the origins of contemporary Jewish religious life.' Brian Horowitz, Sizeler Family Chair Professor, Jewish Studies, Tulane University, Louisiana 'This systematic, rigorous analysis of Orthodox Judaism in its encounter with nationalism captures the emergence of the very tensions and fissures that continue to define Orthodox politics today. [Daniel] Mahla's account of the rise of two distinct Orthodoxies - Zionist and non-Zionist - highlights the potency of politicized religion during modernity. It is a major achievement in the field.' Glenn Dynner, author of Yankel's Tavern: Jews, Liquor and Life in the Kingdom of Poland 'Daniel Mahla presents a deep and vital study of Jewish Orthodoxy in times of political ferment, in interwar Poland and in Mandate Palestine. With his wide-ranging telescope, he carefully investigates the larger context: politics inside and outside the Jewish community, religion, economics, and the social dimension of Orthodox Jewry at a time of polarization and intense antisemitism. Because of the rise of religious Orthodoxy in today's Israel, this work matters; it reveals the origins of contemporary Jewish religious life.' Brian Horowitz, Sizeler Family Chair Professor, Jewish Studies, Tulane University, Louisiana

'This systematic, rigorous analysis of Orthodox Judaism in its encounter with nationalism captures the emergence of the very tensions and fissures that continue to define Orthodox politics today. Mahla's account of the rise of two distinct Orthodoxies - Zionist and non-Zionist - highlights the potency of politicized religion during modernity. It is a major achievement in the field.' Glenn Dynner, author of Yankel's Tavern: Jews, Liquor and Life in the Kingdom of Poland 'Daniel Mahla presents a deep and vital study of Jewish Orthodoxy in times of political ferment, in interwar Poland and in Mandate Palestine. With his wide-ranging telescope, he carefully investigates the larger context: politics inside and outside the Jewish community, religion, economics, and the social dimension of Orthodox Jewry at a time of polarization and intense antisemitism. Because of the rise of religious Orthodoxy in today's Israel, this work matters; it reveals the origins of contemporary Jewish religious life.' Brian Horowitz, Sizeler Family Chair Professor, Jewish Studies, Tulane University, Louisiana 'This systematic, rigorous analysis of Orthodox Judaism in its encounter with nationalism captures the emergence of the very tensions and fissures that continue to define Orthodox politics today. Mahla's account of the rise of two distinct Orthodoxies - Zionist and non-Zionist - highlights the potency of politicized religion during modernity. It is a major achievement in the field.' Glenn Dynner, author of Yankel's Tavern: Jews, Liquor and Life in the Kingdom of Poland 'Daniel Mahla presents a deep and vital study of Jewish Orthodoxy in times of political ferment, in interwar Poland and in Mandate Palestine. With his wide-ranging telescope, he carefully investigates the larger context: politics inside and outside the Jewish community, religion, economics, and the social dimension of Orthodox Jewry at a time of polarization and intense antisemitism. Because of the rise of religious Orthodoxy in today's Israel, this work matters; it reveals the origins of contemporary Jewish religious life.' Brian Horowitz, Sizeler Family Chair Professor, Jewish Studies, Tulane University, Louisiana

'This systematic, rigorous analysis of the origins of orthodox Judaism in its encounter with nationalism captures the emergence of the very tensions and fissures that continue to define orthodox politics today. Mahla's account of the rise of two distinct orthodoxies - Zionist and non-Zionist - highlights the potency of politicized religion during modernity. It is a major achievement in the field.' Glenn Dynner, author of Yankel's Tavern: Jews, Liquor & Life in the Kingdom of Poland 'David Mahla presents a deep and vital study of Jewish Orthodoxy in times of political ferment, in inter-war Poland and in mandate Palestine. With his wide-ranging telescope, he carefully investigates the large context: politics inside and outside the Jewish community, religion, economics, and the social dimension of Orthodox Jewry at a time of polarization and intense antisemitism. Because of the rise of religious Orthodox in today's Israel, this work matter; it reveals the origins of today's situation in Jewish religious life.' Brian Horowitz, Sizeler Family Chair Professor, Jewish Studies, Tulane University 'This systematic, rigorous analysis of the origins of orthodox Judaism in its encounter with nationalism captures the emergence of the very tensions and fissures that continue to define orthodox politics today. Mahla's account of the rise of two distinct orthodoxies - Zionist and non-Zionist - highlights the potency of politicized religion during modernity. It is a major achievement in the field.' Glenn Dynner, author of Yankel's Tavern: Jews, Liquor & Life in the Kingdom of Poland 'David Mahla presents a deep and vital study of Jewish Orthodoxy in times of political ferment, in inter-war Poland and in mandate Palestine. With his wide-ranging telescope, he carefully investigates the large context: politics inside and outside the Jewish community, religion, economics, and the social dimension of Orthodox Jewry at a time of polarization and intense antisemitism. Because of the rise of religious Orthodox in today's Israel, this work matter; it reveals the origins of today's situation in Jewish religious life.' Brian Horowitz, Sizeler Family Chair Professor, Jewish Studies, Tulane University

Author Information

Daniel Mahla is an assistant professor of modern Jewish history at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munchen.

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