Literary Hasidism ─ The Life and Works of Michael Levi Rodkinson

This study analyzes the published and unpublished writings of Michael Levi Rodkinson, a Jewish journalist, newspaper founder, book publisher, and writer. In addition to examining Rodkinson’s role as a publisher of Hasidic hagiography, the study seeks to glean insight on the connections between Hasidism and the Haskalah in the 19th century, and to shed light on Jewish life in Europe and America in the 19th and early 20th century. The book begins by overviewing the life and works of Michael Levi Rodkinson, then chronicles the beginnings of Hasidic hagiography and explores images of Hasidism. The epilogue discusses Michael Levi Rodkinson and neo-Hasidic literature. A glossary is included. The book was originally published in 2012 in Hebrew as Shivhei Rodkinson: Michael Levi Rodkinson and Hasidism, by Hakibbutz Hameuchad. This English edition includes new material from the Archives of the Jewish Theological Seminary, and the last chapter has been expanded. Annotation ©2016 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

Jonatan Meir is associate professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He is the author of Imagined Hasidism: The Anti-Hasidic Writings of Joseph Perl and editor of Sefer Megale Temerin by Joseph Perl.