ThoughtGallery.org > Glenn Dynner, Polish Hasidism: A Culture of Resistance

Glenn Dynner, Polish Hasidism: A Culture of Resistance

Hasidism, a popular mystical movement that emerged in Eastern Europe during the late 18th century, was unexpectedly revitalized in interwar Poland despite rising manifestations of antisemitism and mounting Jewish youth defections to secularist movements. Rather than responding to these crises by becoming more insular, as did Hasidim in other regions, Polish Hasidim chose to appropriate and subvert key features of the dominant Polish culture and rival Jewish secularist movements. This fascinating strategy of resistance-through-appropriation is reflected in areas as diverse as politics, education, and literature (tales, mystical discourses). The result was a potent Hasidic subculture that served to ‘solve’, albeit in an imaginary way, the dilemma of living in a Polish society that demanded Jewish acculturation yet refused Jews full admission.











When: Thu., Oct. 25, 2018 at 6:30 pm
Where: Graduate Center, CUNY
365 Fifth Ave.
212-817-7000
Price: Free with RSVP
Buy tickets/get more info now
See other events in these categories:

Hasidism, a popular mystical movement that emerged in Eastern Europe during the late 18th century, was unexpectedly revitalized in interwar Poland despite rising manifestations of antisemitism and mounting Jewish youth defections to secularist movements. Rather than responding to these crises by becoming more insular, as did Hasidim in other regions, Polish Hasidim chose to appropriate and subvert key features of the dominant Polish culture and rival Jewish secularist movements. This fascinating strategy of resistance-through-appropriation is reflected in areas as diverse as politics, education, and literature (tales, mystical discourses). The result was a potent Hasidic subculture that served to ‘solve’, albeit in an imaginary way, the dilemma of living in a Polish society that demanded Jewish acculturation yet refused Jews full admission.

Buy tickets/get more info now