Prof. Arthur Green
Dean of the Rabbinical School at Hebrew College and Philip W. Lown Professor of Jewish Thought at Brandeis University
The Messiah of Brooklyn is a serious and thoughtful treatment of one of the most interesting developments in Jewish life in the late 20th century. The attempt to transform a distinguished Hasidic community into a messianic sect and the various reactions to it should arouse the interest of scholars of religion everywhere. Ehrlich offers the rare combination of a thorough understanding of the inner Habad sources with sociological sophistication and a comparative eye. The result is a provocative and open minded assessment of Habad messianism as a religious phenomenon. A fine account and analysis of a fascinating series of events.
Prof. Allan Nadler
Director, Jewish Studies Program, Drew University
The Messiah of Brooklyn is the most comprehensive and objective biographical study yet written about the late Lubavitcher Rebbe and his huge impact on contemporary Judaism. Ehrlich’s book is a major contribution to the history of Hasidism, American Judaism and modern Jewish messianism, as it thoroughly examines the past half-century of the Lubavitcher Hasidic movement from multiple perspectives, all through the prism pf Rabbi Schneerson’s incredible life and legacy as leader of contemporary Jewry’s most influential and controversial religious movement.
Prof. Elliot Wolfson
Abraham Lieberman Professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, New York University
The Messiah of Brooklyn by M. Avrum Ehrlich is a balanced and well documented account of what will undoubtably come to be seen as one of the most extraordinary chapters in the history of Jewish messianism. Utilizing sociological and anthropological models combined with traditional forms of learning, Ehrlich presents a cogent and coherent depiction of the evolution of the messianic belief surrounding Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh leader of the Lubavitch Hasidic dynasty, arguing convincingly that the messianic fervor should not be viewed as the idiosyncratic enthusiasm of a few individuals but rather as the inspiring force that impelled the growth of Habad into a leading force in post-Holocaust world Jewry. Ehrlich has succeeded to present the messianism of Habad into socio-political terms that resonate with other contemporary religious movements that have utilized technological means to advance and secure traditional values and practices in a largely secular and non-traditional world.
Adam J. Levanthal, Denver, CO, USA
Phenomenal overview and glimpse into Lubavitch Chasidism. That a reviewer questions whether the author had sufficient knowledge of "Chabad officialdom" only makes me question whether that reviewer even read this book. Yes, it's true that it has simple --though I wouldn't call them glaring-- errors that a more careful editing would have found, such as two references, including on page 92, that the Rebbe died in 1996, not 1994, a mistaken mention of a footnote on page 244 that Barry Gourary was 20, not 27, years old at the time of his grandfather's passing, among a few others. However, these simple errors in no way detract from the sheer enormity of this book's contribution in understanding Lubavitch Chasidism.
I secured a copy of this book last month shortly after its publication when I was in the midst of writing a college research paper on.... current Lubavitch messianism. In that regard, this book was almost a godsend and I'm indebted to Dr. Ehrlich, especially pertinent Part Four: The Succession, for the paper. I would think that The Messiah of Brooklyn is probably the most comprehensive possible attempt in exploring the Rebbe's leadership techniques, personal characteristics, his psychology, and the own complex, often contradictory aspects of his enigmatic personality and how these all played out in his administration, the institutions, succession, messianism, with context provided of general Chasidic/Chabad history in Part One.
To give one example, Ehrlich discusses the Rebbe's isolation, given the almost superhuman complex lavished upon him by all, including his secretaries, compounded by his childlessness. His one true confidant being his wife, Ehrlich speculates upon the impact of her passing in 1988, "...Schneerson was isolated as never before. Most of his few intimates had passed away due to advanced age, and with the passing of his wife he was left bereft of intimate companionship on an intimate basis. Schneerson's predicament was unusual for a Rebbe, for the absence of extended family required him to maintain the professional status of a `flawless leader' even to his closest associates. Throughout his life there was no one, except his wife, with whom he could be other than `the Rebbe,' a factor that no doubt made a deep impact on his psychology and required him to internalize his true personality. This fact alone might have contributed to the uniqueness and loneliness of his leadership, and perhaps to the development of the messianic element, especially in his later years."
I had never really understood the Rebbe's "take" on Zionism (though I knew his two immediate predecessors, the Rashab and Rayatz, were vehemently against it), so Chapter 11: Habad Hasidism and Zionism, clarified a great deal on this matter. Ehrlich discusses the Rebbe's own youthful Zionist influences and understanding of the Chabad movement as a sort of opposing, alternative, more authentic form of "Zionism" in that its mission purpose was to bring about the complete redemption of the Jewish people to offset the impression of Zionism being synonymous with the Jews' redemption. He makes the case that the Rebbe did admire the self-sacrifice of the Zionists in their cause and his employing his own "Zionism and military symbolism in Habad" is important.
Inasmuch as I was in somewhat of a hurry to read this book the first time around for the purpose of my paper, I look forward to rereading The Messiah of Brooklyn in the near future with greater focus. This is, without doubt, the best overview and glimpse into Lubavitch chasidism that I've encountered.
Reviewer: Midwest Book Review, Oregon, WI, USA
Fascinating, scholarly balance of socio-religious analysis! The Messiah Of Brooklyn: Understanding Lubavitch Hasidism Past And Present is the true story of the expansion of the Habad-Lubavitch school of hasidic Judaism as led by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Discussing Schneerson's history as a survivor of the Holocaust, the instructions he gave that formed the foundation of Habad's messianic aspect with a focus upon outreach among Jews as a necessary condition for "redemption", and the remarkable growth of influence of this group in the past fifty years, The Messiah Of Brooklyn is a fascinating, scholarly balance of socio-religious analysis, biography, history, and in-depth discussion of ideology. A highly recommended resource for anyone seeking to enrich their knowledge of hasidic Judaism's role in modern history and present-day religious studies. |
