a nation in flux #18

the 18th century

Chacham Tzvi

• Tzvi Hirsch Ashkenzai 1656 – May 2, 1718
• Became the Rav in Altona, then moved to Amsterdam

Rabbi Yaakov EMDEN

• June 4, 1697 – April 19, 1776
• Rabbi, scholar, independently wealthy
• Attacked Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschutz on the basis that he was a Sabbatean

RamCHAL

• 1707-1747, Padua, Italy
• Great student and teacher of mysticsm
• Author of the famous Mesilat Yesharim
• יסוד החסידות ושרש העבודה התמימה הוא שיתברר ויתאמת אצל האדם מה חובתו בעולמו

Yaakov frank

• 1726 – December 10, 1791
• Proclaimed himself as a reincarnation of Shabtai Zvi. Attempted to convert people to Christianity

The "Get" of Cleaves

• 1766 Marriage of Isaac and Leah in Mannheim, Germany
• Husband ran away days after the wedding
• Three weeks later he gave her a get and went on to London

Hassidism

• Yisrael Baal Shem Tov born around 1700
• At the age of 36 he began traveling and teaching
• Introduced a pathway to service of God that is not based on Torah study alone
• Social, political, religious and mystical
• 1756 Vaad Arba Aratzos bans Kabbalah

The Second Generation

• Baal Shem Tov died in 1760
• Lead by Reb Dovber, the Maggid of Mezritch
• Rabbis Sheur Zalman of Liadi, Elimelech of Lizensk, Zusa of Anipoli, Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev, Yaakov Yosef of Poloneyh

The VILNA GAoN

• 1720 - 1797
• Unparalleled Talmid Chacham
• Never held a formal position, but commanded Jewry with his piety and presence

The Misnagdim

• 1772 - Chassidim were placed in Cherem
• Continued for the next 50 years
• Tzemach Tzedek of Chabad believed this was very positive!

FUEDS

• After the death of the Gr"a on 19 Tishrei 1797, chassidim celebrated ambiguously. Misnagdim accused them of rejoicing of his death
• Jewish Council of Vilna attacked the chassidim.
• In response, Chassidim informed on the council to the Russian government.

The Alter Rebbe

• Summer 1798, Vilna accuses the Alter Rebbe of currency violations
• Incarcerated for 53 days in St. Petersberg. Released on 19 Kislev
• Vilna Jewish Council was disbanded and a new council of Chassidim was appointed

Poland

• 1772 Poland is dismembered until after WWI.
• Catherine the Great rules Jewish Poland. The Pale of Settlement is created to ghetto off the Jews
• Technically no Jews allowed to live outside. 5 Million Jews (40%) lived in the Pale
• Rich spiritually, but very poor

Israel

• RABBI YEHUDA HACHASID 1700 - Leaves Europe to make Aliya and takes many with him
• Students of the Baal Shem Tov and Vilna Gaon both were making Aliya based on Messianic ideals

USA

• Ashkenazim arrived - Shuls are build in NY, RI
• Chaim Solomon is a member of Mikveh Yisrael in PA, major financeer of the Revolution

Western/Central europe

• Maria Theresa of Austria/Hungary banned Jews from major cities, forced taxes and yellow stars
• Succeeded by Joseph II who allowed jews to enroll in universities
• Jewish Quarter in Prague is named for him

Giants of the era

• Noda B'Yehuda
• Ohr HaChaim
• Pri Megadim on SA
• Aryeh Leib Ginzberg - Shaagas Aryeh
• Aryeh Leib HaKohen Heller - Ketzos
• Meam Loez in Ladino
• Chida - Author and traveller
• Yaakov Kranz, the Dubno Maggid

Moses mendelssohn

• Moses Mendelssohn (
• 1729 – 1786
• Introduced the notion of "Jew at home and Human being on the street"
• Believed acculturation would endear Jews to Germans
• 4 of his 6 children converted to Christianity
• Translated the Bible to German

reformations

• Equality
• Modernity
• Revolutions
• Democracy
• Enlightenment