In 1789, as the soil of Europe was transformed with the French Revolution and the ensuing Emancipation, Rabbi Schnuer Zalman of Liadi was writing a short book that would redefine the soul of Judaism for the new era. Enlightenment and modernity posed an existential threat for Judaism and fractured the Jewish world, yet the exposition of Kabbalah and Chassidism in the 18th century allowed Jews to discover a sophistication in their faith that would redefine the meaning of Liberty, Fraternity and Equality and would show the relevance of Torah in a modern world.
This lecture was delivered at the 2th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com.
