Professor Samuel C. Heilman, Distinguished Professor of Sociology at Queen College, presents his lecture “The Story of Five Hasidic Dynasties in America” before a roundtable audience at Temple Chai (www.templechai.com/) in Phoenix, AZ.
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ABOUT THIS LECTURE: The lecture explores the remarkable resurrection of Hasidism in America and its capacity for maintaining the charismatic authority of its dynastic leadership, often via struggle and gripping family dynamics. We will look at two Hasidic dynasties that found themselves with too many successors – Satmar and Bobov – two with too few successors – Munkács and Boyan – and one that claims they do not really need a successor – Chabad/Lubavitch – because they refuse to believe their leader ever died. These are chronicles of the making and unmaking of men, a search for charisma, leader- ship, and struggles for power. They tell of families united and divided, of death and resurrection, and of hopes raised and dashed. They give substance to the eternal question of Hasidism: Who will lead us?
