The Emancipation of the Jews in Poland, 1780-1870 (Jewish Society and Culture)

632 pages. "The legal emancipation of the Jews in most European countries was one of the most significant achievements of 19th century liberalism. The establishment of formal legal equality for the Jews was intended to heal deep divisions between the Jewish and Christian worlds, transforming the Jews from a national religious community - linked by a common culture, a common religion and a set of shared rules governing all aspects of life - into citizens of their respective countries of residence. Emancipation (and the assimilation and acculturation which would follow) would, according to the confident optimism of the liberal idealogues and their Jewish supporters, transform Jews into Englishmen and Frenchmen of the Hebrew faith. The explanation of how and why a proto-nation of Jews developed in Poland is central to modern Jewish history. In this work, set against the backdrop of 19th-century Europe and the Polish struggles for independence, Artur Eisenbach provides a comprehensive account of a fascinating chapter in the development of modern Europe. " (Publisher)