This book is a history, an indictment, a lament, and an appeal, focusing on the messianic trend in Lubavitch hasidism. It records the shattering of one of Judaism's core beliefs and the remarkable equanimity with which the standard-bearers of Orthodoxy have allowed it to happen. This is a development of striking importance for the history of religions, and it is an earthquake in the history of Judaism. David Berger describes the unfolding of this historic phenomenon and proposes a strategy to contain it.
Passionate, powerful, brilliant . . . This is simply the most important book of Judaism‹not about Judaism but of Judaism‹to appear this year, and the most urgent in decades.'
Jacob Neusner, Jerusalem Post
'Compelling . . . imperative reading, as it carefully and systematically documents the true nature and scope of contemporary Lubavitch missionary work.'
Allan Nadler, Forward
'courageous and important book.'
Lippman Bodoff, Midstream
'Until now, no one has made the case as forcefully as Berger.'
Jack Riemer, Moment
'The principle is right, the passion is right, and the deeply classical nature of David Berger's book is very moving. It is rare that the scholarly study of Judaism so intensely engages with living Judaism. Berger's erudite ferocity is exhilarating.'
Leon Wieseltier