One of
the most visible aspects of Orthodox Judaism in present-day Israel is the
ubiquity of the "Gdoilim" – "the great ones" - the luminary
spiritual leaders whose presence dominates orthodox politics, media and the
public space. However, these individuals, whose lives are constantly canonized
in hagiographies, have largely remained unknown outside the Orthodox Jewish
communities, and have generally been overlooked by the academic research. The
'Gdoilim': Individuals who shaped Haredi Judaism in Israel is a pioneering
attempt to fill this gap by offering a comprehensive collection of articles by
Israeli and American leading scholars of Orthodox Judaism striving to elucidate the lives and theologies of these
extraordinary individuals and explain the secret of their lasting power.
Moreshet Radio, interview with Benjamin Brown, June 2017
Israel Hayom, by Dan Margalit, May 2017
Be'Sheva, by Yoel Katan, May 2017
"This book offers a unique, untapped resource for today’s academics, students of Jewish history and the average man on the street. It culls the life and history of many Gedolim, great Jewish minds and leaders of the last few hundred years. Although one can argue with some of the conclusions given by the particular chapters’ article, nevertheless, overall it’s a treasure trove of information that is provided with extensive footnotes in one book. In particular, the chapters on Rabbis Kahanenman, Kotler, Satmar and Lubavitcher Rebbes were interesting. I found that the book spoke honestly about the individuals including the purported deficiencies in their life... In short, congratulations on a masterpiece." - Review of The Gdoilim by Rabbi Chaim Dalfin, May 2017
"From time to time a volume emerges from the world of academia, that breaks through the status-quo and captivates and makes waves among various crowds of regular people and Chareidim." - the Seforim blog, by Eliezer Brodt, March 2017