Glenn Dynner

Glenn Dynner, a Professor specializing in Jewish history and a scholar of Hasidism, dives deep into the life of the Baal Shem Tov. He discusses the evolution of Hasidism from elitism to a welcoming spiritual movement, emphasizing community and humility. The conversation also explores the complexities of the Baal Shem Tov's character and his joyful approach to Judaism, along with the challenges historians face in interpreting the historical and legendary narratives surrounding him. Dynner sheds light on how these teachings continue to influence the spiritual landscape.

Join Prof. Glenn Dynner, a leading expert in Hasidic history, as he dives into the transformative life of the Baal Shem Tov, a pivotal figure in Hasidism. Discover his revolutionary approach to joy in spirituality and the importance of balancing physical and spiritual fulfillment. Dynner explores the socio-economic context of 18th-century Eastern Europe, the healing practices of the Baal Shem Tov, and the vibrant community of Mezbush. Uncover the unconventional origins and teachings that shaped the foundations of Hasidic thought.

In Class 8, guest lecturer Glenn Dynner, Professor of Judaic Studies and Director of the Bennett Center at Fairfield University, explores the early Jews of modern Ukraine. Timothy Snyder is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He speaks five and reads ten European languages. Ukraine must have existed as a society and polity on 23 February 2022, else Ukrainians would not have collectively resisted Russian invasion the next day. What does it mean for a nation to exist? Is this a matter of structures, actions, or both? Why has the existence of Ukraine occasioned such controversy? In what ways are Polish, Russian, and Jewish self-understanding dependent upon experiences in Ukraine? Just how and when did a modern Ukrainian nation emerge? For that matter, how does any modern nation emerge? Why some and not others? Can nations be chosen, and can choices be decisive? If so, whose, and how? Ukraine was the country most touched by Soviet and Nazi terror: what can we learn about those systems, then, from Ukraine? Is the post-colonial, multilingual Ukrainian nation a holdover from the past, or does it hold some promise for the future? Course reading list Video version of this course available on YouTube.