From Hungarian Orthodoxy Separatism to Fervent Zionism: The Life and Times of Rabbi M. S. Glasner

From Hungarian Orthodoxy Separatism to Fervent Zionism tells the story of the eldest great-grandson of Hatam Sofer and leading Orthodox rabbi in Klausenburg (Cluj) M.S. Glasner. Glasner (1856-1924), the head of a major yeshiva and a respected halakhic authority, challenged the Hungarian Orthodox establishment after World War I by championing Zionism and rejecting the long-held principle of communal separation. His activism helped spark a national Jewish awakening in Transylvania and ultimately led to fierce opposition, his resignation, and his immigration to Jerusalem.

This book blends biography and intellectual history, and commemorates the journey of a sharp, independent thinker who viewed rationalism, humanism, and Jewish nationalism as authentic elements of tradition. It also opens a door to the often-forgotten modernist wing of Hungarian Orthodoxy and depicts how World War I reframed Jewish identity. What is more, it uncovers overlooked chapters in the history of Hungarian Jewry that continue to influence Orthodox life today.