Marcin Wodzinski has produced the first cartographic reference book on Hasidism, one of the modern era's most vibrant and important mystical movements. In this lecture, he will discuss Hasidism's emergence and expansion in Eastern Europe; its spread to the New World; and its remarkable postwar rebirth. Wodzinski’s innovative mapping allows him to show to what extent Hasidism dominated the Eastern European Jewry, which Hasidic dynasties were strongest and why, and how the Hasidim resurrected in the Post-Holocaust era.

Marcin Wodziński (b. 1966) was born and raised in Silesia, Poland. He currently works at the Department of Jewish Studies, University of Wrocław, Poland, where he is professor of Jewish history and literature. His research focuses on the history and culture of East European Jews in modern times, especially the Haskalah and Hasidism. Of his recent publications, he is most proud of "Historical Atlas of Hasidism" (2018) and "Hasidism: Key Questions" (2018).

If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation to attend this event, please reach out to copernicus@umich.edu at least 2 weeks in advance of this event. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.