From Hungarian Orthodoxy Separatism to Fervent Zionism

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.   

Yoav Sorek (b. 1970) is a prominent Israeli public intellectual and author of The Israeli Covenant (2015). After an extensive career editing Israel's leading journals and conducting PhD research on Hungarian Jewish Orthodoxy, he now leads curated historical tours. He is the founder and leader of the Lechatchila Israeli Jewish renewal enterprise.