xii Introduction

and varied Hungarian Jewish community to emancipation and the modernization of Jewish life. Unfortunately that essay did not

materialize.

David Ellenson shows how several traditional authorities came to terms with the demands of the new world. They could not reject the major trends of previous halakhic decisions, but found ways to reinterpret aspects of the tradition, sometimes quite radically. In this way they met the new challenges. Such adaptations have, of course, occurred previously, but not so widely or with such broad acceptance.

Mark Washofsky uses the well known halakhic narrative of the“Captive Infant” and its various interpretations to demonstrate how the leadership of the traditional Jewish world sought to come to terms with the modern secular world. Equally important is his discussion of the broader significance of the narrative and its interpretation in shaping the halakhah

The essays of this slim volume seek to make a contribution to the ongoing discussion of the Emancipation and the development of the modern Jewish community as we commemorate the 200" anniversary of Napoleon’s Sanhedrin.

Walter Jacob Sukkot 5768