William Shaffir, Professor of Sociology, McMaster University, is solely responsible for the content and organization of this site.

Address:

Department of Sociology
McMaster University
1280 Main St. W.
Hamilton, ON, Canada
L8S 4M4

Telephone:

905 529-7070, x23799

Fax:

905 522-2642

E-mail:

Shaffir@McMaster.ca

My aim is neither to defend the interests of this hassidic community nor to be critical of its politics and social organization. The information made available reflects my particular interests.  I welcome comments, observations, criticisms, and the like, and will respond to any inquiries in a timely manner.

LINK: References to some of my published work on hassidic Jews.

1974. Life In A Religious Community: The Lubavitcher Chassidim In Montreal. Toronto: Holt, Rinehart and Winston of Canada. 

1978. “Becoming an Orthodox Jew: The Socialization of Newcomers in a Chassidic Community.” Pp. 295-309 in L. Dreidger (ed.) The Canadian Ethnic Mosaic: A Quest for Identity. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart. 

1978. “Witnessing as Identity Consolidation: The Case of Lubavitcher Chassidim.” Pp.39-57 in H. Mol (ed.) Identity and Religion. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage. 

1983. “Hassidic Jews and Quebec Politics.” The Jewish Journal of Sociology 25 (2): 105-118. 

1987. (and C. Redekop) “Communal Organization and Secular Education: Hutterite and Hassidic Comparisons.” Pp. 342-357 in Y. Gorni, Y. Oved, and I. Paz (eds.) Communal Life: An Interactionist Perspective. New Jersey: Transaction Books.

1987. “Separated From the Mainstream: The Hassidic Community of Tash.” The Jewish Journal of Sociology 29 (1): 19-35. 

1991. “Managing a Convincing Self-Presentation: Some Personal Reflections on Entering the Field.” Pp. 72-81 in W.Shaffir and R. Stebbins (eds.) Experiencing Fieldwork: An Inside View of Qualitative Research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.

1995. “Boundaries and Self-Presentation among Hasidim: A Study in Identity Maintenance.” Pp. 31-68 in J. Belcove-Shalin (ed.) New World Hasidim: Ethnographic Studies Of Hasidic Jews in America. New York: SUNY Press. 

1995. “When Prophecy Is Not Validated: Explaining the Unexpected in a Messianic Campaign.” The Jewish Journal of Sociology 37 (2): 119-136. 

1998. “Doing Ethnographic Research in Jewish Orthodox Communities: The Neglected Role of Sociability.” Pp. 48-64 in S. Grills (ed.) Doing Ethnographic Research: Fieldwork Settings. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

1998. “Still Separated From the Mainstream: A Hassidic Community Revisited.” The Jewish Journal of Sociology 39 (1&2): 46-62. 

1999. “Doing Ethnography: Reflections on Finding Your Way.” Journal of Contemporary Ethnography 28 (6): 676-686. 

2000. “Hassidim and the Rebbe: Some Initial Observations.” The Jewish Journal of Sociology 42 (1&2): 73-85. 

2004. “Secular Studies In A Hassidic Enclave: ‘What Do We Need It For?’ The Jewish Journal of Sociology 46 (1&2): 59-77. 

2006. “The Renaissance of Hassidism.’ The Jewish Journal of Sociology 48 (1&2): 69-74. 

2007. “Hassidim Confronting Modernity.’ The Jewish Journal of Sociology 49: 5-35. 

LINK: News & Events

Link: Shomrim is a volunteer organization in Tash that operates in concert with the local police.

NEW: Recent Photos – 5775 (2014-2015)







The Tasher Rebbe -Kiryas Tash - 2004






This site is updated regularly.

 Recent Site Updates
This Page: Wednesday, 7-JAN-2015 23:01:49 EDT
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