معرفی
Samuel Heilman is Distinguished Professor of Sociology at Queens College and holds the Harold Proshansky Chair in Jewish Studies at the Graduate Center, both part of the City University of New York system.
Professor Heilman's research focuses on:
- Jewish Studies
- Sociology of Religion
- Orthodox Judaism
- Hasidic Judaism
- Sociology of American Jewry
- Religious Identity
His scholarly work examines the dynamics of Jewish religious life in America, particularly within Orthodox and Hasidic communities. Professor Heilman employs ethnographic methods to analyze how religious Jews define themselves through distinctive practices like 'lernen' (religious study) versus secular learning, and 'davenen' (prayer) versus conventional approaches to spirituality, revealing how language reflects and reinforces religious identity.
Professor Heilman has received significant recognition for his work:
- National Jewish Book Award (for three books: 'The Gate Behind the Wall,' 'A Walker in Jerusalem,' and 'The Rebbe' co-authored with Menachem Friedman)
Professor Heilman earned his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He has authored numerous influential books including 'Who Will Lead Us?: The Story of Five Hasidic Dynasties in America,' 'The Rebbe: The Life and Afterlife of Menachem Mendel Schneerson,' and 'Sliding to the Right: The Contest for the Future of American Jewish Orthodoxy,' establishing him as a leading voice in contemporary Jewish studies.
