Holy Living: Saints and Saintliness

Throughout the history of Judaism there can be discerned that specific quality of extraordinary piety known as Hasidut, roughly corresponding to the term saintliness. The person whose life is permeated with this quality is known as a hasid. This book is a phenomenological study of Hasidut and the hasid, that it seeks to delineate the special characteristics of saintliness in Judaism, showing how these differ from other types of Jewish religious belief and conduct. It is somewhat odd that, while the subject has received attention in general works on Judaism, there has not been, to my knowledge, any detailed examination of the phenomenon of saintliness as a separate subject of study.

While this book provides a popular account for which prior knowledge on the part of the-reader is not necessary, it is hoped that scholars of Judaism, and of religion in general, will find some stimulus for further research into this fascinating. topic.