Why do religious minorities respond in different ways to economic development? We develop a model of religious organizations based on a historical case study of Jewish emancipation in nineteenth century Europe. In Germany, a liberal Reform movement developed in response to emancipation, while ultra-Orthodox Judaism emerged in eastern Europe. Our explanation for this polarization contributes to ...

Chazal exhort us to strive for ever higher goals. It says in והילא יבד אנת הבר ) גכ : א ( ךכיפל דחאו דחא לכ םירמוא ויהי , בקעיו קחצי םהרבא השעמל יישעמ ועיגי יתמ . (When will my deeds equal those of my forefathers)? Likewise, the concept of shleimus ( " תומילש " ), which can be translated as perfection, is also an honored goal in chazal. On the other hand, clinical experience and research indica...