ABSTRACT
Rabbi Yitzchak Menachem Mendel Danziger (1880–1942) served as the second-largest Hasidic community leader in Poland between the two World Wars. However, scholarly research concerning his life is severely limited, comprising only a few works. This chapter aims to shed light on a specific aspect related to his Hasidic leadership character, focusing on the question of how Rabbi Danziger responded to the antisemitic governmental policies in Poland during the late 1930s and the Nazi invasion. This examination provides insight into his perception of Hasidic leadership, as evident in his work Akedat Yitzchak, a collection of sermons edited by one of his disciples. Through a historical analysis, this chapter aims to demonstrate the manner in which a Hasidic leader reflected upon and interpreted a specific historical period. Furthermore, it endeavors to illuminate how this reflection underscores the profound essence of his role as a quintessential Central Polish Tzadik.
