Criticism
As a scholar who writes about different sectors of the Jewish community, Heilman's statements have been a target for both praise and criticism. Together with Menachem Friedman, Heilman authored "The Rebbe: The Life and Afterlife of Menachem Mendel Schneerson". Many of the authors conclusions, as well as their methodology and research were later crticized by some scholars including Chaim Rapoport in a book titled " "The Afterlife of Scholarship - A Critical Review of 'The Rebbe' by Samuel Heilman and Menachem Friedman". (Friedman was also criticised for not disclosing that he had served as an expert witness against the rebbe in a lawsuit involving ownership of the Chabad library, which may invite suspicion of an agenda-driven or biased opinion. Heilman responded that "we have no ax to grind".) Shortly after publication Shmuley Boteach criticized the book, writing in the Jerusalem Post that the book's central thesis had a "fatal flaw", though he concluded that the book had "merit" and provided a "humanizing portrait." David Klinghoffer asserted that "there are peculiar omissions and contradictions. Readers of this biography may wonder if the authors have failed to grasp their subject," in his review for London's Jewish Chronicle. Jonathan Mark of the New York Jewish Week derided the book in a review, including a section where he referred to a "spitball any substantiated academic conclusion, not what you'd expect from a pair of professors who demand to be taken seriously."
These criticisms contrast with various positive reviews: Aside from the book's selection as a recipient of the 2012 National Jewish Book Award, Publishers Weekly called the book an "outstanding biography," as did the Library Journal. Allan Nadler writing in the Forward called it "lively and provocative" and pointed to its "rich" chapters." In Moment, former poet laureate Robert Pinsky praised the book, as did Jewish Ideas Daily, the Tablet, the Jewish Post and Opinion and many others. The book was also reviewed in the feature story New York Times.
Read more about this topic: Samuel Heilman
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