The Gaon of Vilna and the communal rabbinate in 18th century Poland-Lithuania

ENOne of the few remaining consensuses in the study of early Hasidism is that since it was a innovative movement, the opposition to it must have been conservative or even reactionary. The mitnagdim have been held to represent the interests of the rabbinic, communal, or what is often termed the "old style hasidic" establishment in traditional Jewish society, with the Gaon of Vilna viewed as either the spearhead or the figurehead of the opposition. It is this consensus which I wish to question here. Following Etkes, much modern research has tended to conclude that the Gaon of Vilna organized the opposition to Hasidim, rather than serving as a rubber stamp for the communal leadership. This being so, the idea that the mitnagdic movement represented any kind of establishment within traditional Jewish society is very hard to sustain. The Gaon of Vilna conspicuously avoided rabbinic office throughout his career and was never elected to the Vilna community council - kahal. As far as "old style hasidism" is concerned, the Gaon's views do not seem to have represented a widespread and influential stream in Polish-Lithuanian Jewish culture before the 18th century. Yet, if the Gaon did not represent any kind of traditional establishment, how was he able to persuade so many Jews in Lithuania (and outside) to take up arms against Hasidim? [p. 142].