this new historiography of the 19th century with its…

this new historiography of the 19th century with its sustained anti traditionalism began to elicit a traditionalist alternative history designed to counter its conclusions. If for the first time history, not a sacred text, becomes the arbiter of Judaism, then the historical record would have to be set straight in the world where virtually all 19 century Jewish ideologies from reform to Zionism would feel the need to appeal to history for validation.

— from Time

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