Hasidism in transition: The Hasidic ideology of Rabbi Gershon Henoch of Radzin in light of medieval Jewish philosophy and Kabbala

The Hasidic tradition of Izbica/Radzin flourished in Congress Poland in the mid to late 19th century. The first two chapters of this study discusses how Hasidism in Poland responded to the influx of modernity, in both the changing intellectual climate as well as the advances in technology. The primary intent of this dissertation is an attempt to evaluate the uniqueness of a particular Hasidic ideology by comparing it to medieval Jewish philosophy and Kabbala on two fronts. First, on the relationship between philosophy and Kabbala, focusing particularly on the epistemological question as to the ability of the human intellect to apprehend the kabbalistic doctrine which is often seen as rooted in revelation. This includes an analysis of the various ways in which medieval Jewish Kabbalists understood the philosophical doctrine of R. Moses Maimonides and the compatibility of Maimonides' Guide for the Perplexed with the kabbalistic theory of the Zohar. R. Gershon Henoch's attempt to synthesize the Zohar with the Guide in his Ha-Hakdama ve Ha-Petiha is analyzed and compared with various medieval kabbalistic positions on this issue.The second part of this study looks at the question of determinism and free-will in medieval Jewish philosophy and compares it with the minimalist view of free-will in Izbica/Radzin Hasidism, especially how determinism emerges out of the Izbica/Radzin reading of Genesis. Finally, the danger of antinomianism, which often arises out of a determinist ideology, is evaluated and discussed within the context of Izbica/Radzin Hasidism.Thesis (Ph.D.)--Brandeis University, 1994.School code: 0021

27-Hydroxycholesterol induces hematopoietic stem cell mobilization and extramedullary hematopoiesis during pregnancy.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is induced during pregnancy to support rapid expansion of maternal blood volume. EMH activation requires hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) proliferation and mobilization, processes that depend upon estrogen receptor α (ERα) in HSCs. Here we show that treating mice with estradiol to model estradiol increases during pregnancy induced HSC proliferation in the bone marrow but not HSC mobilization. Treatment with the alternative ERα ligand 27-hydroxycholesterol (27HC) induced ERα-dependent HSC mobilization and EMH but not HSC division in the bone marrow. During pregnancy, 27HC levels increased in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells as a result of CYP27A1, a cholesterol hydroxylase. Cyp27a1-deficient mice had significantly reduced 27HC levels, HSC mobilization, and EMH during pregnancy but normal bone marrow hematopoiesis and EMH in response to bleeding or G-CSF treatment. Distinct hematopoietic stresses thus induce EMH through different mechanisms. Two different ERα ligands, estradiol and 27HC, work together to promote EMH during pregnancy, revealing a collaboration of hormonal and metabolic mechanisms as well as a physiological function for 27HC in normal mice. J Clin Invest 2017 Sep 1; 127(9):3392-340

Vaginal evisceration

A patient with vaginal evisceration due to prior radiation treatment of cervical carcinoma is presented, together with a review of reported cases. The salient features, predisposing causes and management of this unusual problem are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24293/1/0000559.pd