The complex relationship between social class and religious authority shaped the development of Pharisaism, a movement that would profoundly influence Western civilization through its offspring, Christianity and Islam. Louis Finkelstein's collection of scholarly essays employs historical-critical analysis to illuminate how Pharisaism emerged from Hassidean societies and evolved through persistent tensions between "patrician" and "plebeian" factions. His wide-ranging investigation tackles fundamental questions in Jewish tradition, including the synagogue's origins, the stratification of the Passover Haggadah, connections between Pirke Avot and Avot de Rabbi Nathan, and the evolution of Halakhah. While Finkelstein's examination of socio-economic influences on rabbinic thought breaks important ground, his rigid classification of sages into social categories and several textual interpretations—particularly regarding the Haggadah's treatment of angels and the dating of various institutions—warrant skepticism. Nevertheless, the work stands as a remarkable repository of erudition, offering brilliant insights that illuminate the inner workings of Jewish legal development and significantly advance modern Jewish scholarship.