Jewish mass movements

With the collapse in Europe of the feudal system of government and its replacement with absolutist monarchs came the weakening of the local kahal's power within the Jewish community. As the geographically-based jurisdiction became thinner, mass movements began to take their place. Hassidism, the Yeshiva movement (mitnagdim), the mussar movement, and Haskala all emerged from the demise of the authority of the town’s or city's rabbinate.