The book was published in 1998 as '900-year chronicle of the shtetl of Eishyshok.' But she used interviews and oral history and included detail about customs and religion, although she is not an anthropologist. She is a professor of Judaic studies at Brooklyn College.  Her Ph.d is in Russian intellectual history.  Also, her ancestors lived in Eishyshok.  
I agree that this is not the place to push political views.  I have also noticed that this topic might spill over with information belonging to other articles. It is a challenge...