Hasidic Judaism

c e <> Hasic · ~

_ ,,est for the l Ji .. oric ,I Ba l . 1e:1tt 'T Jt'

11 _} Rosn1 1

ES

Introduc ion

K\f re d'lM l MC lrnnd (f fi fY YCl"I . r1I - .,ft1J)fl1 of ri)e, pu :1nvc i.-~:-,. chc-Ra~~, Shmt Tov . hA l'tNl

• nd, 1 ctd, chc I i~ 0ry of rel &fO'll- f.1:1- impact jn both tbe $ rilu:'11 a d < ial

rta lms. 11 Ha~c:n~,n t u: 111)~ l ical (1 ,o~ Ln·a, 1t p art u{ onyd:sy tl10 io 111 K11 b 1111 h w,u u rnc Hlffl ;a tnal r.>r in t•n:. i ri;: ct1m m in n file mdi cr cl o l t cnrourogil~ i :lciori. t"lp s Wll; ace 01t tb" need ro rf'. I t tt to God tbrou ju ', i11~1cad u( bt L<ij:t ll un: a11d aJdrc,~i • LIL<' m· J 1v 1dua

1 ) ottd:s t t:tnte ii 1na1 .., c 1~01.u t1b1tcl1 • fo i lwt l, H ~ ••

rcaikd lJlll "!Uc SO.rl o( plcl1~111 that ;i p .u,tJ tb t u 11.l.Lll O of' d LC m.1~<~ o ciu;r.e m E 1mp cim J~ y m th e n n~eer.tk~md e-1 y rwen. : erh , ,mm ri" , J\ f«-,1 11 prriod o ' dccl n~., PlJ rkcri c,p ..-fall by hr. tm,:i, fa re of nr t1.1aUy all Ha.sld "' , , u 11ll c d1.ui11~ tbl· Ho:! t~ t 1 Ha: iJwh a pr-over, at h.a.s th.e powe r tu £1<.nun lt m modnn demu cn hc ,ioe1c . s. To day we 4'C"e: .vitm:ssios m: rnen >us ro'Aih af t b "d ie ""rmlp., in ura d :\m Nk,1, ntl f .uropc .

So da Jly , tb c Ha3id11111 dc V< ·c d to tkeu chansrutic lenders ,zuddJkim or,1bb1".sJ, foun.:. l'l tr4!.tn~M r;rp,tn.ir~ tion 1u ,t1~f 1 tlyb -daecf m.1ny Qt rh e ~ p, b ~lWctctn rhe cl e nnd t M r$n k 11n d le. Til ey fo'1116d d i • rt ; . I yt r fll ri f y vol tnrtl .• °"" n-.un 1 • ei. \\, etc rh i ce, o c r«tn of tlt'll\bt. >. -,oul> a.) o ,., Ctn, b1'"'i of so~ al jta< a.nd t co,w ,~,c welfa r e woe ,u ,·e:niral to t he ,zuddJk'5 cow.:un n, wcre pr.t }1Cr .&r.d rit · u:aJ ob.sen·~nce.. •~ n 11; OWTI tin-~~ the mat1J..I nnd relif?l')11$ te.t dii ne~ a ~

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za.-d ,~ 11 aud d Ha I ylt of w OG 1ip 1b 1b si ·us .u,d ,f.:l .mg nf:. > ~o $'nme d~e., rllc :tool ,. nd f)tim -c of II ut.a n en Jewish religion i1mi Ge rt o1n in.:1u.enct' on « ruin ooa ·Je - h d r&-1. G, well. Mot t"C>vcr, ,~ l id io ·s c boa or.id 11..r ,runmtd u. f~mt at p t .t}'<t: Jtas btcll uduptc cl ct-A wotld ov~ stcreocypical emblem of tr~cilooa. 1 Jc h if,..

l pro~, I t of I I I ovc lh3t Iii btt:1 0 C'J Ci> du: dt· ..-ellop10K1t o( mad!m Juchi sro, tbt Bu;,t (r:ir ooaut:011 E tebw.t · 11croo ·m r>f h:.':,1 Sl1cll ~, c p ycd l twd l,u.w: lf) !i c u~ kc:t.11 11 t ~r ~1 . 1 rr, l'< ... ,.,~i ,..,, II J)I ti:~ II 111r, f~\ r , u • th t !I ) "' t IHI~ I e Ba hr. is somthow to u.·uk.m nd fu.Jid:sm., .md 'l'i:1 it 111.'J, « moekm cwis h t~ •ic,11 ,d t'J1~uc 1 t W, ltu a,·t lK t< the p,i.Umu o{

hlc ,u srecd rupar..siblt few~~ mw,cn:ie111~s eo ~ · and ,ns.mu.,10,u,. ns ll n 11du.mbr .atioa of wh.1t wi1s to utlfold , or ..s il scartd.ard for mt11s...1r i g 1 c b ier moverrum,-:'$ b~.11: of faith wi:b its foun der's nqhle in:cn rh:.n 1

Bc,"God his«>r.;iim io n 10 Ha •idisni1 th ll ,h1 ·, pc~ ·,-.d as~ o cl urtl:*t Ji&41<S. u , 1ht ltis.tory af J~ '4 h spirirU;1 i • .Afo~ dt: 1bt Vil.na wo and l"I• I h, l1r 11:'ltly vi :, c,,,~ oft ,e cu;h- f r..-1 ,1 ,-c oti.,. 1ic" nllf,1 .. :$,cs II et~. Ii ng tl11:ccl "a, vh;1~c f I u n n udal 1i. If 1hc G ,r• trait, 11. I, l~o , a, t

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In

I.I 1i-nr1 o ( h 111\ b.t l) ll f ll l JI ti \ , ~f Wt li r • l If' 11 \' ·11tn l lr t in• lts origins to .i cu .rJ - urc but follov,iri ~ m I a tf r er;;irion or n ·Jr 11:l)' h:1 .._. o<trl • 1 r., ,1 IOI ( \\ •1 l d1t ,;ur;(" J, a, 1J lei r.rod uc. con '!>ilations ut !Ji.t. A:s 1b0 ut t-itr and s.t i -s spoM!r. Lr llim, • 11:ld. ng " c1:1 .ed e1con r r h1~ I re. F,A urly Chm u an .. 1 • rh1s am r· lauo11 ·~ ti . C >rdi, lus HawJ,w ,, f 1~ b vf,,, lI,..JJ~,h ( I l"t~&.>< uf 1 1c ~·:,J I t , Tov;.~

u i"i cnl 1enil m.1tNi1I. s.:boloB n-:m 4er,end nu rt l)' on dteir al 1li ~y ' " 1 1e, p r. d cnmpt II n. rhc It '" not n, nf wt, I ,tah ,

1.-,1u.: 1t h:iscd~ .le !?est, ao mcm 11es mott rltan .1 t!l'lttJ:1on old ; thc.;e t !"011)11c~ m. Ii~ c ttn filter~:d thro ugh 1~ ny-P"''I hefcir• be,ng t •t0 ,l 11Jtd; the C II e , S M \' . I\ (I tc, "i I , e.tt1Q 1 I !tilt I I \t' I tile, the 1n l<t \'.11h u! du: 1no111.·11· , t :tl * r I \sclr a " Ill'< ~IJJt-C u! ,ts (fen + opmcnt, rr..1.nr ·! .1rr. ,1f~ r the cta rf'.i 6.; re's d a~b . dx mpil,u:ina coo· fi, 1ru I ti-I I t (t 1:;1Cr 1,el~· m 111 ,.n,., , c.:1v1;11 ~ " ic,11'11\ I •11(; tmw OJI dtt bin oric:~ o f .. n nc!,;vidJ - I <b.1 .am be ,11J,ut<:J? · l~b lit

tb 1 U'! rtts u( ! t cix;n la f6: '1ft

lrrroc' IC"li n

1hclf. M ffl!'I n purp'* i$ to :1 .. ttcntion to ma1tr Is, i:,titrprl'!-.itions, nod m!'IbodiOk:11:J.iC:il • g_JJ ow cak , ,re;, :tt· -0<u.11tC • t-fl ponr:1 ng the B~ h,. l.y summnri:iing 1:Y- ues nn.d rmu. :-s o( p~vj c, 11~ a':t 'il1 I !'CW fl:,\ I I flt t:.<iffll fl Cntl~XU ~ ltl Urt ~hidl tltr Bczht I 'Cd :s lifc-, i, r I rx:u r.lr 111•~ Clit' ,~ 111 1 y h.:;<h I li:u 111f!lr"\ 11 fonn:mon .1ho11-: him, r hope to meaK fo :id (io n 1 t wil st ,-c :s ;i

,, fo, fu.u,re , c;~ucb and biog:r.a.,pt-.xal dcptcticm. [n tht' (QU[SC ul (n l ~11 Jy ~·ud• ....... , I t Ci .,¢A l m('llt\. Y~fl 11 I

u,.:1.. re reoom idettd tie r~. Jn most irut,uteo 1bis is dor. Wl'!b .i witw to- rJ ~ ntt1\Ju.11111: u;w uifo· 11!U 11 "• re-..., ~r: ~ 1 e, Q t !'I new nr. •

I N'fAtil"n.111 some as~ ch ,u t:1r c!isnusio ns o1 t:.'lc mr.Ja ic- of B11'o1I S~m 1·ov w tbc tltc,i c,( l' t,ff., • \- 11 , a(r 11 :f # , or m.t ~ IICI *")' Q C,Pt~ COOd1tsiOTIS, tTCn jf , ilU,p)!nl$ thtm. l t-.ii•e dl.CSt" to p• , -~ 11~ fr rny penence m re.1chi " S1 dents .lnd lee .,ri~ be· f l'E udio 1co of 11 'I~ 1AI ,1 , 1 1. H: fo und t la. , man,) " nhtly onn cl j ns. lu~t s-:111 not pta~r.urd i:o lar <"Ol&io u,oess ;,nd mistaken JV I II la:1 t ~ r f() C b id UHttt.

t cndrr:st.J11d t11l'lt my p rtc"trf1.1Crt111 Q I lir w , •c;xl III I t r,¢1~ (~f •hr- lk tu•i lt:fc oort,inns within i, my awn nocion o( d: il'sht , ln ttlt -pni • um.ttt' di:tptcr l It vt 1.t1c1rvt d cu 11:J kc cl > 1mit1:r cx1 Ii 11 vb ,icf c:onstruc~td dtsc ption of t t 6t :,t, ~,1~,,j t h· u i ,, 1•1: rttJ •tr 111 r"r· c,1.:cs~ impliuunO!li, .tn.d ~~~ coc:ij e:tu..'"'l!s. C o1m mudi Ins cwntuct.1bk withcb ·slrnt , p , ., 1i119 , , :'It Jin, ~ffr r mt ch peers. lt is ofttrtd both J , f f• · , I i.1 , 1 ,i • 11~ 1<1 , • 1.1111.,,:-., rinC.,.J)rioo th.t_~ CllO stirnuu1e OlY.E'S io tnrir rt'St. .Ct.

My ·nphtMt ~ ,,ir ff" ltmlred n M'.~pc thlln t on • rca.11 els.c when!. Ir s, t-.G~'<Vl'r, m · d I cicJ t1>" 11 l·~ 1~ 1. •~ lit 1 1, ~a, b.- dct~rrruned, wer~ J.Ct ly coortceil.'d to the lh·sht, either 1 · d.Jt1 <1t 11, t u f>t •le~ rip111nn.s of his ch11vior h· ~oplc who wcu nus o i :, tlv lt 1 ~ W, 1 h rl,t source mntena l ava1 h ie . r tl-.ie ptescn~ time. 1

:n·,ossible w w ritt' l'U( \ 'C) I u· , ,, r, 11-. ; 1 .. II .,,q,.. 0 I t. 1'1 ~. ·. ie1.e, n:1·.1 SMm To .,,. ThOSI! o b ,>t donf su a\'t a I '< tbc"

1 1 - i, I I I <) rn "'I r.l a(i t\hhtH ,~n: h .. Tn oncm ruct d·A scorr of cite B fs litt. dtc firs-. st<p

( 11P¢,tf. t'l\.-COf \\.Ork hlls ch rined ffl.l~)' !OJNCS in i'!Cle ldstory ol Ukr,une a u.d ti f'.<JI I ,rl 11. , •• • t"..or-im ""'It· III\ .1'\ a ..,.hnle n d::ie histM) o f rhc Je\'-s n rhcsl' luu ls, ill the hi W)' of Jcw,,n ,, y, id ,1 111 111 t ,eh• · 1:ar; o f l llls.di s.m.. The lw ron o( the rws c.10 now be inc~r 1cd , 1 a n II I, n re mean nf)i1 l w. · wt;b er.bet" Y«tors io rnc l:.istory of th.c Cummlr.'"IW(;~h h Tiu: 11r,ivcr--tr ( rflt(l .1: ·1 .,,-1 aud 111· 11 ,.I ti .cQunc od

' puhl -:,I fu't:1, ,a ,, ,rue, ,,, 11 , It 1 '" t~l ,c f)J 11tt p:itr~ i;I , r1.

W.~r $ . ;,m nr.1 nr, ~rrmc., t e .uct-fre,; of t-.e tn·, ..nm Mi~cb~ni, the f'IA: d u•,t 11,,- ,-,.l,r <A.,~ • ,, •· fo,. 11 ~• d i, fttt' ~r • .,. n fl" ,lie pc, . son.i ·r}\ h:ivc VJrvheed :ir.d r« nailab lc ;n tbt C2..m~ i l i~.uy m ., . on•, • rn * · mon rt) menriooi I e ll.csht or.r.f s me ni h $ follm.\'C,S.

these JH:h,.,,i.:s t1t:1 le u~ tu h«tmu: :\t need widt ~~.c tu"' 1, t1 dr,- ' il!lf; 11 '/, Ir rcnin 1111c ~lt11:ui. n. m s_ 1r ,1Q 1,,.r~ n s Jewi$. c ,n.. m :ni i' • ,mJ iu i.;-o • nis, ~·~ ca, . n A w ay, , c:1 the pcop with w , ,~ lksl:.r in~er..c:ed. become 11'.\-.ue of rlie co ntoc..n orAI mr rhrn:. en ti-~ w .. ,e1y tl \ • 11d1 lu: lsvc:d. a,Ld t1 • ·t t ,r • of chc 1tu :\ll tr1, J ,,t .. it · cnunu t-J! b.ced in life. We 111 1tcmp 1 tr> pli.!'C him ill che C'Om..-n1U1ity's 1.1'll~rllflf 1 II Of Ill lift It I) 11 I I I )fup, ,

Context unp1.rt:s munirtB tD cku.ils. A 1~ 1u~t" se«n in ool.iction C'ilr-- ~ - ~ ,;mji 1111-., 1h ff:'f'e fn man~ s o•, , n< ~ ,1 !1' A f ~ . 1, r11il . 11~ bimwr. uw re un,c lo tit · 'I ,ti1 , "Whrr oft c:n i, w v _ ct a 1t:- 001cnc;i\ n . b , dct cc>nt . ,, to t tt it 1 , • nuny oehie1 pl u:m !ffltn:'i

as porn le. Jl.y clJnf IIJ; 10..-c alloJ>CCh uf the l-Ocicxt uJ ti«! B he's fe, .,. •• MC • hie t o nr~111 et the older ~1.ar: ~ w r~ i, clhg.cndy. !'ff art no, c (.KC1 ll) , 111 a, l-. , '°' · 111cn , 1 ( , c:v Jw1c, 11, It , t~s,t, t~ r· nt t~ prot» ltt from 1~1• nt:.-slrc. In 5a fot ses, ttildit x uu l stocus ;lnd p:1rt1u11 (1(' 11 Cllt, e d1nl... d, conf , med) e>r s.u lcmentt.d. De 1,nl, . fomwrly d1• 111 ,~J 1 11 • t . k 01 11,r rt ,u , A~"""•• :11 -r-w 1- demcod ir. i'I lll"W ,.ht. Ghronr;..kJ", ma be .1p-proxirnztt 1 ~ will he myu es . nh '('d, mb!n 11ostd. 1

'l I · v ,~r- 1tt;oir.l :1 ,11 ., 1 ,1 I, t , , 1vt ti rr to i&1 I ) 1 limked . t can b: ~d ,o w ric- m~ iofor1C.Jdon o-Jt of the .sources, b 1t ir ~ o , er~ 1e new tto ~ • ~vcr ,w.-igc af 11--t ri,,lir cn-m-r~ fr<>m this •study will bt- ;,mi o n ~btivt'h· <N n.t.lu ial amd. i n put ~ on 1urt ho.to1ogicail :.uumpdons tb r c.ui bt> ckftndt!d but not pro.vtm be-)-artd n ttA$f'ln.1h lt 1k,u~r~

'l kc .1.hccr. !in s to sa not ing--n p;uh .. u:irnrttftd to il~ rt criticism , .1t il t pr ice. To to'~ up tbe,~r..rlv of d~ llclht bcc.111sca ! its l)Mbltm

:itic r. t Jrc t:S to nc&fen .sources widt some ob·,ious hlltC!rio..l Y.a ue, ~o 11h. n&:," 11 I t} leu t rf - I, , :1hl:-l.1 l· ,: ., 11 1fJl Jl:t t ~, :'I 11' - . ,. fl. c le ti 6dd 11 C ,. u pupJ lac en m i&ol~m whose&" I SI· m T ovs wil l be QUd dtS$ conn cctitd 10 re.1licy.

Our 1.l du: im 1' rn.: .a- , r l : :aih 12' 1,:1 nunlr rn Iii • l urr '"' I l ilr.;;,l~r "'1 ihe ~ s lih .c thc-l,e,:ood World W • , :s eu'1ph1>0 i4 th: 11111111 -0( 111 ~p·11n1 ,,nd J 'l rf-c Nr<nr: 1mposv q f thtrt ~ lu.rr c mnmrnmr .:atr wi t !, d,r .:omr lr-.:trr C'lf cnr•rmr • r y ('¥r,r ir-

.. ((l WtVt'.tt] ;I, (OOt,.mpot Hf l-icg_r-1-;, t rmt tr,-pr, ,f 1r ;t nirt rrr;l h• QCn ..-.f:,pu in w id 1 th: r - cd • ,niuu~ iuh of ·mt: 1 ,dml •~·

Jl"' libt rtt 10 te-mpu~d by :ht postmoliun ult or stlf-c nsc1ous fltl UIC. innumtt.i blt r ids, fror r ulltn< 's ll •c So-.,tfi •lJ lt li" r#')' to Kobb< GA :ds U v~ , ~· • C .,!-,tree £ ~ r1l r' ~ o f in~ ,- ,on • .inti whil• to:h ncv· I• J ~,-· · fk d.cnf• Wot: uplail I lY. uv <it m11l- i1:lr w mdu,i vc cx 1:I 11'-(IU II \ of tlit- s e.~CM, , .. ~ btCi;Uf*.tt •rre s ,~

. u.u . to 11d111lt tht ilb$ • t OQ vil.:il d u or ,he ini&.dequ Hy of c,,~,

.ut;)l~.t

h,e ' nl Sl tfT1 To,• p ro,·id cs 1.n o:rcllcn-: opporru ni.:y to make th, rcquirtd .. J., 11 1°'11f, W ,1h t • n.~ssaf'J ly cfijtfttrc ii nd , t ~ f I II d ()l,.l~t tft;U :bert 't\'l ll

11 11 t;>,111 •, II C C,fh (I I , tlto ll f'jl f Ht: c.1•1: ,~:ii ho ,ubjm s. it 1s dc.1

e no con::i:iuous narrurive and the ref.,. ti

tu mod est •. ' y f11,11f."lmcru,1l .u umcnt widi most pcC"'ious wtinn is th.at th(.'y

t-1. r 10 1 cnr,. 1c «'I smiroes. 4 c1t<hry scones .uxt s-1 i..,gs-tln >t t.. ,'t the Jc.i Ii , 1 tmd <.I· t; 111ti'tw11 •• 11m 1: 111f 1n1'i t 11 ~,t !ln:f a rc t e tn°"1 siz..-cp:ib ll' o i.drolo .. ic: 111J< r ct:!lit;-., I c•'1 - , I tq t' M< , 1 M -a: , I ~Y'" d~mpbuii«I t :ir st0l'i'51Jbau r thl' Oest-. ,, u ir.- the p ri·

11, r t ly a up _mcnt 10 irJo rn: ~,on. .iined in 01bet" ~.1ys. I h ,~ ber n c,·c: , ., t>t.;'" , · " " 1:c n 11,Jwns the sQy1~.

• t ""' m d: Jttt · , . 1 11 ;1~pt l'\, t-- , r,rr t 1 ·d mt f, ~ < n- r, I t t t & in mnrc t ha n a cncr-11 f.nh.ioo i'o the intr. lrctual bio-rap i)' o! dt.e s-. 'al ~l-.-r,, ' I l)\ (..)11,t, "• wit" llfCAtc, nn eonc-.c ,n rhe st 11n.d re .)'ingi::; .md - the- ~i Ii,:,, (I mt tr J c I "t~ I ,,.11 lt' u · ttl y. I. , 11 tltt

t 1 nd c ntiouc :1~ pc-cscru, ro ~ pix .ate the 1lc.stu·~ T or h. w w.17.*' My (oc u ,, U•l 1ht iv-~ 1· , )1-1 fl ,fe . el c, cl1.1"'11 rhcol t.Y·

l d oanc dcny thJr. mJc oru uu_c ·o;ioEth.c lk:sH.,I fo nd;ic ,·ill' , 111.l- :, ,, " • QQ1 1:1 11~ 1 t<.11t 11 1 ( y w pr,t.cn civcd n m1 1n£ o

,Pt t"Ul ct i , ,,. :i ~~n ; l1, 11 tl 1t· 11:tl u rt H I 11 • , I fll 'I l,li 1() (() t it ,~. 11- KY w it" like r i r t f h- ,, :11 11 , ,. i. t,:11 111 on u(;; er . wli,, I 11:1~~ .,.~ I· t-n to my own • gr-:iphy , nd I~ t~, .-,,( ., co 1w·nit 1<.-1 ,,h, nv .ant

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w1f t I () I•

• t 1 h.ave sub