30 Facts About Hasidic

1.

Hasidism, sometimes spelled Chassidism, and known as Hasidic Judaism, is a Jewish religious group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in the territory of contemporary Western Ukraine during the 18th century, and spread rapidly throughout Eastern Europe.

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2.

Hasidic thought draws heavily on Lurianic Kabbalah, and, to an extent, is a popularization of it.

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3.

Affiliation is often retained in families for generations, and being Hasidic is as much a sociological factor – entailing birth into a specific community and allegiance to a dynasty of Rebbes – as it is a purely religious one.

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4.

The "Neo-Hasidic" interpretation influenced even scholarly discourse to a great degree, but had a tenuous connection with reality.

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5.

The mystical teachings formulated during the first era were by no means repudiated, and many Hasidic masters remained consummate spiritualists and original thinkers; as noted by Benjamin Brown, Buber's once commonly accepted view that the routinization constituted "decadence" was refuted by later studies, demonstrating that the movement remained very much innovative.

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6.

All Hasidic schools devoted a prominent place in their teaching, with differing accentuation, to the interchanging nature of Ein, both infinite and imperceptible, becoming Yesh, "Existent" – and vice versa.

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7.

Hasidic masters exhorted their followers to "negate themselves", paying as little heed as they could for worldly concerns, and thus, to clear the way for this transformation.

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8.

Hasidic thinkers argued that in order to redeem the sparks hidden, one had to associate not merely with the corporeal, but with sin and evil.

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9.

Hasidic was able to transcend matter, gain spiritual communion, Worship through Corporeality and fulfill all the theoretical ideals.

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10.

Hasidic's commanding and often – especially in the early generations – charismatic presence was to reassure the faithful and demonstrate the truth in Hasidic philosophy by countering doubts and despair.

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11.

Hasidic's followers were to sustain and especially to obey him, as he possessed superior knowledge and insight gained through communion.

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12.

Several of these Hasidic schools had lasting influence over many dynasties, while others died with their proponents.

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13.

Hasidic was famous for his lavish, enthusiastic conduct during prayer and worship, and extremely charismatic demeanour.

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14.

Hasidic stressed that as Tzaddiq, his mission was to influence the common folk by absorbing Divine Light and satisfying their material needs, thus converting them to his cause and elating them.

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15.

Hasidic mocked the attempts to perceive the nature of infinite-finite dialectics and the manner in which God still occupies the Vacant Void albeit not, stating these were paradoxical, beyond human understanding.

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16.

Hasidic is personally attended by aides known as Gabbai or Mashbak.

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17.

Ecstatic, often wordless Hasidic melodies developed new expressions and depths of the soul in Jewish life, often drawing from folk idioms of the surrounding gentile culture, which were adapted to elevate their concealed sparks of divinity, according to Lurianic theology.

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18.

Much of Hasidic dress was historically the clothing of all Eastern European Jews, influenced by the style of Polish–Lithuanian nobility.

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19.

Hasidic women wear clothing adhering to the principles of modest dress in Jewish law.

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20.

Hasidic Tales are a literary genre, concerning both hagiography of various Rebbes and moralistic themes.

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21.

In Israel, the largest Hasidic concentrations are in the Haredi neighbourhoods of Jerusalem – including Ramot Alon, Batei Ungarin, et cetera – in the cities of Bnei Brak and El'ad, and in the West Bank settlements of Modi'in Illit and Beitar Illit.

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22.

Hasidic's acolytes led small groups of adherents, persecuted by other Hasidim, and disseminated his teachings.

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23.

Hasidic was known to pray ecstatically and with great intention, again in order to provide channels for the divine light to flow into the earthly realm.

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24.

Hasidic succeeded the former upon his death, though other important acolytes, mainly Jacob Joseph of Polonne, did not accept his leadership.

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25.

Hasidic was able to bring down prosperity and guidance from the higher Sephirot, and the common people who could not attain such a state themselves would achieve it by "clinging" to and obeying him.

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26.

Hasidic held a lavish court with Hershel of Ostropol as jester, and demanded the other Righteous acknowledge his supremacy.

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27.

Hasidic symbolized the new era, brokering peace between the small Hasidic sect in Hungary to its opponents.

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28.

In 1912, many Hasidic leaders partook in the creation of the Agudas Israel party, a political instrument intended to safeguard what was now named Orthodox Judaism even in the relatively traditional East; the more hard-line dynasties, mainly Galician and Hungarian, opposed the Aguda as "too lenient".

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29.

Talented and charismatic Hasidic masters emerged, who re-invigorated their following and drew new crowds.

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30.

Hasidic halted the hemorrhage of his followers, and retrieved many Litvaks and Religious Zionists whose parents were Gerrer Hasidim before the war.

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