Hasidic Judaism

(Redirected from Hasidic)
Part of a series on
Star of David.svg Lukhot Habrit.svg Menora.svg
Judaism
Category
Jewish religious movements
Orthodox (Haredi • Hasidic • Modern)
Conservative • Reform
Reconstructionist • Renewal • Humanistic
Jewish philosophy
Principles of faith • Kabbalah • Messiah • Ethics
Chosenness • Names of God • Musar
Religious texts
Tanakh (Torah • Nevi'im • Ketuvim)
Ḥumash • Siddur • Piyutim • Zohar
Rabbinic literature (Talmud • Midrash • Tosefta)
Religious Law
Mishneh Torah • Tur
Shulchan Aruch • Mishnah Berurah
Kashrut • Tzniut • Tzedakah • Niddah • Noahide laws
Holy cities
Jerusalem • Safed • Hebron • Tiberias
Important figures
Abraham • Isaac • Jacob
Moses • Aaron • David • Solomon
Sarah • Rebecca • Rachel  • Leah
Rabbinic sages
Jewish life cycle
Brit • Pidyon haben • Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Marriage • Bereavement
Religious roles
Rabbi • Rebbe • Posek • Hazzan/Cantor
Dayan • Rosh yeshiva • Mohel • Kohen/Priest
Religious buildings & institutions
Synagogue • Beth midrash • Mikveh
Sukkah • Chevra kadisha
Holy Temple / Tabernacle
Jewish education
Yeshiva • Kollel • Cheder
Religious articles
Sefer Torah • Tallit • Tefillin • Tzitzit • Kippah
Mezuzah • Hanukiah/Menorah • Shofar
4 Species • Kittel • Gartel
Jewish prayers and services
Shema • Amidah • Aleinu • Kaddish • Minyan
Birkat Hamazon • Shehecheyanu • Hallel
Havdalah • Tachanun • Kol Nidre • Selichot
Judaism & other religions
Christianity • Islam • Judeo-Christian
Abrahamic faiths
Related topics
Antisemitism • The Holocaust • Israel • Zionism

Hasidic Judaism (Hebrew: חסידות) or Hasidism is a Jewish religious movement that was started by Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, known as "Baal Shem Tov". It began in Eastern Europe in the middle of the 18th century, and there are now Hasidic communities all over the world. The followers of Hasidism are called Hasids.

Characteristics

Hasidism teaches about the importance of serving God with happiness and believes in Jewish mysticism. While Hasidim study the same books of Torah as the rest of Judaism, they focus on learning the hidden aspects of the text as well. Hasidic study also includes many of the teachings of Kabbalah.

Hasidism has strict laws about physical contact between the genders, Hasidic men will not even shake hands or make any physical contact with unrelated members of the opposite gender and Hasidic women will not make any physical contact with unrelated members of the opposite gender and also limit conversation.

Leadership

Each Hasidic group has a leader who is called the Rebbe (Rabbi). The Rebbe is a man who is a Rabbi and is chosen by the Hasidim to be their leader. Some of the jobs that he does are giving lectures on Torah and Hassidic-matters and taking part in the different events of his Hasidim, like weddings and Brit milahs.

Hasidic Groups

There are hundreds of different Hasidic groups. They all share similar characteristics but they also have individual customs. Some of the larger dynasties are Satmar, Chabad-Lubavitch, Bobov, Viznitz, and Belz.

Hasidic Judaism Media

Other websites

  •    "Chasidim". New International Encyclopedia. (1905).