Hasidic Judaism

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

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  besht shul

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  Isroel Hopsztajn, Magid from Kozienice

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  The Kaliver Rebbe, Holocaust survivor, inspiring his court on the festival of Sukkot

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  Kvitel requests for blessing piled on the graves of the last Lubavitcher Rebbes

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  Hasidic family in Borough Park, Brooklyn. The man is wearing a shtreimel, and either a bekishe or a rekel. The woman is wearing a wig, called a sheitel, as according to Jewish law, she is forbidden to show her hair to anyone after marriage.

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  Rabbi Moshe Leib Rabinovich, Munkacser Rebbe, wearing a kolpik

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  The Dorohoi Rebbe in his traditional rabbinical Sabbath garb

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  Sculpture of the Hasidic movement's celebration of spirituality on the Knesset Menorah

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  Israel ben Eliezer's autograph

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  Shivchei HaBesht (Praises of the Baal Shem Tov), the first compilation of Hasidic hagiographic storytelling, was printed from manuscripts in 1815.

Other websites

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