Hasidism
A Religious Utopia
Rabbi Israel Ba’al Shem Tov, with the support of other Jewish mystics, helped establish
Hasidism during the eighteenth century in Eastern Europe. Hasidic followers included Orthodox
Jews who were attracted to the mysticism that came with the spiritual renewal. The message of
Hasidism emphasized joy, meditation in prayer, as well as song and dance to connect to God and the Torah in all aspects of life. Following the Holocaust, faith was lost in God and in the groups leaders, the Rebbes. Despite he survivors disbelief and misery, the communities managed to rebuild themselves in Israel and in New York. Although the faith in itself is quite similar,
Hasidic Jews differ greatly from Orthdox Jews in their beliefs, prayer, and culture.
Hasidic Jews believe in the Torah as well as the five books of Moses as the literal word of
God. A complete understanding of Halakhah in conjunction with the “truth” of the Torah is critical for Hasidic Jews. According to Lamm, the Hasidic study of the Torah is broadened with the inclusion of the study of Kabbalah as it reinforces complete devotion to God. Rather than just knowing the Torah’s scripture, Hasidism encourages complete “intellectual involvement” (220). The Torah consists of rules and instructions in regards to how Jews should live their lives. In the Torah there are 613 commandments some of which include not killing one’s parents, not stealing, and being respectful (Cato, 13). In addition, the Torah expresses what
God is like as well as his love for and involvement with the Jewish people. Baal Shem Tov’s movement did not change Judaism but instead emphasized that Jews become more emotional in
regards to it. He encouraged the Jews to focus less on the execution of the rituals and instead veer their focus to feeling “exalted” (Katz). Because learning was exclusive to the elite men, masses of the lower class were allured to this new mystical approach to the religion as it was
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Rabbi Israel Ba’al Shem Tov, with the support of other Jewish mystics, helped establish
Hasidism during the eighteenth century in Eastern Europe. Hasidic followers included Orthodox
Jews who were attracted to the mysticism that came with the spiritual renewal. The message of
Hasidism emphasized joy, meditation in prayer, as well as song and dance to connect to God and the Torah in all aspects of life. Following the Holocaust, faith was lost in God and in the groups leaders, the Rebbes. Despite he survivors disbelief and misery, the communities managed to rebuild themselves in Israel and in New York. Although the faith in itself is quite similar,
Hasidic Jews differ greatly from Orthdox Jews in their beliefs, prayer, and culture.
Hasidic Jews believe in the Torah as well as the five books of Moses as the literal word of
God. A complete understanding of Halakhah in conjunction with the “truth” of the Torah is critical for Hasidic Jews. According to Lamm, the Hasidic study of the Torah is broadened with the inclusion of the study of Kabbalah as it reinforces complete devotion to God. Rather than just knowing the Torah’s scripture, Hasidism encourages complete “intellectual involvement” (220). The Torah consists of rules and instructions in regards to how Jews should live their lives. In the Torah there are 613 commandments some of which include not killing one’s parents, not stealing, and being respectful (Cato, 13). In addition, the Torah expresses what
God is like as well as his love for and involvement with the Jewish people. Baal Shem Tov’s movement did not change Judaism but instead emphasized that Jews become more emotional in
regards to it. He encouraged the Jews to focus less on the execution of the rituals and instead veer their focus to feeling “exalted” (Katz). Because learning was exclusive to the elite men, masses of the lower class were allured to this new mystical approach to the religion as it was
more