FIGHTING FOR THE SOUL OF EAST EUROPEAN JEWRY: CHASIDIM AND MITNAGDIM
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
1. Influence of Kabbalah
2. Chelminieki pogroms of 1648
3. False messiahs: Shabbetai Zvi and Jacob Frank
4. Partition of Poland ( 1772, 1794, 1795)
Led to more insular and fearful Jewish community, with increased centralisation and authority of the Kahal, elected by the elite, with power of cherem. 1674- collapse of the Kahal and Council of 4 Lands as government introduced individual taxation, leaving a vacuum in authority, and a collapse in the old social order.
Increased Jewish population, high levels of poverty, against the backdrop of the crisis of the Polish state.
1. Influence of Kabbalah
2. Chelminieki pogroms of 1648
3. False messiahs: Shabbetai Zvi and Jacob Frank
4. Partition of Poland ( 1772, 1794, 1795)
Led to more insular and fearful Jewish community, with increased centralisation and authority of the Kahal, elected by the elite, with power of cherem. 1674- collapse of the Kahal and Council of 4 Lands as government introduced individual taxation, leaving a vacuum in authority, and a collapse in the old social order.
Increased Jewish population, high levels of poverty, against the backdrop of the crisis of the Polish state.
THE BESHT (ISRAEL BAAL SHEM TOV): Rabbi Yisrael Ben Eliezer
Born 1698- modern day Roumania (then Western Ukraine)
Often absent from school:Found outside communing with nature
Employed as a teacher assistant
Settled in Brody, Galicia- became a Baal Shem: Kabbalistic worker of wonders- known as Baal Shem Tov. Seen as saintly, many legends surround him. Had moments of ecstasy in prayer.
By age 40, had many disciples.
THE VILNA GAON
Rabbi Eliyahu ben Shlomo Zalman Kramer
1720-1797.
Main opponent of Hasidic movement.
Born 1698- modern day Roumania (then Western Ukraine)
Often absent from school:Found outside communing with nature
Employed as a teacher assistant
Settled in Brody, Galicia- became a Baal Shem: Kabbalistic worker of wonders- known as Baal Shem Tov. Seen as saintly, many legends surround him. Had moments of ecstasy in prayer.
By age 40, had many disciples.
THE VILNA GAON
Rabbi Eliyahu ben Shlomo Zalman Kramer
1720-1797.
Main opponent of Hasidic movement.
TEXTS: HASIDIM
1. Ba'al Shem Tov: A Parable
Music and Dance as expression and stimulator of joy, through which the soul is uplifted and is brought closer to G-d. Since G-d is in all creation, He can be worshipped through the body- through corporeality.
Attack on rabbis who are deaf to the music and therefore cannot achieve dvekut, communion with G-d.
2. The Maggid of Mezeritch: Tzava'at harRibash.
(Dov Ber- Real founder of Hasidic movement.)
On the central role of the Tsaddik, and the two different types of tsaddikim: one who is always in communion with G-d, but does not influence others, and the Tsaddik who causes good to thrive and spread in the world: The Tsaddik who helps others achieve dvekut, or communion. The Tsaddik as intermediary and guide.
3. Rabbi Ya'akov Yitschak Horowitz, Zot Zikaron- parshat miketz.
(Known as the seer of Lublin)
3 Lurianic Kabbalistic concepts- hesed (mercy), gevurah (might), tiferet (glory).
Human actions influence the divine realm- through these qualities, G-d will favour you, even if you don't understand their deeper Kabbalistic significance.
1. Ba'al Shem Tov: A Parable
Music and Dance as expression and stimulator of joy, through which the soul is uplifted and is brought closer to G-d. Since G-d is in all creation, He can be worshipped through the body- through corporeality.
Attack on rabbis who are deaf to the music and therefore cannot achieve dvekut, communion with G-d.
2. The Maggid of Mezeritch: Tzava'at harRibash.
(Dov Ber- Real founder of Hasidic movement.)
On the central role of the Tsaddik, and the two different types of tsaddikim: one who is always in communion with G-d, but does not influence others, and the Tsaddik who causes good to thrive and spread in the world: The Tsaddik who helps others achieve dvekut, or communion. The Tsaddik as intermediary and guide.
3. Rabbi Ya'akov Yitschak Horowitz, Zot Zikaron- parshat miketz.
(Known as the seer of Lublin)
3 Lurianic Kabbalistic concepts- hesed (mercy), gevurah (might), tiferet (glory).
Human actions influence the divine realm- through these qualities, G-d will favour you, even if you don't understand their deeper Kabbalistic significance.
TEXTS: MITNAGDIM
4 and 5. Rabbis Yehuda Leib and Avraham, (sons of the Vilna Gaon) Introduction to Shulchan Aruch./ Rabbi Yisroel b Shmuel Ashkenazi of Shklov.
The importance of studying traditional texts in a rigid manner- not intellectualism but knowledge for its own sake, in order to achieve truth.
Study of traditional texts in order to achieve knowledge through logical analysis and not through innovative methods.
6 and 7. Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin (Student of the Vilna Gaon)
"Receive no magid"- this generation is not worthy as "so many violate the norms".
Lamentation of neglect of Torah studies because of poverty and because of misguided views, which emphasise study of Kabbalistic ethical works rather than Torah and Talmud, and without the guidance of a rabbi.
8 and 9. Attack on Chasidism
Chasidim: "worthless and wanton men", "deserted the Jewish group", "worship in an insane fashion".....a great misfortune...a fire has been kindled. Therefore, "avoid the evil customs and laws of the Chasidim"- followed by a series of prohibitions.
- An exaggerated propagandistic anti Hasidic attack.
4 and 5. Rabbis Yehuda Leib and Avraham, (sons of the Vilna Gaon) Introduction to Shulchan Aruch./ Rabbi Yisroel b Shmuel Ashkenazi of Shklov.
The importance of studying traditional texts in a rigid manner- not intellectualism but knowledge for its own sake, in order to achieve truth.
Study of traditional texts in order to achieve knowledge through logical analysis and not through innovative methods.
6 and 7. Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin (Student of the Vilna Gaon)
"Receive no magid"- this generation is not worthy as "so many violate the norms".
Lamentation of neglect of Torah studies because of poverty and because of misguided views, which emphasise study of Kabbalistic ethical works rather than Torah and Talmud, and without the guidance of a rabbi.
8 and 9. Attack on Chasidism
Chasidim: "worthless and wanton men", "deserted the Jewish group", "worship in an insane fashion".....a great misfortune...a fire has been kindled. Therefore, "avoid the evil customs and laws of the Chasidim"- followed by a series of prohibitions.
- An exaggerated propagandistic anti Hasidic attack.