Hassidic philosophy

Hassidic Philosophy or Hassidism Chassidic philosophy, or Chassidus or Chassidut or Chasidut also know as Pnemiyus HaTorah (the Essence of the Torah), is the knowledge of G-d, which Hassidic philosophy maintains is the essence of the Torah and the essence of everything going on in the world.

Hassidic Philosophy and the other levels of Torah

As is know the words of the Torah can be interpreted on four general levels. They are: Pshat-simple meaning Remez-Hinted Meaning, how something in Torah relates to something larger in the world Drush-The Mitvos and moral lessons. From word Doresh-what the Torah demands Sod-Kabbalah Secrets of the Torah-something about G-dliness, e.g. how He creates the world

Hassidism is not 5th level of learning the Torah, but rather is bringing out the "essence" of all those 4 levels. So you’d appreciate the G-dliness in each level and how all the levels connect. This means that even someone at a low level of appreciation of the Torah (e.g. he is on the level of Pshat) can still have an appreciation of Hassidism because it reveals the inherent essence in all the levels. Hassidism also provides the tools for the intellectual and theoretical understanding to be applied to practical life.

Chassidus: a) At time of Baal Shem Tov, Jews were in a spiritual sleep, and Chassidus awakened them. Showed them inner meaning excitement.

Like Chossid will burn the fingernails-to prevent it from hurting someone else.

b) Through Chassidus can transform natural emotions to G-dly emotions.

Should feel love and fear for G-dly things not just physical things

d) Allows anyone (low soul) to understand secrets of the Torah cuz it explains it in a way where you can see it for yourself.

But these are all side effects Chassidus is just letting us see the G-dliness in e/t. When we have that we will automatically have all the other above things.

Hassidism vs. Musar

Musar helps a person to appreciate the intellectual and spiritual and G-dly matters to decrease attatchement to the bodiy and physical things. Hassidism responds that as much as one will run from physical things, one can never truly suceed in this because we are found in a physical world. Hassidism teaches that the ultimate thing is to have both the spritual and the physical together. This is a two step process. First one must be able to appreciate the spiritual and G-dly, but then he will have to connect that back to seeing that G-dliness in its mundane form.

The key to all wisdom

An anology is give to explain the difference between learning Hassidism and other parts of the Torah. It was once asked: What is the difference between Rambam and Aristotle. Wisdom vs. Torah. Both are philosophers and scientists. It is like 2 people that are trying to draw a circle and find its center-hard to find the real center. Torah starts with the center then goes and can make a circle of any size around it, and it will always be in the center.

Likewise, once you grasp Chassidus, you have all kinds of wisdom w/o putting in years studying it. U’ll automatically understand everything in the world.

Its like a story: Luke is good-half is good and half is bad. Outside the story-from authors perspective its all good even darth vader-he’s a great character.

Connection to the Jewish Messiah

Hassidism is trying to find the good in everything-not that he becomes good-but in the bad itself-the struggle.

This is synonymous with Moshiach-even things we saw as being bad we’ll see it being good. But not in the end in the story they become good which just makes it worth it. But w. Moshiach we’ll see it from outside the story and we’re like actors and we’ll see the G-dlinnes in the bad. Cuz the geulah is higher than the idea of good and bad.

We’re like actors, can express freely, not trapped by it. Really can act freely with the mask. We make this self-image, thinking that we have our certain qualities and self-imposed limitations, stops us from expressing our true selves.

Chassidus wants us to get in touch with that essence, and we’’re able to act in the world with whatever character is best at the time-come in touch with real self and be free to choose how they act, so they can act within that

Chassidus is trying to give us a taste of Moshiach-and bring this type of awareness into the world which itself will bring Moshiach by bringing a personal Geulah to each of us

Baal Shem Tov’s approach. G-d is everything and everything is G-d. Torah is all the names of Hashem, not a/t definite just the way u call them. So too Torah is infinite-can always see more and more revealing an infinite G-d.

Divine Providence. Before Baal Shem Tov there was general idea that G-d is watching over us. The Baal Shem Tov said that not only is G-d watching over everything-even feather in wind, smallest details have infinite imporatance and is essential to whole thing of creation.

Cuz G-d is choosing without any external influences that he wants exactly like that

Advantage of Jews. Not because of His understanding-essential part of G-d. Purpose of Torah and Mitzvos is only revealing that connection, not creating it (like father and son.). This is befitting and should act that way-but its not like just cuz he doesn’t do it he’s not his son

4. Love of fellow Jew. Loving anther fellow Jew is not just a good character trait but should be a whole life’s work to cultivate good character traits.

Opposition

At the revelation of Hassidism various criticisms were lodged against its teachings such as: 1. Not proper-heretical beliefs, violent. Fear of Shabbatai Tzvi. New cult. Different customs. did things acc. To kaballah. Said they were trying to change the kabbala. 2. Philosophical opposition that lasted longer

In truth Debate goes back to times of Rashba-about whether one should use practical Kabbalah. Ramchal is center of Musar movement but was totally on mussar side of things

Source: On the Essence of Chassidus by Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Kehot Publications Brooklyn 1998