Hasidic philosophy
Hassidic Philosophy or Hasidic Philosophy or Chassidic philosophy or Hassidism, or Chassidus or Chassidut or Chasidut is the teachings and philosophy underlying the Hasidic Movement.
Rabbi Yisroel ben Eliezer (The Baal Shem Tov), introduced these teachings and founded the hasidic movement. His disciples, most noteably Rabbi Dovber of Mezeritch, spread and developed the philosophy. Of all Hasidic groups, Chabad (Lubavtich) developed and stressed these teachings the most. According to Chabad, understanding these concepts is the only way to truly achieve the goals of Hasidism.
Hasidic Philosophy teaches a method of contemplating on God and His greatness (see Jewish meditation), as well as the inner significance of the Mitzvos (commandments and rituals of Torah law). This understanding is meant to refine one's character, improve one's interpersonal relations, and add life, vigor and joy to one's religious observance. Ultimately, these claim to be a preparation for the Messianic Era (as defined by Judaism).
== Goals of Hasidic Philosophy == Maamor-love-vol1-03-51.jpg
Hasidic Philosophy has four main goal:
1. Revival: At the time when Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov founded Hasidism, the Jews where physically crushed by massacre and poverty, and religious observance seriously waned. This was especially true in Eastern Europe, where Hasidism began. Hasidism came to revive the Jews physically and spiritually. It focused on helping Jews better establish themselves finacially, and then lifting their moral and religious observance through its teachings.
2. Piety: A Hasid, in classic Torah liturature, refers to one of piety beyond the letter of the law. Hasidism demands and aims at cultivating this extra degree of piety.
3. Refinement: Hasidism teaches that one should not merely strive to improve one's character by learning new habits and manners. Rather a person should completely change the quality, depth and maturity of one's nature. This change is accomplished by internalizing and integrating the perspective of Hasidic Philosophy.
4. Demystification: Hasidism makes the esoteric teachings of Kabbalah understandable to everyone. This understanding is meant to help refine a person, as well as adding depth and vigor to one's ritual observance.
In general, Hasidism claims to to prepare the world for Moshiach, the Jewish Messiah, through these four achievements.
In a letter, the Baal Shem Tov describes how one Rosh Hashana his soul ascended to the chamber of Moshiach, where he asked Moshiach, "when will the master (Moshiach) come." Moshiach answered him, "when the wellsprings of your teachings, which I have taught you, will be spread out."
Axioms of Hasidic Philosophy
Hasidic Philosophy is the knowledge of G-d, which Hasidic philosophy maintains is the essence of the Torah and of everything in the world. Hassidic Philosphy (along with Kabbalah) is also known as Pnemiyut HaTorah, the Inner Dimension of the Torah.
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 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 bodily 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 one must connect this inspiration back to seeing G-dliness in the mundane world.
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
External Links
- Chabad Hasidic philosphy
- Deeper study of Hasidism and Kabbalah
- Hassidism from chabad.org
- Large collection of Hasidic Texts in English from chabad.org
Source: On the Essence of Chassidus by Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Kehot Publications Brooklyn 1998