Hasidic Judaism

Hasidic Judaism (Hebrew: Chasidut חסידות, meaning "pious" from the Hebrew root word chesed חסד meaning "loving kindness") is a Haredi Jewish religious movement. It is also known as Hasidism, and the adjective Chasidic/Hasidic (or in Yiddish Chasidish חסידיש) is applied. It originated in Eastern Europe (Belarus and Ukraine) in the 18th century.

Related Topics:
Hebrew - Haredi - Jewish - Yiddish - Eastern Europe - Belarus - Ukraine - 18th century

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The movement was founded by Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer (1700-1760), also known as the Ba'al Shem Tov{{ref|Besht}}. It was formed in a time of persecution of the Jewish people, when European Jews had turned inward to Talmud study; many felt that most expressions of Jewish life had become too "academic", and that they no longer had any emphasis on spirituality or joy. The Ba'al Shem Tov set out to improve the situation. In its initial stages, Hasidism received opposition from several contemporary leaders, most notably the Vilna Gaon of Lithuania, united as the mitnagdim (Hebrew: "opposers").

Related Topics:
Israel ben Eliezer - Jew - Talmud - Vilna Gaon - Mitnagdim

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~