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.

Religious practice and culture

Fundamental conceptions

The teachings of Hasidism are founded on two theoretical conceptions: (1) religious panentheism, or the omnipresence of God, and (2) the idea of Devekut, communion between God and man. "Man," says the Besht, "must always bear in mind that God is omnipresent and is always with him; that God is, so to speak, the most subtle matter everywhere diffused... Let man realize that when he is looking at material things he is in reality gazing at the image of the Deity which is present in all things. With this in mind man will always serve God even in small matters."

Related Topics:
Panentheism - God

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Devekut (communion) refers to the belief that between the world of God and the world of humanity there is an unbroken intercourse. It is true not only that the Deity influences the acts of man, but also that man exerts an influence on the will of the Deity. Every act and word of man produces a corresponding vibration in the upper spheres. From this conception is derived the chief practical principle of Hasidism - communion with God for the purpose of uniting with the source of life and of influencing it. This communion is achieved through the concentration of all thoughts on God, and consulting Him in all the affairs of life.

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The righteous man is in constant communion with God, even in his worldly affairs, since here also he feels His presence. An especial form of communion with God is prayer. In order to render this communion complete the prayer must be full of fervor, ecstatic; and the soul of him who prays must during his devotions detach itself, so to speak, from its material dwelling. For the attainment of ecstasy recourse may be had to mechanical means, to violent bodily motions, to shouting and singing. According to Besht, the essence of religion is in sentiment and not in reason. Theological learning and halakhic lore are of secondary importance, and are useful only when they serve as a means of producing an exalted religious mood. It is better to read books of moral instruction than to engage in the study of the casuistic Talmud and the rabbinical literature. In the performance of rites the mood of the believer is of more importance than the externals; for this reason formalism and superfluous ceremonial details are injurious.

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Liturgy and prayer

Most Hasidim pray according to the Nusach Sepharad (prayer style), a liturgy that is a blend of Ashkenazi and Sephardi liturgies, based on the innovations of Rabbi Isaac Luria (also know as the Arizal). The Hasidim, though, pray in very strong Ashkenazic Hebrew that contains many nuances that were picked up from Yiddish. Hasidim that are devotees of dynasties that originated in Galicia pray in a different type of Hebrew. This is because when seculars began to speak the modern Hebrew language the Galician Hasidic leaders mandated that the words of the Liturgy be pronounced differently as to differentiate themselves from the seculars. This has come to be known as Galician Hebrew. Hasidic prayer is known for being accompanied by melodies called nigunim (or in America "nigguns") that represent the overall mood of the prayer; even many non-Hasidim attend Hasidic synagogues in order to hear this. Hasidic prayer is also known for taking a very long time (although some groups are known for praying quickly). Some very pious Hasidim will spend seven seconds of concentration of every single word of the prayer of Amidah. Hasidim are known for having a lot of Kavanah (mental concentration) during prayer. Overall Hasidim regard prayer as one of the most paramount activities during the day. In fact, one of the most controversial innovations of Hassidic practice is the near-abolition of the traditional specified times of day by which prayers must be conducted ("zemanim"), particularly the morning prayer; the preparations for prayer, including partaking of food (also proscribed by strict halachic literalism) take precedence and may extend into the alloted time.

Related Topics:
Ashkenazi - Sephardi - Isaac Luria - Ashkenazic Hebrew - Yiddish - Galicia - Hebrew language - Galician Hebrew - Nigun - Amidah - Kavanah

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Dress

Hasidim are known for their distinctive attire. Within the Hasidic world, different groups can be distinguished by subtle differences in appearance.

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Hasidim most commonly wear a long black robe called a bekishe with which they use a gartel (a type of prayer belt). A Hasidic Rebbe on Shabbat traditionally wears a white or gold bekishe rather than a black one, but this practice is not universal today. Hasidim customarily wear black hats during the weekdays.

Related Topics:
Bekishe - Gartel - Rebbe - Shabbat

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Contrary to what one often hears-Hasidic dress has little to do with the way Polish nobles once dressed. This is a myth that was created by the Emancipation movement in the late 19th century in an attempt to induce younger jews to abandon the outfit-it is interesting to note that secular Yiddish writers of old, living in Eastern Europe(ie Sholom Aleichem) appear to have been completely unaware of the dress being of "polish origin"-likewise numerous slavic sources from the 15th onwards refer to the "Jewish Kaftan".The Tsarist edict of the mid-19th century banning Jewish outfits and mentions the "Jewish Kaftan" and "Jewish hat"-as a result of this edict Hasidic dress was modified in the Russian Empire and sidelocks were generally discarded-this is reflected in modern Chabad Lubavitch dress-where the Prince Albert frock coat substituted the Bekishe . Generally Chassidic dress has altered and been modified over the last hundred years and become more European in response to the Emancipation Movement.Modern Chasidim tend to wear Chasidic dress as it was just prior to WW2-numerous pictures of Chasidim in the mid-19th century show a far more levantine outfit(i.e Kaftan lacking Lapels or Buttons) that differs little from Classical oriental outfit consisting of the Kaftan, White undershirt, Sash, Knee-Breeches(Halb-Hoyzn)WHite socks and slippers-this outfit is said to be of Babylonian origin,however was later adopted by the Israelites, Persians and lastly the Turks who brought it to Europe where it has become the basis of the modern western suit(note 16th European outfit of frock coat, knee-breeches, silk stockings and slippers) the Polish nobility adopted its 16th outfit from the Turks-hence the vague similarity between Hasidic outfit and Polish nobles clothing(as Chasidic dress is vaguely related to Shia muslim Clerical dress-who adopted this dress from the persians) There is a Hasidic belief(taught by the Klausenberger rebbe) that it was in fact Jews that created this dress code and Babylonians adopted it from Israelites during their exile there -the Sabbath dress of hasidim is similiar to the description of the High Priests dress in the bible-and this is the first written mention of the Kaftan etc.

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Thus many Hasidim believe that Hasidic dress is based on ancient judaic concepts- for instance white socks tucked in short pants so ones trousers bottoms dont ever touch the floor(considered unholy) and slippers(shtibblat) without buckles or laces so one never need touch their shoes-also considered unholy.

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Kaftans(Bekishes, Kapotes, Chalat) are a sign of modesty and piety-and cover the entire body

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A sash or gartel to divide ones lower parts from ones upper parts.

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Knee Breaches mean that a mans private parts are not exposed when walking up stairs(this reason is given in the talmud)

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Hasidim wear a variety of fur headress on the Sabbath-the Shtreimel(worn by hasidim from Galicia and Hungary-ie Bobov, Belz), Spodik(worn by Polish Hadidim-Ger Amshinow Aleksander), Choibl(no longer worn by anyone, was worn in Poland prior to the Holocaust-Radzyn Radomsk etc) and the Kolpak(a traditional slavic headress)

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Prior to the Holocaust in Poland, Belarus and the Ukraine-the Kasket (a peaked cap) was worn by most Chasidim during the week(and by Poorer hasidim on Sabbath), as a result of tsarist decrees banning other traditional jewish headdress.

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In these Areas only Rabbis, generally, wore Black hats.

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In Galicia and Hungary Chassidim wore hats as they do today( Samet or Beaver hats)

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Hasidic women wear clothing that is less distinctive than their male counterparts, but answers to the principles of tzeniut (modest dress in the sense of Jewish law). Long, conservative skirts and sleeves past the elbow are the rules, but other than that, Hasidic women wear clothing like other women in the non-Jewish societies in which they live. In some Hasidic groups, such as Satmar, many married women shave their heads, and many wear wigs. Other Hasidic groups consider it hypocritical to wear false hair, so they simply put their hair into nets or kerchiefs (called "snoods"). Before marriage, the hair is allowed to be uncovered by all Hasidic groups.

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Following a Biblical commandment not to shave the sides of one's face, male members of some Hasidic groups wear long, uncut sideburns called payot (Ashkenazic Hebrew payos). Not every Hasidic group requires long payot, but all groups forbid the cutting of the beard. All Hasidic boys receive their first haircuts ceremoniously when they are three years old. Until then, Hasidic boys have long hair. The custom has been adopted by many non-Hassidic (and even non-Orthodox) Jews.

Related Topics:
Payot - Ashkenazic Hebrew - First haircut

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The white threads that are seen at the waists of Hasidim and other Orthodox Jews are called tzitzit. The requirement to wear fringes comes from Numbers. "Speak to the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes on the borders of their garments throughout their generations." (Numbers 15:38) By tradition, a Hasidic boy will receive his first fringed garment on his third birthday, the same day as his first haircut.

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Ritual Bathing

Male Orthodox Jews customarily use the mikvah (ritual pool of water) before major Jewish holidays (and particularly before Yom Kippur), in order to achieve spiritual cleanliness. Many Hasidim have extended this to a daily practice preceding morning prayers.

Related Topics:
Orthodox - Jew - Mikvah - Jewish holiday - Yom Kippur - Morning prayers

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Families

Hasidic men and women usually meet through matchmakers in a process called a shidduch, but marriages are made by mutual consent of the couple and the parents. A bride and groom are expected to be about the same age. There is no custom of an older man marrying a young woman.

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It is a myth that Hasidic couples have intercourse through a sheet. In fact, this is forbidden by Jewish law.

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Hasidic Jews, like many other Orthodox Jews, are well-known for their large families, with some having with six or more children. Many sects follow this custom out of what they consider a Biblical mandate to 'be fruitful and multiply', and to replenish a Jewish population that was badly decimated during the Holocaust.

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Yiddish

Most Hasidim speak the vernaculars of the lands in which they live, but try to use Yiddish amongst themselves as a way of keeping distinct and keeping tradition. Thus, contrary to popular assumption, Yiddish is still being taught to children and is not a dying language. There are Yiddish newspapers that are still published and there is a relatively healthy production of Yiddish fiction within the Hasidic world, primarily for women.

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Some Hasidic groups actively oppose the everyday use of Hebrew as in Israel, holding that Hebrew is a holy language that is profaned by being used for anything other than prayer.

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