Hasidism

Hasidic Judaism

- origins in eighteenth-century Poland and Ukraine at a time of tremendous conflict and chaos - foreign invasions, peasant uprisings, declining central government, conflict between Catholics, Protestants and Jews.

- and in particular, Jews, who were organized into self-governing municipal and rural communities, were subject to exploitative taxation, harsh regulations and laws restricting movement, trade and crafts, and periodic violence - general insecurity 

- as happens so often, out of the chaos emerges a charismatic leader, with a new vision and promise of order

- Baal Shem Tov - "Master of the Good Name"  (1700 - 1760) - who is said to be a great healer whose powers stemmed from mystical knowledge of the secret names of Yahweh.    Who left no writings, but a great tradition of oral stories about his teachings and life.

- founder of Hasidism, today numbering in the millions throughout the world, with approximately 200,000 in the heart of New York city

 

Key Elements:

a. primacy of the inner, spiritual enlightenment, of mysticism over mere ritual enacting and knowledge of the religious texts

b. the special role of the rabbi, as a link to hidden meanings in the Torah and as a bridge to the community

c. universal presence of Yahweh, even in the most mundane of things

d. stressed values of piety, extreme traditionalism, and separation (reflected in own communities and male dress of wearing beards, sidelocks, black hats and long coats)

e. yet despite the stoic stereotype of the men wearing beards, sidelocks, black hats and long coats, Hasidism stressed joy, and a strong tradition of song, dance and storytelling 

- example of the stories of the Generation and Little Whistler

 

 

- example of Matisyahu  - Born Matthew Miller in 1979 and grew up attending Jewish schools in White Plains, NY.   By 14 living comfortable "hippie" lifestyle, with other "Dead-Heads" wearing Birkenstocks all winter long, but felt void.  Then discovered Yahweh while on trip to awe-inspiring landscape of Colorado Rockies and then in his first trip to Israel.

- combines mystical power of words, song and storytelling of Hasidic Judaism, with beat of reggae and hip-hop

- music and lyrics to two of his songs, Jerusalem and Chop 'Em Down