The Chasidim also instituted the use
rebbe was Reb Nachman of Bratislava,
of hot water in mikvahs and advocated
1771-1810, a great grandson of the
leaving the study halls of higher rab-
Baal Shem Tov. Like his illustrious
binic learning to serve the needs of less
ancestor, Reb Nachman taught that it
observant Jews.
was great mitzvah to serve God with
Rabbi Shmuel Irons of the
happiness and joy, and
Kollel Institute in Oak Park
A Chas id davens emphasized soul-searching
said he believes the misnagdim at Mish kan Israel and personal communication
in Oa k Park.
opposed the emerging Cha-
with the Creator.
sidic movement because of its
Rabbi Schneur Zalman of
de-emphasis on Torah learning, its liber-
Liady, author of Tanya, founded the
al use of kabbalistic texts, and out of
Chabad school. In the United States,
fear that it was a messianic sect.
Chasidism for many has become virtu-
"Here, the emphasis was more on
ally synonymous with the Lubavitch or
davening, the joy of doing mitzvahs, the
Chabad branch, an international move-
joy of being Jewish. All of that is really
ment with headquarters in Brooklyn
not new but it's a question of stress ...
and some 250,000 followers worldwide.
The stress, in many Chasidic groups,
The philosophy of Chabad emphasizes
was not traditionally in learning."
joy through intellectual meditation.
The misnagdim also mistrusted the
Chabad's major thrust remains
Chasidic notion of the tzaddik.
remarkably faithful to the Baal Shem
"Because learning was so valued, the
Tov's mission. Its members focus on
central figure in Jewish communities
their intense, joyful, individual relation-
was the scholar, an expert on Jewish law
ship with God which they attempt to
and tradition. The rabbi would be the
impart to other Jews through teaching
most revered member of the communi-
and example.
ty. Because the stress [of the Chasidim]
Rabbi Shmuel Doshin, chairman of
was more on the spiritual, the rebbe, a
Yad Yisroel, the outreach program of
mystical figure who perhaps had insight
the Stoliner Chasidim, describes their
not from logic that comes from study
approach:
but from the psychic, became a central
"The emphasis, like with all
figure.
Chasidus, is on joy. Joy is not a mitz-
"Chasidim had the idea, and this was
vah, but it can accomplish more than
new, that being connected to that soul
any mitzvah. Depression is not a sin,
has a redemptive power ... You're cling-
but it can be more destructive than any
ing to God by clinging to the tzaddik.
sin. Chasidus does not add anything
The misnagdim really opposed this,"
new to Judaism, but rather enhances
Irons said.
the tools that we already possess."
Yet, the fears of the misnagdim were
According to Chasidic tradition, it
not necessarily borne out by history.
once happened that the Baal Shem Tov's
Chasidim have their yeshivas and study- soul rose to the chamber of the Messi-
ing is of central importance to them,
ah, Israel's holy redeemer. The Baal
Irons said.
Shem Toy inquired, 'When will the
Generally, Chasidic groups are divid-
Master finally arrive?' The Messiah
ed into three categories. These divisions replied, "When your wellsprings (the
are based on the interpretation of their
teachings of Chasidus) reach to the out-
founding rebbes. One such Chasidic
side." ❑

6/5
1998

86

Before his revelation as a Chasidic mas-
ter, the Baal Shem Tov was employed
as a shochet, a ritual slaughterer.
Once, one of the local Jewish land-
holders sent his non-Jewish servant
with a chicken to be slaughtered. Some
time passed and the servant returned
with the live bird. The land owner
inquired as to why he had not had the
bird slaughtered. The servant replied
that there was a new shochet in town,
as the old one, the Baal Shem Tov, had
left
'Well," inquired the landowner,
why did you not have it slaughtered?"
The servant replied, "This shochet wets
his sharpening stone with water. Reb
Yisroel would wet his stone with tears.
-- Tiles Of The Baal Sherri Thy
Feldheim Publishers, 1973.

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1,. .

Tov
ciples the great
spiritual accomplishments of these
simple people. He requested that each
person around the tabs place their
hand on the should.et Uthe person sit-
ting next to them, aita to close their
eyes. When this was done, the Baal
Sherri Tov placed his hand on the
shoulders of the person next to him.
The disciples began to hear a sweet,
angelic singing and experienced a
tremendous state of spiritual ecstasy,
one they had never before experienced.
At one point, the disciples felt that
they would soon expire from this expe-
rience. At that point, the Baal Shem

Tov removed his hands and told them
to open their eyes. At once, the spiritu-
al bliss disappeared. The Baal.Shem
Tov explained that the feeling was
caused by the reciting of psalms by the .
simple people in the adjoining room.
They had experienced the same delight
as is experienced on high.
-- A Treasury o f Chassid.ic Tales,
Mesorah Publishers, 1980.

Dovber, the Maggid of Mezeritch, was
a formidable and renowned scholar.
When he first encountered the Baal
Shem Tov, the latter was sitting at his
desk reading the .Zohar (predecessor to
the Kabbala).
The Baal Shem Tov asked the Mag-
gid if he had ever learned .Zohat The
Magid responded that he had.
"Could you read the following sec-
tion for me?" asked the Baal Sherri Tov.
The Magid then proceeded to read
the section dealing with God's throne
of glory as described in the Book of
Ezekiel.
The Baal Shen Tov stopped him
in the middle of his explanation and
requested that he explain the passage
better.
The Maggid began to elucidate and
ound, but the 13aal Shem Tov asked
him:toexplain better.
The Maggid began to delve into the
very depths of his knowledge, sweating
and flaying his arms in an attempt to
explain the section.
The Boa 1 Shem Tov commented,
"Allow me, please."
With that, the Baal Shem Tov began
simply reading the text. As he read the
details of the throne of glory and
description of the ministering angels,
the scene suddenly appeared to the
Maggid as it was described in the
Zohar. The more details the Baal Shem
Tov read, the more sublime the scene
became.
The Maggid felt as though he was
abou.t to faint from this wondrous
sight, when the Baal Sherri Tov closed
the volume, causing the whole scene to
disappear.
"Now do you know what learning
is?" inquired the Baal Shan Tbv.
— In Praise Of The. Baal Shen2Tov
Schocken Books, 1984