New approaches to the History of Hasidism

1. New approaches to the History of Hasidism The Hasidic conquest of Eastern Europe

2. Definition of Hasidism • „Hasidism was initially a kind of a sect and as such it was seen, primarily by his opponents. Its further development proved however that hasidism had no salient characteristics of sect and it was well suited to become a real people´s religion [religja ludowa]. • (…) As time passed the Hasidim called themselves a real Jewish community and reduced their oponents to the role of mitnagdim (protestants).” • Jeremjasz Frenkel, Chasydyzm wśród Żydów dawnej Rzeczypospolitej, in: Żydzi w Polsce Odrodzonej, t. 1,ed. A. Hafftka, I. Schiper, A. Tartakower, Warszawa 1935, pp. 281-288.

3. Mendel Piekarz on the essence of Hasidism: • „The more deeply I probed the literary substance of the homiletical and moralistic literature, including the writings of Jacob Joseph of Polonnoye, I came to realize that various ideas and literary motifs which appear to be emblematic of their generation were actually the product of long ago ages and their literary source was the classic moralisitc books (...) as well as works written a generation or two before hasidism.” • Moshe Rosman, How Jewish is Jewish History, Oxford 2007, p. 137.

4. Zaddik and his court • “so too it is the custom of hasidim to give Zaddik, their rabbi, sufficient money for his support, and the Zaddik is obliged to radiate the abundance upon them in return (...) That they should lack for nothing, whether in their health, their livelihood, or the like. Only if they lack such things, then do they come to the Zaddik and give him a kvitl in which all their needs are inscribed” • A. D. Twersky, Sefer ha-Yahas mi-Chernobyl ve Ruzhin, Lublin 1938 (in: David Assaf, Money for Household Expensesd: Economic Aspects of the Hasidic Royal Courts, p. 21).

5. Besht and his responsibilities • “There was a man who wanted to take the arrendeh in a village away from a widow. The Besht chastised him, but he did not listen to him. He rode on horseback by the Besht's house and knocked on the windown and said: “See, I am going to rent the village arrendeh, and let us see what God will do to me”. (…) • When the man came to the village he rented the arrendeh by offering a great sum of money. As the master was about to write the contract, the man's head began to ache. He said to the master: “I have a horrible headache”. • The master said: (…) “Lie down on the bed”. • Saliva began to flow from his mouth. The master ordered his servant to throw him among the pigs. (…) • They brought him home. His hands and legs were paralyzed, and his tongue was also paralyzed. They called the Besht to cure him, and the man began to speak a little. Meanwhile, the Besht noticed that the members of his family asked gentile sorceresses to cure him, and after that he refused to go to him. And the man was only able to speak a few words.” In Praise of Baal Shem Tov (Shivhei ha-Besht), Ann Arbor 1977, pp. 200-201.

6. Kvitlekh to Eliyahu Guttmacher from Grodzisk Wielkopolski • 1. Chorzel • Dov Lipa ben Khaia – for prosperity • His wie Ester Sara • Their son Josef Chaim • Their son Mordekhai Menakhem • Their son Itzhak Leib – for growing toward all that's good • Itzhak Sharga ben Khaia – for prosperity • His wife Tauba bat Sara Yuta with her daughter – for growing toward all that's good • 2. Ansiaków • Meir Zelig ben Khaia – for Divine service, for success in his trade dealings and collection of debts from the uncircumcised • His wife Brura bat Pesa – for pregnancy, with a hope for a male offspring, and so that I may have appropriate menstruation and for the head sickness [to be healed?] • 3. Ostrówka village, near Złoczew commune • Tsina ben Tsipora – for success in his trade dealings, as well as for deliverance from local military people • His wife Frumet Khana bat Gitel Minkes • Their daughter Lea – for growing toward all that's good • Collection and translation: Marcin Wodzinski.

7. Sources of Zaddik´s revenue • 1. Pidyon • 2. Travels • 3. Ma´amadot • 4. „Magiddut contracts“

8. The Zaddik of Różyn travelling • “He traveled with three carriages of his own, and the Jews flocked to him in such crowds that more than 700 vehicles were upon the road, either accompanying or going to meet him. He slept at this inn on his way from Brody to Lemberg. The crowd of Jews that visited him was such that he could hardly get rest, and many came to look upon his face while he was sleeping. So great was the excitement, that the Austrian Government became alarmed and ordered him to leave the country in three days.” • A. Bonar, R. M'Cheyne, Narrative of a Mission of Inquiry to the Jews from the Church of Scotland in 1839, Edinburgh 1844.

9. Four patterns of interaction (Yohanan Petrovsky-Shtern) • 1. „infiltrating“ • 2. „merging-reproducing“ • 3. „isolating-alienating“ • 4. „patronizing-endorsing“

10. Prince Radziwiłł travelling • “On the morning of the appointed day, the train went forth. This had to be done with his usual suite and all the pomp of his court. First, marched his [private] army (...) Then followed his bodyguard, strzelicy, consisting of volunteers from the poor nobility. After them came the kitchen wagons in which the Hungarian wine had not been forgotten. These were followed by the music of his janissaries and other bands. Then came his coach, and last of all his satraps.” • Solomon Maimon, Autobiography, London 1954, pp. 84-85.