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Hasidic Judaism
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Hasidic Judaism is a very vocal sub-group that wields influence beyond its small numbers. Its beginnings can be traced to the late 1700s, but the group that calls itself Hasidic today bears little resemblance to its early progenitors. Hasidic Judaism began in an honest effort to restore the joy of Judaism to the average Jew. It succeeded due to the charisma of its early teachers; and where it continues to succeed today, it is still due to charismatic central leaders who are known as rebbes (a Yiddish term used instead of the term, rabbis). Like many other reactionary movements, the main idea of Hasidic Judaism is that Jews should stop living in the modern world and return to “the good old days.” On close inspection... “the good old days” (that is, the eighteenth-century world which Hasidism represents in both dress and practice) were really days of oppression and ignorance for the average Jew. It was only in such a world that Jews could have given credence to the claims that their rebbes worked miracles, cured illnesses, and exorcised demons.
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Hasidic Judaism is a Haredi Jewish religious movement. Some refer to Hasidic Judaism as Hasidism, and the adjective chasidic/hasidic applies. The movement originated in Eastern Europe (what is now Belarus and Ukraine) in the 18th century.
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With the discipline of Hasidic Judaism, Matisyahu now has a powerful guide for his life. He's surrounded with the "spiritual and intellectual challenge" he began searching for at 14 years old. Whether by chance or destiny, on that journey he started listening to Bob Marley, who provided him with a connection to his artistic and musical creativity and helped to point in the direction of his own culture and roots. Matisyahu has managed to make good on teenage angst to arrive at a spiritual and musical combination that honestly communicates a powerful and uplifting message about faith and spirituality. Even when you can't understand his words (some of his songs are in Hebrew) you get a tingling, spiritual lift. Matisyahu has delved into and connected with his own culture and roots and come up with a gift to the ever-growing collection of artists who have been influenced by Reggae's message and appeal.
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Hasidic Judaism (from the Hebrew : Chasidut חסידות, meaning "pious", from the Hebrew root word chesed חסד meaning "loving kindness") is a Haredi Jewish religious movement. Some refer to Hasidic Judaism as Hasidism , and the adjective Chasidic / Hasidic (or in Yiddish Chasidish חסידיש) applies. The movement originated in Eastern Europe ( Belarus and Ukraine ) in the 18th century . Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer (1700 - 1760)... known as the Ba'al Shem Tov , founded Hasidic Judaism. It originated in a time of persecution of the Jew ish 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 met with opposition from several contemporary leaders, most notably the Vilna Gaon of Lithuania , united as the mitnagdim (Hebrew: "opposers").
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Hasidic Judaism emerged in eighteenth-century Poland in response to devastating pogroms and a general rise in secularism among Jews. It is a fundamentalist movement, one that requires its followers to detach themselves from most aspects of the secular world and to follow strict religious protocal. Unlike similarly insular religious groups such as the Amish... Hasidic Jews are mostly urban. In New York and Montreal, they live in densely-populated and culturally diverse urban areas. Their presence is highly visible, due in large part to their distinctive style of dress, which is derived from the mainstream fashions of pre-Emancipation Eastern European Jews. Men wear stockings and long dark jackets; their heads are covered with fur hats or fedoras.
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Hasidic Judaism was founded by Israel ben Eliezer (1700-1760)... known as the Ba'al Shem Tov (or Besht). It originated 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. His disciples attracted many followers; they themselves established numerous Hasidic sects across Europe. Hasidic Judaism eventually became the way of life for many Jews in Europe. Waves of Jewish immigration in the 1880s carried it to the United States.
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Hasidic Judaism