Some facts on Chasidism:
Chasid: Hebrew for “pious”
The founder: Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov
He was born the 18th of Elul 5458 (1698) in a shtetl called Okup.
Around 1734, Baal Shem Tov (Master of the Good Name) began to teach about Chasidus publicly.
Chasidism flourished in Europe, until World War II.
Tragically, a majority of the Chasidim of Eastern and Central Europe were among the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust.
After World War II, Chasidism started to immigrate to Australia, Canada, Israel, United States, and Western Europe.
Some beliefs of Chasidism:
Love of God, Love of the Jewish brethren, and Love of Torah.
They believe in a way of life that focuses on the importance of community.
Joy is very important in having a good relationship with God. Joy is encouraged through activities of singing, dancing, studying, drinking, etc.
Praying with constant devotion and enthusiasm.
Having a close connection to the Rebbe.
They believe in mysticism, transmigration, and reincarnation, along with extra-Biblical studies; Kabbalah, Talmud, Tanya, etc.
Baal Shem Tov said, “A man’s every act must reflect the worship of the Creator.”
Chasidim live in close-knit communities that are spiritually centered around the leader known as the Rebbe.
There are many different Chasidic communities that are known by the name of the town they originated.
Here are a few examples:
Amshinov, Belz, Bobov, Bostoner, Breslov, Chabad-Lubavitch, Ger, Modzitzer, Muncatz, Satmar, Skvirer, Slonimer, Vizhnitzer, etc.
Many of the Chasidim in the USA live in NYC.
There is close to 200,000 Chasidic Jews in three neighborhoods of Brooklyn: Boro Park, Crown Heights, and Williamsburg.