Hasidic thought

Hasidic philosophy or Hasidus (Hebrew: חסידות), alternatively transliterated as Hassidism, Chassidism, Chassidut etc. is the teachings, interpretations, and practice of Judaism as articulated by the Hasidic movement. Thus, Hasidus is a framing term for the teachings of the Hasidic masters, expressed in its range from Torah (the Five books of Moses) to Kabbalah (Jewish mysticisim). Hasidus deals with a range of spiritual concepts such as God, the soul, and the Torah, and gives them understandable, applicable and practical expressions. It also discusses the charismatic religious elements of the movement, but mainly Hasidus describes the structured thought and philosophy of Hasidim. In other words, it speaks of the "soul of Torah", as Hasidus is often referred to by that very name.

"Hasidus" (piousness) and "Hasid" (a pious person) are terms used in Jewish literature of all ages, and are not limited to adherents of the Hasidic movement, whose philosophy is discussed in this article.

The word derives from the Jewish spiritual term Hessed (or "Chessed"), commonly translated as "loving-kindness," and which also means kindness, love and merciful behavior. It is also one of the 10 sefirot of Kabbalah, which represents God's provision of good and sustenance to the world, and the power underlying similar actions performed by human beings. The word "Hasidus," sometimes pronounced "Hasidut", as well as its appellation "hasid", has been used in Jewish tradition for pious persons who have sincere motives in serving God and helping others, especially when not obligated to do so ("lifenim mi-shurat ha-din"). The "Hasid" goes above and beyond what is demanded of him by ordinary morality and the boundaries of Halakha, the collective body of religious laws for Jews which derive from the Torah.

In Jewish religious practice, "Middat hasidut" is a religious observance or moral practice which goes beyond mere obedience to Halakha, it is an extraordinary act of good performed by an individual because of their love for a fellow person or for God. An early mention of the term "middat hasidut" appears in the Talmud (Baba Metzia 52:2), and thereafter it was used widely in Jewish Halakhic literature. Thus the term "hasid" should not be mistaken to refer solely to a follower of the Eastern European movement started by the Baal Shem Tov in the 18th century and its philosophy known as hasidus. Rather, "hasid" is a title used for many pious individuals and by many Jewish groups since Biblical times. Some earlier European Jewish movements were also called by this name, such as the Hasidei Ashkenaz of medieval Germany.

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