Hasidic Judaism: Origins, Beliefs, and Worldwide Expansion

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Hasidic Judaism founded by Rabbi Israel Ben Eliezer ~~ commonly known as Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov ~~ and established in eighteenth century Poland has become one of the most common Jewish religious groups world-wide. According to the jewish virtual library, the sect began as a response to many Jews who felt a void, or gap between themselves and God. Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov described as a great scholar and mystic, developed a way of Jewish life in order for Jews to grow closer to God. This way of life emphasized “a constant focus on attachment to G­od” and the Jewish Holy books,Torah and Talmud. Hasidic Judaism quickly spread throughout Eastern Europe as whole hasidic communities began to disperse. World War Two helped to accelerate this …show more content…

Families in hasidic communities depend on other families for certain goods, meaning that there's a network of trade within the communities. This network of trade allows the community to survive as a whole since many hassidic families do not make enough money to take care of needs.
The father of a traditional hassidic family is the spiritual head of the household in that they lay the spiritual framework for the family. We see this in The Chosen by Chaim Potok. Reb Saunders as Danny’s father and as the Rebbe has leadership roles in the household and in the community. In the novel we see the Reb set spiritual guidelines for his son, and for his community as a traditional Rebbe would do. The religious and political views of Reb saunders are that of his family and of his community.
The gender role of woman in the culture is to raise the family. This important because families make up the community. The mothers are to instill in children what they ought to learn in order to become a functioning member of the community, and they often stress gender roles to their children. Children become engaged at young age, because all hasidic marriage is arranged. According to the documentary marriage is not favorable but it is required and typical hasidic families have around ten to fourteen

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