What is Chassidim?

by Elisheva

Image: Chabad.org

Chassidim is one of the great success stories in world history of religious movements. When the Baal Shem Tov died in 1760, there were no more than twenty to thirty followers linked to and who could claim his legacy. All of his followers were within the far south-eastern corner of Poland, near the borders of Russia. There is little knowledge of any influence of the Baal Shem Tov beyond his followers and his hometown, Miedzybozh. Half a century later, larger parts of Eastern European Jews considered themselves followers of the Baal Shem Tov — the Chassidic movement.

The Baal Shem Tov’s teachings were mostly in their original oral form, given by Rabbi Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezritch, and a circle of his students. They belonged to the second and third generation of the Chassidic leadership. It was this circle of students who brought Chassidism into the public arena, and a few key figures within this circle who created Chassidim as a historical movement. This had a huge impact upon the history of the Jews and Judaism for 250 years, during a period of changing and evolving Chassidic agendas and conflicts between the followers and opponents of Chassidim.

The Mezritch years represent the formation of a close spiritual circle, groups of students intensely devoted to their leader, who set ideals of spreading the Baal Shem Tov’s teachings to one another. The students continued their work for decades after the Maggid of Mezritch’s death. At the end of the third generation of Chassidic leadership was the nature of shared Chassidic faith. Devotion to the BeSHT, the Maggid, and their teachings created a deep bond of loyalty and commitment.

Defining the Chassidim by commitment to their followers:

• Avodah b’Simcha — The purpose of life is the joyous service of HaShem. HaShem created the world and derived pleasure from the devotion of human beings, especially our neshamos. To partner in His plan, one must be careful of anything that might lead one astray from serving HaShem.

  
  

• Kavanah — Through Torah learning, davening, and performing mitzvos, we serve HaShem with intention, concentration, and devotion from the heart. This transforms and uplifts every act we do and is serving HaShem with all of our heart, soul, and might.

  
  

• Penimiyyus — Meaning that the essence of observant life lies inward, with spiritual intensity. Deeds are important and mitzvos are to be fulfilled as a vessel for Divine light which floods the neshama, an embodiment of our heart’s inward devotion to HaShem. Devekus, attachment to HaShem, is our goal. All of life is to serve as a means to that end.

  
  

• Tsimtsum — Existence in the mind of HaShem is a simple, uniform whole. The words spoken by HaShem in the creation of the world are the essence of existence. Because HaShem is beyond space and time, this reality never changes. Our existence as separate beings is the result of tsimtsum, a de-intensification of the Divine Presence so that our minds can endure it and continue to function as separate selves in order to fulfil our mission. In reality, this separateness is most of the time an illusion.

  
  

• Nitsotsos — HaShem’s presence (Shechinah) fills and includes all of existence. The sparks of Divine light can be found everywhere. Our mission as Jews is to seek out and discover those sparks within ourselves and sometimes in the most unlikely places, to re-establish Divine unity that embraces all beings into oneness.

  
  

• Tefillah — Davening is the most essential form of devotional experience. All of life, including but not limited to Torah learning and mitzvos, should be seen as an extension of the davening experience, which involves the entire self and is offered as a gift to HaShem, just as the sacrifices of the Beis HaMikdash were more than 2,000 years ago.

  
  

• Middos — Our mission is that of uplifting and transforming our emotional self to become a better version of ourselves in serving HaShem. Love and fear are two strong emotions which we need to purify in our lives, realising that the only true love comes from HaShem. Our only fear should be our great awe of standing before HaShem. True love and fear become a channel through which HaShem’s blessings can flow to us.

  
  

• Tzaddikim — A Tzaddik is a person who lives according to the teachings of the Torah. A Tzaddik is a channel for bringing a flow of blessings, mainly to those around them and ultimately to the entire world. Tzaddikim, the only proper Jewish leaders of the Jewish people, should be in the public arena. A Tzaddik is capable of transforming his consciousness, leaving ordinary perception behind and rising to a state of mind where he can perceive the Shechinah in all of existence. Sometimes this may even be accompanied by true light and other supernatural actions. This power is immense, and a Tzaddik will only channel good that flows through Divine blessing.

Chassidism is a devotional mysticism. It does not ask the question, “What is the nature of Being?” but rather, “How do I serve HaShem properly?” The way of Emes is the way of service and devotion. Finding HaShem everywhere should never diminish the need to serve Him. Our mission is to gain a glimpse of Emes that lies beyond tsimtsum while living our daily lives as the reality we are given.

The Chossid is constantly seeking sparks to uplift him. Faith carries a devotional message in Chassidic piety:

“HaShem wants to be served in all ways.”

The Jewish path of Torah learning, fulfilling the mitzvos, and daily davening leaves no realm of life untouched. In those places, we seek and find HaShem. Everything we do becomes an act of service. This gives us the possibility of finding and serving HaShem in all things, in each moment, and reaching an understanding of devekus — the closest form of mystical experience, rooted in the heart and soul of Chassidic faith.

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Elisheva – Celebrating the Heart of Yiddishkeit

Elisheva is a passionate voice for authentic Jewish life, blending Torah wisdom, mitzvos, and the timeless beauty of Yiddishkeit. Her writing shines a light on the strength and grace of Jewish women—from the legacy of Devorah Leah, daughter of the Alter Rebbe, to today’s women who live with faith, modesty, and purpose. Through her words, Elisheva celebrates Torah study, family purity, and radiant tznius, inspiring readers to embrace the joy, depth, and enduring spirit of Jewish tradition. Contact Elisheva.