Hasid ≠ Hasidic Jews

Recently I ran a Hebrew mini-course. As we read the Amidah, the silent prayer, we encountered the word 'hasid'. One of the participants asked if this is the source of the word that the 'hasidic' movement comes from? What does this word mean and why was it chosen?

When many of us say 'hasidic' it is synonymous with ultra-Orthodox or haredi Jews. But in fact a 'hasidic' Jew is a particular kind of ultra-Orthodox Jew that stems from the hasidut movement that started in the 1700's. This movement insisted that every individual has an ability to connect to Hashem (God) and also provided further meaning to Hashem's presence in the world, basing a lot of fundamental beliefs in Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah. It was revolutionary.

Prior to this, a Hassid was someone who was a pious man, a term of honor and respect given to few people. Such a person represented an ideal. They lived frugally, immersed themselves fully in Torah study and acts of kindness and charity to the community.

But the founder of the hasidut movement, the Ba'al Shem Tov, changed the meaning of this term. A Hassid is not a status for just a few people, but for all Jews.

We don't have to immerse in serious Torah study and we don't have to be frugal. The ideal situation is that each of us connect to Hashem in our own way. Whether that be through song or dance, prayer, crying out or screaming — we all have a direct connection to Hashem. Each of us can do acts of kindness, go the extra mile for our fellow Jew, be merry and happy, and that is what makes one a hasid. Hence the name of the movement, hasidut.

This was a new interpretation of what the ideal Jew should be. When the movement was founded, it was controversial. Torah study and prayer weren't regarded with the same respect, song and dance that often replaced it seemed disrespectful, and particular rules and Jewish laws like prayer times for example were disregarded in the name of connection to Hashem. The leader of the opposition was the Gaon of Vilna, who led the group called mitnagdim (literally meaning opposing). Ultra-Orthodox Jews who are Litvaks come from him and his community.

So the original meaning of Hasid is not actually the way we envision or think of a hasidic Jew today. But the popularity of the movement and different sects have changed this term and refer to any member of the hasidic movement.

To truly understand more about the hasidic movement, one needs to understand the basics and concepts behind Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism and its' development that led to the movement's foundation.

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