The polarization between parts of the people is worsening. Great tension exists between the camps. There is almost no communication or dialogue between them. The scholars and Torah scholars live in a world of their own, and on the other side are masses of ordinary Jews who feel rejected and distance themselves from Jewish life.
Want a prestigious degree that is very suitable for the Haredi path? – This is how you do it!This may seem like a description of today's reality, but it was the reality some three hundred years ago. The disconnect that developed between the learned class and the common Jews reflected a fundamental distortion in Jewish life. The system was out of balance.
The problem was not only with the common Jews, who were marginalized and began to be dragged more and more by the Gentiles around them. The scholars also felt a deep sense of deprivation.
Although they worked day and night studying Torah, they developed a spiritual dryness. They lacked the joy, enthusiasm, and devotion that comes through prayer. The excessive focus on learning developed a cold, intellectual, and lifeless personality.
Meeting all groups
Then the great soul of the Baal Shem Tov descended into the world. He showered the dew of revival on the thirsty and polarized people. With true love for Israel, he warmed the souls of the multitudes of the House of Israel. In his profound teachings, he revealed a new light on the life of the Torah and the mitzvot. He taught how one can draw closer to God by performing a mitzvah with warmth and sincerity. How one can ascend to a higher level through good qualities and pure prayer.
The Baal Shem Tot brought the light of the teachings of Hasidism to the students of Torah. Suddenly, layers they had not known were revealed to their eyes. The Baal Shem Tot revealed new depths in the Torah and its commandments and discovered the innermost secrets and secrets within them. Thus, great geniuses of the land and students of the sages gathered around him. These became his disciples and later became the spreaders of the light of Hasidism among broad strata of the people of Israel.
The contribution of Hasidism is not limited to the immense spiritual wealth of sayings, stories, melodies, and hymns. It also created a new world from an ideological perspective.
Hasidism taught that the worship of God is not limited to the areas of Torah study, prayer, and observance of the commandments, but rather that a Jew is required to worship his Creator in every detail of his life. God is present not only in the synagogue, but also in eating, drinking, working, and resting.
In the third generation of Hasidism, Rabbi Shneur-Zalman of Ladi shaped the light of the Baal Shem Tov into an organized format of study and contemplation. The Baal Shem Tov's ideas were explained and expanded in the Sefer Tanya and in the hundreds of Hasidic sermons that were delivered and written in his wake, and today Hasidism is accessible and open to all, to each and every one according to his degree.
Reply with joy
The great Hasidic scholars associated the date of the Baal Shem Tov's birth – חי באל אלול – with the issue of vitality. This day enlivens the month of Elul and breathes life into it. The teachings of Hasidism, revealed by the Baal Shem Tov, give us the ability to draw closer to God in the month of Elul out of love and joy.
Without the light of Hasidism, the concept of repentance is associated with a gloomy, terribly serious atmosphere, weeping, penance and fasting, a resentful and tormented soul. Hasidism comes and teaches that repentance can also be done with a smile and joy, vigor and freshness, dancing and cheerfulness of the soul. This is the joy of the king's son who leaves captivity and returns to his father, the king. May we all have good writing and signing for a happy and sweet new year!
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