Questions tagged [chasidut-hasidism]
Chasidut (or Chassidus) is a branch of Orthodox Judaism founded by Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov in the 18th century. His followers in turn branched out, leading to many different schools of Chassidus.
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Halachic justification to not pray the amidah before zman t'filah?
Some Chassidic courts are not makpid (careful) to daven the morning Amidah before z'man tefilah, although this seems to be a clear halacha. Are there any opinions they are relying on? I was once told ...
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Chabad custom of not allowing water to touch matzah on Pesach
What is the origin of this custom? This must be fairly recent and "Lubavitch-specific", because my grandparents, who were very observant, always had matzah ball soup and fried matzah with eggs for ...
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A Lubavitch custom of reciting zecher and zeicher in "Ashrei"?
My cousin, a Lubavitcher, says both zecher and zeicher (that is, both זֶכֶר with a segol and זֵכֶר with a tzeire) in "Ashrei". I noticed this when I visited him a good few years ago, and assumed it ...
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Are there other extant Chabad groups besides Chabad-Lubavitch?
Wikipedia lists a number of different Chabad groups including:
Chabad-Lubavitch
Chabad-Bobroisk
Chabad-Kapust
Chabad-Liadi
Chabad-Nezhin
Chabad-Strashelye
I was told that these different groups were ...
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Which Hasidic rabbi has no beard, and what is the story?
There is a famous Hasidic rabbi who has no facial hair, and I seem to recall that there is a famous story as to why. But I can remember neither which rabbi (or of which sect), nor the story. I do not ...
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Why so many vocalized shvas in Siddur Tehillat Hashem?
I prayed using a Siddur Tehillat Hashem the other day, and I noticed that many more shvas were marked with an asterisk above, indicating that they should be vocalized, than I'd expect. In particular, ...
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A rabbi asked me to light candles before weekday Mincha/Ma'ariv. Is this customary? Is there a bracha?
Last night, I was pulled in off the street to help an unfamiliar shul make a minyan for Mincha/Ma'ariv. The rabbi greeted me, and when he learned I do not speak Hebrew, he gave me a very nice blessing ...
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"Chabad" Gemara learning?
Is there a specifically "Chabad" way of learning Gemara? Is there a Chabad commentary on the Gemara?
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Do Chasidim avoid wearing ties?
Do Chasidim not wear ties as a rule?
If so, is this by design or an accident of history?
If by design, where can I find said intended reason in print?
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Does the cherem that the Vilna Gaon put on certain sectors of Chassidus still apply?
It is known that the Vilna Gaon put 2 sectors of Chassidus in Cherem. I am wondering who has permitted them now seeing as we non-Chassidim don't make borders between them and ourselves.
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Halachic Justifications for the Amshinover Rebbe
The current Amshinover Rebbe in Bayit Vegan, Jerusalem is known in the Jewish world as a man of great piety and for his great knowledge in Torah. He is also known to keep very different "Zmanim"- ...
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Source of Dzikov customs
Does anyone know of a book of minhagim (practices) or a sidur (prayer book) of the chasidim of Dzikov (דזיקוב, sometimes דז׳יקוב)? (Or anything that would show their minhagim.)
Hebrewbooks.org doesn'...
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Siddur for Skolyer Chasidim
Is there a specific siddur for the minhag of the Skolyer Chasidim (Chasidim of Ukrainian town of Skole)?
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Minhag not to learn Torah on the night of Nitel (Who and where)
This related question explains what this minhag is and a couple of reasons for it.
I was wondering to what extent is this minhag practiced today apart from Chabad (see Hayom Yom - 17 Tevet)? Do all ...
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Hair Covering Before Marriage?
Are there any communities in America or Israel where women cover their hair before marriage? Do Satmar women cover their hair before marriage?
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What are some fundamental chasidic works of philosophy / theology?
Which books are fundamental in terms of presenting the philosophy / theology of mainstream chasidut?
I know Chabad has Tanya, and Breslov has Likkutei Moharan.
Which sefarim are philosophically ...
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Why was Chassidus controversial?
When Chassidus came about, it was very controversial. The Vilna Gaon even put Chassidim in cherem. What were the reasons for the controversy? And why is there peace and mutual respect today between ...
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Source for a story: Rambam paskening people out of heaven
I'm sorry to ask a source-seeking question (because I don't like seeing them myself), but I'm at a loss here in trying to find what I think is a theologically important Hassidic story. The story goes ...
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Special occasions where various Chassidim don't say Tachanun
Various Chassidim have different customs regarding special occasions where they don't say Tachanun.
[I know this because sometimes I daven in a Vishnitz shule and, upon asking why they didn't say ...
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Who is Rebbe Nachman referring to when he mentions "Sheid Yehudi" (Likutei Moharan 12)
The concept of the 1שד יהודי is introduced by Rebbe Nachman in Likutei Moharan 12:1
(Source from Sefaria.org)
מַה שֶּׁאָנוּ רוֹאִים, שֶׁעַל־פִּי הָרֹב הַלּוֹמְדִים חוֹלְקִים עַל הַצַּדִּיקִים, ...
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What siddur do Satmerer Chasidim use?
Many Chasidic groups have a particular siddur that is used by most in that group. Does Satmer have such a siddur?
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Why didn't the prophets (and others "inspired from Above") ever learn the secrets of science or cures for disease?
Why is it that people like the prophets, and other, more modern figures who are seen as being divinely inspired (the kabbalists, the Chasidic rebbes, etc.) never seem to be told secrets of science, ...
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Are women allowed to drive?
Prompted by this article is there any basis for not allowing woman to drive? Can this practice even be termed a 'minhag'? If so, what is the motivation behind this 'tradition'?
As quoted from the ...
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Do other Chasidic communities follow Shulchan Aruch HaRav?
The Maggid of Mezeritch told the Baal HaTanya to put together a Shulchan Aruch for Chasidim. The result is the Shulchan Aruch HaRav, which is used as a final authority for halacha in Chabad ...
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Hassidim and white shirt
I always wonder what kind of white shirt the hassidim were wearing. They look different. I know you have to button these shirt from the left but the collar looks very different. Do you know what kind ...
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Why is the shtreimel worn balanced atop the head?
It seems like many chasidim wear their shtreimel (and their weekday hats) balanced atop their heads, a size or so smaller than one might wear a hat in the secular world.
Is there an underlying ...
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Nusach Sefard vs. Nusach Ha-Arizal
So I was wondering what differences there are between Nusach Sefard, the traditional Chassidic nusach and Nusach Ha-Arizal, the Chabadnik nusach arranged by the Alter Rebbe (Rabbi Schneur Zalman of ...
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Arguments FOR Radzyner Techeiles
Mostly everyone agrees that the organization Ptil Tekhelet most likely uses the real techeiles and that Radzyner techeiles is unfortunately not the real deal.
But I'm asking what are the arguments ...
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What is the difference between a Rebbe Rashab Tallis and the regular chabad tallis?
What is the difference between a Rebbe Rashab Tallis and the regular chabad tallis Was this a specific thing just for his time or do chassidim still follow this today?
Is there a difference in tallis ...
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Rabbi Nachman on connecting to Tzaddikim and Tefillah
Rabbi Nachman M'Breslov in Likutei Moharan (2:6) writes:
(Source from Sefaria.org)
(Partial Quote)
וְצָרִיךְ כָּל אֶחָד לְכַוֵּן בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ, שֶׁיְּקַשֵּׁר עַצְמוֹ לַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁבַּדּוֹר, כִּי ...
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Source for the Baal Shem Tov's idea of seeing one's own flaw in others?
I recently heard the following story a few times and was wondering if anyone had a source for the story. The story is that the Baal Shem Tov said that if you see a fellow Jew breaking Shabbos it ...
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Ritual immersion for the cantor
I pray with Chassidim. Before someone begins to lead the prayer, they ask if he underwent ritual immersion that morning.
Is there a (and if so, what is the) source for this requiring the cantor to ...
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Why do Hassidim wear hats that simulate what Non-Jewish czars and kings wore?
I heard from a few people that some of the hats that Hassidim wear such as shtreimelach and spodeks mimic the hat styles worn by previous kings and czars. Perhaps, I heard incorrectly, so feel free to ...
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Why is the Lubavitch custom to have short Peoth?
If R' Schneur Zalman of Liadi had long Peoth, as in this famous sketch, why is it not the custom in Lubavitch circles these days for adult men to maintain long, emphasized Peoth as it is in many other ...
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Can anyone explain the meaning of this amulet / inscription?
Right before my grandfather went away to fight in WWII, a rabbi in Munkács (מונקאטש) gave him a small cloth container that had a piece of parchment in it, as a kind of amulet. The piece of paper has ...
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Satmar Derech Halimud
I was curious as to what the Derech Halimud (learning style) is for Satmar Chassidim. I understand that the general Chassidish Derech (Chassidic style) is one that moves at a quicker pace with not as ...
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What to call the 7th Lubavitcher Rebbe [closed]
Often times a few different rebbes are mentioned (either previous Chabad rebbes or rebbes of other Chasudusim) in the same talk and then the word "The Rebbe" comes in and it's ambiguous.
I have heard ...
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What happened to Chasidus?
When one reads stories of the old Chasidim, from the Baal Shem Tov through the first few generations, the impression one is left with is of a movement very different from the Chasidim of today. ...
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Uman for Rosh Hashanah?
Why do people leave Eretz Yisroel to go to Uman for Rosh Hashanah? (It seems to me like leaving America for July Fourth.) In general what is the reason people go: is it Just a festival in the ...
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Why do people get Chassidishe Shchita?
The Rambam says that the Shchita of a Mumar for one aveira is Kosher, just that there needs to be a Shochet who will check his knife before he shechts (as one can assume that he won't work too hard to ...
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The Yiddish Language and its Sanctity
Rav Avrohom Schorr in his Sefer HaLekach V'HaLevuv al HaTorah (5763) for on Parshas Noach the following:
(Took a picture because there is no online copy available)
(Rough Translation by myself)
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Pronunciation guide by a Gerer Rebbe?
I heard from a friend years ago that one of the Rebbes from Gur (the S'fas Emes) wrote a book describing the proper pronunciation of Hebrew letters and words. I am not able to find any trace of such a ...
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Is there a Kabbalistic source for not walking with one's hands behind one's back?
I've heard from people that it says in Kabbalah that one shouldn't walk with one's hands behind one's back. Does anyone know the source?
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Where does the concept of "shirayim" come from?
Please explain the concept of shirayim (literally, leftovers) wherein the followers of a chassidic Rebbe will receive portions of his food to it, these leftovers are considered holy or special in some ...
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Did Rabbi Dovid Feinstein of Uzda wear tefilin that were Ktav Ari or Ktav Beit Yosef? What about his son?
The biographical sketch of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein that appears in the beginning of Igrot Moshe volume 8 states that his father, Rabbi Dovid Feinstein of Uzda, was born and raised Hassidic, but took on ...
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The concept of the "Tzadik" in Chasidut
I've recently started to learn about Breslev Chasidut and was amazed by many great advices of Rabbi Nachman zt'l but I am very confused to read things about the so called Tzadik of the Generation e.g. ...
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Relationship between Chabad and the Malachim today
These days, what is the relationship between Chabad and the Malachim? How close are they -- do members of the groups marry each other, participate in each other's mosdos at all, etc.? Do Chabad ...
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Are Orthodox Jews opposed to women singing in public, particularly if the woman is singing to a fussy baby in an attempt to soothe it?
My sister lives in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City, and the neighborhood has a large population of Orthodox Jews and, I think, Hassidim (I don't really understand the difference, but that is a ...
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Learning Torah on Christmas
Can one learn Torah on Christmas day? I've heard there are a number of opinions on this: what are their sources?
I've heard that Chasidim don't study anything Xmas night as well as the 6th of January....
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Why call so many olim "moreinu"?
I davened in a couple of different Chassidish shuls over the past few days, and in two different places (Tenka and Munkacs), I noticed that nearly all men who were called up for an aliya were ...