Leading Concepts of the Authority of the Tzaddik in the Teachings of r. Israel Hager
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Abstract
The third rebbe from Vizhnitsa, Israel Hager, is one of the most influential Hasidic leaders of the first half of the 20th century. He had tens of thousands of followers in Bukovyna, Transcarpathia, the northern regions of Romania and the eastern lands of Hungary. Even during his lifetime, he was recognized by his followers as a figure comparable to the founder of Hasidism, Israel Baal Shem Tov. At the same time, r. Israel is among the little-studied leaders of Hasidism, which highlights the relevance of the proposed study. One of the main topics in the teachings of R. Hager is the substantiation of the leading principles of the tzaddik’s authority over the Jewish community. According to his views, the perfection of the soul and the ability to magically influence on the world are not sufficient conditions that oblige people to obey the will of a spiritual leader. Only caring for his followers gives the tzaddik the right to decide the fate of the believers. He resolutely rejects the right to be led by ascetics devoted exclusively to the personal service of the Lord or those who behave like kings who are difficult for the common people to reach. A true leader must be open to all people and concerned about their needs. This is what gives him power over the community and, in general, over the whole world. R. Hager shared the common opinion in Hasidic circles about the community’s responsibility for the lifespan of a tzaddik. However, he did not support the idea of his contemporary and admirer, Chaim Elazar Shapira, that the community should seek immortality for its leader. According to the views of the Vyzhnytskyi Rebbe, the soul of a tzaddik, thanks to the care of ordinary believers, eventually reaches a high level incompatible with existence in the material world. But even in heaven, the tzaddik continues to take care of the fate of his Hasidim and to lead them. In this way, the concept of the tzaddik’s comprehensive power over believers in the earthly and afterlife worlds is substantiated. In this context, R. Hager examines the doctrine of messianic liberation. It is mainly devoted to the possibility of tzaddiks to use the power of the Messiah to help people in the present life. Most modern researchers reject G. Scholem’s concept of neutralization of the messianic idea in Hasidism, but in relation to R. Hager it turns out to be correct.
How to Cite
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r. Israel Hager; Bukovyna; ethics; Hasidism; history; mysticism; paternalism; politics; symbols; Transcarpathia; tzaddiks, р. Ісраель Хагер; Буковина; Закарпаття; етика; історія; містика; патерналізм; політика; символи; хасидизм; цадики
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