CONCEPTION OF TZADDIK AUTHORITY IN THE HASIDIC TEACHING ABOUT GODLY JOY
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Abstract
Hasidism distinguishes from other versions of Jewish tradition by the practice of multiplying joy in the communal life of believers. It is an important factor of maintaining the sacred order and approval of the system of power created by the followers of Besht. According to the teaching of the Hasidim, it is the tzaddiks that give joy for people and awake as wel joy in the deity. Man acquires power through spiritual practice which brings him direct contact with the Lord. The practice of God-pleasing joy, like any other spiritual practice, is considered by the followers of Besht in two perspectives: from the point of view of mystical teaching, and from the standpoint of traditional Talmudic teaching. Each of the above-mentioned theological doctrines corresponds to a special state of consciousness that determines the specifics of the believer’s communication with the deity. However, the conducted study shows that according to the views of Hasidim, as a result of the realization of both types of spiritual practice, the righteous man acquires the same opportunities to rule over the inhabitants of this world. It should be noted that in the sermons of the founders of Hasidism, there is no unequivocal definition of the place of merriment in the hierarchy of manifestations of God-pleasing human activity. Sometimes it is defined as a secondary factor, relevant only at the stage of ascension to heaven, and simetimes, on the contrary, as decisive factor, irreplaceable for the matter of direct communication with the deity. This duality allows leaders to control the behavior of their followers, and, at the same time, behave themselves not like them. As a result the authority of the tzaddikas over society is provided and, at the same time, their independence from society is affirmed.
How to Cite
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authority, Community, conception, Hasidism, joy, Judauism, tsaddik
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Dov Ber mi-Mezhirecz (2004), Or tora, Otsar ha-Hasidim, New York. (In Hebrew).
Eliezer Azkiri (1601), Sefer Haredim, Venice. (In Hebrew).
Elimelekh mi-Lyzhansk (1978), Noam Elimelekh, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Eliyahu de Vidas (1708), Reshit Hohmah, Amsterdam. (In Hebrew).
Halfan E. (1998), Milon Ivry Qabaly, Nof-Ilon. (In Hebrew).
Ishayahu Gorovits (1698), Shney Luhot ha-Brit, Amsterdam. (In Hebrew).
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Levi Itshaq mi-Berdichev (1958), Qdushat Levi, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Liebes Y. (1994), “Zohar va-Eros”, Alpaim, No. 9, pp. 67–117. (In Hebrew).
Mark Ts. (2003), Mistika ve-shigaon be-ezirat r. Nahman mi-Braslav, Makhon Shalom Hartman, Tel Aviv. (In Hebrew).
Mekhilta de-rabbi Ishmael. (In Hebrew).
Menahem Mendel mi-Vitebsk (1989), Pri ha-arets, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Midrash Sifre al sefer be-Mitbar. (In Hebrew).
Moshe Haym Efraim mi-Sudylkov (1963), Degel mahane Efrayim, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Naftaly Bekherakh, Emeq ha-Melekh, Amsterdam, 1648. (In Hebrew).
Nahman mi-Bratslav (1965), Sefer sikhot ha-Ran, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Nahman mi-Bratslav (1976), Sefer sipurey maasiyot, Maase 6, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Natan Sternhartz mi-Nemirov (1947), Liqutey halakhot, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Sack B. (1995), Be-Shaarey ha-qabbalah shel r.Moshe Qordovero, Universita Ben-Gurion ba –Negev, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Shohet A. (1951), “Al Simha be-Hasidut”, Tsion, No. 16, pp. 30–43. (In Hebrew).
Talmud Bavli, Muad Katan. (In Hebrew and Aramaic).
Talmud Bavli, Shabat. (In Hebrew and Aramaic).
Tishby I. (1996), Mishnat ha-zohar, Vol. 1, Mosad Bialik, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Tishby I. (1997), Mishnat ha-zohar, Vol. 2, Mosad Bialik, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Werblowsky Z. (1996), Joseph Karo: Baal halakha u-mequbal, Magnes, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Wilensky M. (1970), Hasidim u-mitnagdim, Vol. 1, Mosad Bialik, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Yaaqov Yosef mi-Polonoye (1966), Toldot Yaaqov Yosef, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
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REFERENCES
Abelson J. (1912), The Immanence of God in Rabbinical Literature, Macmilan, London.
Avraham Yehoshua Geshel mi-Apata (1883), Ohev Israel, Zhitomir. (In Hebrew).
Bereshit Raba (1996), Teodor-Albek (Ed.), Jerusalem. (In Hebrew and Aramaic).
Dov Ber mi-Mezhirecz (2004), Magid dvarav le-Yaaqov, Otsar ha-Hasidim, New York. (In Hebrew).
Dov Ber mi-Mezhirecz (2004), Or tora, Otsar ha-Hasidim, New York. (In Hebrew).
Eliezer Azkiri (1601), Sefer Haredim, Venice. (In Hebrew).
Elimelekh mi-Lyzhansk (1978), Noam Elimelekh, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Eliyahu de Vidas (1708), Reshit Hohmah, Amsterdam. (In Hebrew).
Halfan E. (1998), Milon Ivry Qabaly, Nof-Ilon. (In Hebrew).
Ishayahu Gorovits (1698), Shney Luhot ha-Brit, Amsterdam. (In Hebrew).
Israel Sarug (1897), Limudey Atsilut, Mukachevo. (In Hebrew).
Koyfman Ts. (2008), Be Kol darkeha dahu: Tfisat ha-elohut ve-ha-avoda be-geshmiut be-reiya ha-hasidu, Hotsaat Universita Bar Ilan, Ramat Gan. (In Hebrew).
Levi Itshaq mi-Berdichev (1958), Qdushat Levi, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Liebes Y. (1994), “Zohar va-Eros”, Alpaim, No. 9, pp. 67–117. (In Hebrew).
Mark Ts. (2003), Mistika ve-shigaon be-ezirat r. Nahman mi-Braslav, Makhon Shalom Hartman, Tel Aviv. (In Hebrew).
Mekhilta de-rabbi Ishmael. (In Hebrew).
Menahem Mendel mi-Vitebsk (1989), Pri ha-arets, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Midrash Sifre al sefer be-Mitbar. (In Hebrew).
Moshe Haym Efraim mi-Sudylkov (1963), Degel mahane Efrayim, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Naftaly Bekherakh, Emeq ha-Melekh, Amsterdam, 1648. (In Hebrew).
Nahman mi-Bratslav (1965), Sefer sikhot ha-Ran, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Nahman mi-Bratslav (1976), Sefer sipurey maasiyot, Maase 6, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Natan Sternhartz mi-Nemirov (1947), Liqutey halakhot, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Sack B. (1995), Be-Shaarey ha-qabbalah shel r.Moshe Qordovero, Universita Ben-Gurion ba –Negev, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Shohet A. (1951), “Al Simha be-Hasidut”, Tsion, No. 16, pp. 30–43. (In Hebrew).
Talmud Bavli, Muad Katan. (In Hebrew and Aramaic).
Talmud Bavli, Shabat. (In Hebrew and Aramaic).
Tishby I. (1996), Mishnat ha-zohar, Vol. 1, Mosad Bialik, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Tishby I. (1997), Mishnat ha-zohar, Vol. 2, Mosad Bialik, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Werblowsky Z. (1996), Joseph Karo: Baal halakha u-mequbal, Magnes, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Wilensky M. (1970), Hasidim u-mitnagdim, Vol. 1, Mosad Bialik, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Yaaqov Yosef mi-Polonoye (1966), Toldot Yaaqov Yosef, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).
Zohar. (In Hebrew and Aramaic).
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