How does music help us spiritually? When Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi came to #Mezeritch, the Maggid told him in the name of the Baal Shem Tov that melody is one of the paths of Divine service

- Sefer HaSichos 5702

@mazeldon #Chassidus #melody #spiritual #Judaism #Jewishbooks #spirituality

As a Jew, I'm reading more #chassidus these days. Why? I love the #JPS #Torah commentary series (it's amazing) and of course appreciate academic studies of #Judaism. But when I read non-Orthodox Torah commentary I usually only learn facts. Their editors do little to encourage Avodat Hashem or Yirat Shamayim - spiritual values which are the essence of a living Jewish faith. This quote explains my feelings ->

@mazeldon
@rabbinics

@kilovh
Shalom chaver, excellent. Very happy to see you doing this. Last month I started discussing #chassidus myself, on my previous Mastodon profile. (There was some unfortunate feedback from anti-religious people, so I eventually had to move my account to this new instance.)
Looking forward to what teachings you will share next.

Studying this week's parashah - Vayechi - with the Sefat Emet, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Alter of Ger. From "The language of truth" by Rabbi Arthur Green. I love this book! Some think of Hasidic thought as Orthodox, yet this book is used by Reform Jews, Jewish Renewal, Conservative Jews, Havurah movement, Trad-Egal, etc.

https://www.bjpa.org/content/upload/bjpa/zimm/Zimmern29f.pdf

#Chassidus #Torah #Parashah #Vayechi #Mazeldon

#Chanukah is #spiritually drawing from above downward to illuminate the darkness; this is higher than the idea of haalaah, drawing from below to upward.
This is why Chanukah candles are lit after the sun sets, while the candles of the Beis Hamikdash were lit while it was still day.

While dealing with darkness is lower than dealing with light,
in terms of the service itself, hamshachah, illuminating the darkness, is higher.

Torah Or, Chanukah Maamarim
#Chassidus

When Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi came to Mezeritch, the Maggid told him in the name of the Baal Shem Tov that melody is one of the paths of Divine service according to the teachings of Chasidism.

- Sefer HaSichos 5702

#Chassidus #hasidicjudaism #melody #spiritual

The Baal Shem Tov taught

The entire Jewish people are one. This has a physical aspect (chomer) and spiritual aspect (tzurah). And just as the body needs the soul, so the soul needs the body. Therefore, [one in the category of tzurah] should not separate himself from [one in the category of chomer]; rather, one should bind himself to them and watch over them with a compassionate eye in order to return them to the ways of virtue.

- Toldos Yaakov Yosef, Kedoshim

#Chassidus #AhavatYisrael

A Jewish teaching on Ahavat Yisrael from the Baal Shem Tov

The Baal Shem Tov once said: "When a Jew sighs in compassion for the grief of another Jew, this breaks through even the most impenetrable barriers of those who denounce us Above. And when a Jew enthusiastically shares in another Jew's rejoicing and blesses him, then God receives it like the prayer of Rabbi Yishmael Kohen Gadol in the Holy of Holies"

- Sefer HaSichos 5703

#Chassidus #hasidicjudaism #AhavatYisrael

A #Chassidic teaching of the Baal Shem Tov

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself," (Vayikra 19:18), is a reflection of the mitzvah, "You shall love the Lord, your God." For when one loves another Jew, one loves the Holy One. For [the soul of] a Jew is a "portion of God Above," and when one loves a fellow Jew, one loves his innermost essence. Thus, one loves the Holy One as well - HaYom Yom 78

#AhavatYisrael #Chassidus #BaalShemTov

The Maggid of #Mezeritch taught: The Baal Shem Tov often used to say that love of the #Jewish people is the same thing as love of #God. The verse states, "You are children unto the Lord, your God." When one loves the father, one loves the children
- HaYom Yom, p. 81

- The Path of the Ball Shem Tov, David Sears

#Chassidus #Hasidut #AhavatYisrael

@mazeldon

Pesach Sommer offers thoughts on balancing an appreciation for academic knowledge with the importance of experiencing faith:

Experiencing #chassidus through #seforim and the academy

https://pesachsheini.blogspot.com/2018/04/mati-vlo-mati-experiencing-chassidus.html

I'm reading more chassidus these days. Why? I appreciate academic studies of Judaism. But when I read non-Orthodox #Torah commentary I usually only learn facts. In most cases, the authors do little to encourage one's Avodat Hashem or Yirat Shamayim, spiritual values which are the essence of a living faith. (There are exceptions, obviously, A. J. #Heschel, #ShaiHeld, etc.)

This quote explains the idea further

@mazeldon
#Mazeldon #Jewish #Judaism #Chassidus #Hasidut

R. Joseph Rosenfeld teaches Chassidic ideas -

Silence is:
Rebbe Nachman: the only answer
Rav Kook: the loudest expression
Maharal: pure potency
Baal Shem Tov: revelatory
R’ Simcha Bunim: what remains
Leshem: sweetening severity
Kotzk: deepest connection
Chabad: above rational thought
Rav Charlop: deepening

@mazeldon
#Mazeldon #Jewish #Judaism #Hasidut #Chassidus

#Chassidus on Abraham, father of the Jewish people, by Reb Yosef Rosenfeld.

Abraham was the one who...

Sfas Emes: listened
R Nachman: was the only one
Gra: revealed light
Baal Shem Tov: understood
Levinas: wandered
Izhbitz: moved inward
Rambam: was a child
R Kook: understood that the Infinite can't be grasped.
Chabad: touched the infinite even though it cant be grasped.

@mazeldon
#Mazeldon #Jewish #Judaism #Hasidut

Chassidus by Reb Yosef Rosenfeld -

The Laughter of Isaac is:
#Zohar: reserved for the future

R' Tzadok: absurdity

Baal Shem Tov: sweetening harshness

R. Nachman: beyond understanding

Sfas Emes: redemptive

Gra: disclosure of secrets

R. YI Chaver: the same as R. Akiva

Rashbi: laughing at death

Izhbitz: Impossible

@mazeldon
#Mazeldon #Jewish #Judaism #Chassidus #Hasidut

A story from the #Chassidus of Reb Nachman

I want you to be king, the King said to his son, but on one condition. You must remain joyous even when you descend from your kingship. For if you can remain joyous when you descend from your kingship, then you are worthy of being king.

- Rebbe Nachman of #Breslov

@mazeldon
#Mazeldon #Jewish #Judaism #Hasidicstory

A thread of meditations triggered by the perfect synchronization I voluntarily assumed between @TehilimBot and the #circumstances of #Reality, at least seen from me.
#Chassidus for today, in the syntony of #EsaBiEl.
https://twitter.com/BookOfEsaBiEl/status/1591729365603205120?t=xwn3DIHLfM1aOQ8tUDVYIA&s=19

What Jewish spiritual practices would you suggest to Jews from non-Orthodox backgrounds who want to learn about & engage in authentic Jewish spirituality?

@judaism
@mazeldon
#Jewdiverse #Mazeldon #Jewniverse
#Jewish #Judaism #Jews #JewishStudies #Babka #Hasidut #Chassidus #spirituality

Where can English speakers go to learn directly from the great Hasidic Jewish masters?

https://merrimackvalleyhavurah.wordpress.com/2022/05/30/works-of-the-hasidic-masters-in-english/

@judaism
@mazeldon
#Jewdiverse #Mazeldon #Jewniverse
#Jewish #Judaism #Jews #Hasidic #HasidicJudaism #Chassidus #BaalShemTov #Chabad #Breslov #Berditchiver #Rimanover #Kotsk #Ishbitzer #Komarno #SfasEmes #Kook

Kabbalah is esoteric and about cosmic worlds - Interestingly, Hasidism transmogrifies Kabbalah’s esoteric, cosmic teachings into the realm of the psychological

https://merrimackvalleyhavurah.wordpress.com/2022/06/15/hasidic-thought-transforms-kabbalah-into-a-psychological-dimension/

@judaism
@mazeldon
#Jewdiverse #Mazeldon #Jewniverse
#Jewish #Judaism #Jews #Kabbalah #Chassidus #Hasidut #psychology