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Revision as of 09:50, 2 April 2006

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In regards to the new content I added today (Mar 8, 05) please see the detailed and extensive article in the Encyclopedia Judaica, Keter Publishing. That work is still under copyright, so this material of course is not a direct quote. Most Jewish synagogues, and any decent University or College library, should have a complete set of the Encyclopedia Judaica. I am using the new CD-ROM edition, which includes many additional articles and updates. RK 23:51, Mar 8, 2005 (UTC)

jfwolff, which kashrus methods were changed by chassidim? and who used nussach ari if not for chabad, and th nussach ari that was used who changed it to the current form?--Truthaboutchabad 00:33, 11 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Hasidim decided that the knives used by other Jews were not sharp enough, and thus that all their meat is - or may be - treif (unkosher). (Others held that the meat might not be treif, but rather that a truly religious Jew would hold himself to a higher standard.) Hasidim also believed that a non-Hasidic mashgiach (supervisor of kashrut) could not be trusted on this matter, and on other matters, so they instituted their own mashgichim. As such, from this point on Hasidic Jews could not and/or would not eat at the tables of their orthodox bretheren. As a Hasidic Jew, I am a little surprised that you are unfamiliar with this. Do Hasidic rabbis teach that their practice was the traditional one, and that it was the practice of non-Hasidic orthodox Jews that changed? RK 00:51, Mar 13, 2005 (UTC)

In regards to Nusach Sepharad, the Hasidic (Kabbalistic) rite, please note the following. Their liturgical rite is based the siddur of Rabbi Yitchak Luria, aka the Ari. He combined kabbalistic prayers with the Sephardic liturgy to develop his own unique rite, the Lurianic nusach. The exact text of the Ari's siddur was not preserved. Nonetheless, its influence lies in the Hasidic siddurim available today. Over time, the Ari's siddur spread to the Jews of Europe, where it became popular among the Hasidim. Since Hasidim were Ashkenazim, they felt it inappropriate to pray from a Sephardic text. Thus, they adapted his siddur by taking an Ashkenaic siddur, and added to it some Sephardic and Kabbalistic elements of the Ari's siddur. This resulted in the creation of a new rite. RK

Confusingly, this new rite became known to European Jews as "Nusach Sepharad", even though it is not really a Sephardic rite. Thus, to avoid confusion, the actual Sephardic rite is now denoted by either Minhag Sepharad (or Minhag Sepharadi), or Nusach Aedot Hamizrach (Nusach of the eastern community). RK

Many editions of such siddurim are used today by Hasidic Jews. One of the most widely seen is the Lubavitch Siddur. The first Lubavitcher Rebbe, Shneur Zalman of Liady, edited a siddur now termed Nusach ha-Ari'zal, or Nusach Ha'Ari. It has become the official rite of Lubavitcher Hasidim. RK 00:53, Mar 13, 2005 (UTC)

spelling

i've also seen the word spelled "mitnagedim". i'm not sure whether or not which or if both are the correct spelling.

Gringo300 08:12, 8 October 2005 (UTC)

Origin of the name Mitnagdim and Hasidim

What is the source to the statement "Ironically, it was the Hasidim who appplied to themselves the name "Hasidim" ("righteous ones") and to those who opposed them as "Mitnagdim" ("opponents")". I actualy Remember (dont know where at the moment) hearing that it was the Mitnagdim the called them Chasidim. Shlomke 08:33, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

Since no one responded and there's no source, Im removing this unsourced POV peice. Shlomke 06:29, 27 March 2006 (UTC)

Hi Shlomko, where did you hear that the Litvaks (i.e. your "mitnagdim") called themselves "the bad guys"? The Vilna Gaon is referred to as HaGaon HaChasid MeVilna in the cover pages to his books. So that makes him a "Chasid" and those who opposed him the "mitnagdim". IZAK 06:38, 27 March 2006 (UTC)

Source for origin of the term

The first draft of this article was based on the Jewish Encyclopedia article which confirms this with it's short yet cogent entry at MITNAGGEDIM :

"Title applied by the Hasidim to their opponents, i.e., to the Orthodox Jews of the Slavonic countries who have not become adherents of Hasidism (see Jew. Encyc. vi. 254, s.v. Hasidim). The latter have in course of time accepted that title, and "mitnagged" now means not necessarily an active or even a passive opponent of Hasidism, but simply a non-Hasid. An alternative title for "mitnagged" is "'Olam'sher Yid" (= "Jew of the world"), not in the sense of being worldly, but meaning one who belongs to the great mass of the Jews of the world who are not Hasidim."

There are other sources as well. Unfortunately, too many Chasidim have come to believe their own propaganda, and are unaware of the facts. IZAK 06:56, 27 March 2006 (UTC)

Origin of the name Misnagdim

See these talks by the Lubavitcher Rebbe where he states that in theory the chasidim should have been called the misnagdim since they were the ones who were bringing in new concepts in opposition of what was already there. but in actuality divine providence had it that the name Misnagdim was given to the Misnagdim by themselves , and they were the ones who called Chasidim with the name Chasidim. (from Toras Menachem V.2 p. 78 and V.4 p. 222)

Origin of the name Chasidim

• See Sefer Ha-sichos of the previos Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn 5701 page 32, where he says: "The Baal Shem Tov Loved Jews and he was a Mufla at this. Until the year 5515 (1755) the Ball Shem Tov would call his students by the name Ahuvim or Ye'didim, Chevre Ahuvim Or Chevre Ye-didim (The loved ones). But the Misnagdim gave them the name Chasidim. This took about 21 years. (the name change) ( the Ball Shem Tov was revealed in 5494 (1734)).

• See also Igrot Kodesh of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson V.8 page 504: When the Baal HaTanya was in the home of the Misnagdic leader Rabbi Nota Notkin, he was asked by Rabbi Notkin how Can the Chasidim take for themself's such a high name like Chasidim. the Ball HaTanya responded that the name was not taken by the Chasidim - generaly the Chasidim dont take things for them self's - The name was actualy given to them."

As for the Vilna Gaon being called Hagaon Hachasid on the cover of his sefer... It's in many other places also. In fact the Baal HaTanya himself also called him Hagaon Hachasid in his letters (he had much respect for him).

About the Misnagdim Calling themself's "The bad guy's" . See encyclopedia Judaica in the Mitnaggedim entry:

"...The name originally arose from the bitter oposition to the rise, way of life and leadership of the hasidic movement founded by Israel b. Eliezer Ba'al Shem Tov, but in the course of time lost its connotation of actual strife and became a positive description representative of a way of life..."