Editing Chassid (section)

== Chassidim and Misnagdim ==
The Baal Shem Tov would call his students "beloved ones," "dear friends," or "group of dear friends" and "group of beloved ones" rather than "Chassidim." The Chassidim were also called "di freiliche" (the joyous ones) because Chassidus greatly emphasized serving Hashem with joy in every situation and condition, to the extent that it was commonly said that "by Chassidim on Tisha B'Av it is more joyous than by the Misnagdim on Simchas Torah."

The term first appeared in print in the bans of the Misnagdim, which were printed toward the end of the Maggid of Mezritch's life in 1772: "And they are called by the name of Chassidim and holy ones of the Most High"; "And they call themselves Chassidim." This title was interpreted negatively by the Misnagdim: "Those who call themselves Chasidim," or "Sect of Chasudim" - where they used the interchange of the letters Shin and Samech, as was common among Lithuanian Jews.

The Frierdiker Rebbe dwells on the point that it would have been more appropriate for the Misnagdim to be called "misnagdim" (opponents), since one cannot oppose something before it exists and they seemingly preceded in time. However, Divine Providence granted the Misnagdim the merit of correctly naming the Chassidim with their fitting title.