The Founding of Chabad Chassidus: Difference between revisions

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[[File:רבי שניאור זלמן.jpg~~|left~~|thumb~~|250px~~|[[Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (the Alter Rebbe)]], founder of Chabad Chassidus]]

[[File:רבי שניאור זלמן.jpg|thumb|[[Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (the Alter Rebbe)]], founder of Chabad Chassidus]]

The '''founding of Chabad Chassidus''' refers to the historical process by which the approach of [[the Alter Rebbe]] and his disciples came to be recognized as a distinct movement within Chassidus, known as [[Chabad]].

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===The Dispute with Rabbi Avraham of Kalisk===

[[File:מזיבוז.jpg~~|left~~|thumb~~|250px~~|The ''ohel'' (burial chamber) of [[the Baal Shem Tov]], in which Rabbi Boruch of Mezhybizh is also interred]]

[[File:מזיבוז.jpg|thumb|The ''ohel'' (burial chamber) of [[the Baal Shem Tov]], in which Rabbi Boruch of Mezhybizh is also interred]]

In [[1788]] (תקמ"ח), Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk passed away, and Rabbi Avraham of Kalisk succeeded him as leader of the Chassidim in the Holy Land. Like his predecessor, Rabbi Avraham sent letters of encouragement to the Alter Rebbe and supported his rulings and enactments.<ref>''Beis Rebbi'', 15:1.</ref> Rabbi [[Boruch of Mezhybizh]] was also on friendly terms with the Alter Rebbe at first, and when he received a copy of the [[Tanya]], reportedly described it as "the book of the intellect."<ref>As cited in ''Otzar Sipurei Chabad'', vol. 3, p. 314.</ref>

However, when in [[1797]] (תקנ"ז) the Alter Rebbe published the Tanya — which represented an extraordinary innovation for its time — Rabbi Avraham of Kalisk wrote him a critical letter, raising the argument that Chassidim should conduct themselves with simple, heartfelt fear of Heaven, and that the inner secrets of the Torah which the Alter Rebbe had revealed in the Tanya ought to be restricted to the spiritually elite.

~~{{box~~

~~|title = Letter of Rabbi [[Avraham of Kalisk]]~~

~~|content =~~

{{quote|I have seen the ''Sefer HaBeinonim'' [the Tanya] that your honor has printed, and I have not found it to be of much benefit for the saving of souls… Let the matter remain concealed from view. For Chassidim in general, it is sufficient to have faith in the sages and to recognize their own deficiency. And I am concerned for the offspring of our master — namely his distinguished and veteran son, our teacher Rabbi Dov Ber — for your honor has placed him in a great trial, like a ship on the open sea. He will need great advocates to rescue him from the snare of pride and self-aggrandizement… And your honor has drawn his son into this, while he is still young in years… All the more so for the lesser brethren — many in number but smaller in quality — who are found in every town and are called the heads of their minyanim, who are taught the ''Sefer HaBeinonim''… In truth and uprightness have I written to my brother, that one man should be appointed to assist him and lighten his load in some matter. My intention was that this man should be elderly, experienced, and knowing his own worth — and that he speak only simple things…|source=''Igros Kodesh'' of the Alter Rebbe, Appendices 22–23, p. 498}}

}}

Rabbi Avraham grounded his position in the verse ''v'tzaddik be'emunaso yichyeh'' — "the righteous shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4),<ref>[[Makkos]] 24a.</ref> writing to Rabbi [[Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev]]: "How much effort have I expended with him through various letters, to establish him on the principle of 'the righteous shall live by his faith.'"<ref>''Igros'' of the Alter Rebbe, Letter 100.</ref>

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Among the most central principles of Chabad Divine service is the concept of ''mochin shalit al halev'' — "the mind rules over the heart." This refers to a state in which the intellect governs the emotions and character traits of the heart — in which the mind leads and guides the person, for the mind is the seat and dwelling place of the Divine soul.<ref>''Tanya'', chapter 11.</ref>

~~{{Chabad History by Period}}~~

==Notes==

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-[[File:רבי שניאור זלמן.jpg|left|thumb|250px|[[Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (the Alter Rebbe)]], founder of Chabad Chassidus]]
+[[File:רבי שניאור זלמן.jpg|thumb|[[Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (the Alter Rebbe)]], founder of Chabad Chassidus]]
 The '''founding of Chabad Chassidus''' refers to the historical process by which the approach of [[the Alter Rebbe]] and his disciples came to be recognized as a distinct movement within Chassidus, known as [[Chabad]].
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 ===The Dispute with Rabbi Avraham of Kalisk===
-[[File:מזיבוז.jpg|left|thumb|250px|The ''ohel'' (burial chamber) of [[the Baal Shem Tov]], in which Rabbi Boruch of Mezhybizh is also interred]]
+[[File:מזיבוז.jpg|thumb|The ''ohel'' (burial chamber) of [[the Baal Shem Tov]], in which Rabbi Boruch of Mezhybizh is also interred]]
 In [[1788]] (תקמ"ח), Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk passed away, and Rabbi Avraham of Kalisk succeeded him as leader of the Chassidim in the Holy Land. Like his predecessor, Rabbi Avraham sent letters of encouragement to the Alter Rebbe and supported his rulings and enactments.<ref>''Beis Rebbi'', 15:1.</ref> Rabbi [[Boruch of Mezhybizh]] was also on friendly terms with the Alter Rebbe at first, and when he received a copy of the [[Tanya]], reportedly described it as "the book of the intellect."<ref>As cited in ''Otzar Sipurei Chabad'', vol. 3, p. 314.</ref>
 However, when in [[1797]] (תקנ"ז) the Alter Rebbe published the Tanya — which represented an extraordinary innovation for its time — Rabbi Avraham of Kalisk wrote him a critical letter, raising the argument that Chassidim should conduct themselves with simple, heartfelt fear of Heaven, and that the inner secrets of the Torah which the Alter Rebbe had revealed in the Tanya ought to be restricted to the spiritually elite.
-{{box
-|title = Letter of Rabbi [[Avraham of Kalisk]]
-|content =
-{{quote|I have seen the ''Sefer HaBeinonim'' [the Tanya] that your honor has printed, and I have not found it to be of much benefit for the saving of souls… Let the matter remain concealed from view. For Chassidim in general, it is sufficient to have faith in the sages and to recognize their own deficiency. And I am concerned for the offspring of our master — namely his distinguished and veteran son, our teacher Rabbi Dov Ber — for your honor has placed him in a great trial, like a ship on the open sea. He will need great advocates to rescue him from the snare of pride and self-aggrandizement… And your honor has drawn his son into this, while he is still young in years… All the more so for the lesser brethren — many in number but smaller in quality — who are found in every town and are called the heads of their minyanim, who are taught the ''Sefer HaBeinonim''… In truth and uprightness have I written to my brother, that one man should be appointed to assist him and lighten his load in some matter. My intention was that this man should be elderly, experienced, and knowing his own worth — and that he speak only simple things…|source=''Igros Kodesh'' of the Alter Rebbe, Appendices 22–23, p. 498}}
-}}
 Rabbi Avraham grounded his position in the verse ''v'tzaddik be'emunaso yichyeh'' — "the righteous shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4),<ref>[[Makkos]] 24a.</ref> writing to Rabbi [[Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev]]: "How much effort have I expended with him through various letters, to establish him on the principle of 'the righteous shall live by his faith.'"<ref>''Igros'' of the Alter Rebbe, Letter 100.</ref>
@@ Line 95: / Line 89: @@
 Among the most central principles of Chabad Divine service is the concept of ''mochin shalit al halev'' — "the mind rules over the heart." This refers to a state in which the intellect governs the emotions and character traits of the heart — in which the mind leads and guides the person, for the mind is the seat and dwelling place of the Divine soul.<ref>''Tanya'', chapter 11.</ref>
-{{Chabad History by Period}}
 ==Notes==