The Chevraya Kadisha: Difference between revisions

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"The Chevraya Kadisha~~" <ref>~~The term originates in the [[Zohar]], where it refers to the circle of Tannaim who studied the innermost secrets of Torah together with [[Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai]]. That circle numbered approximately ten disciples.<ref>Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, head of the circle; his son Rabbi Elazar; Rabbi Abba the Scribe; Rabbi Yehudah; Rabbi Yosi; Rabbi Yitzchak; Rabbi Chizkiyah; Rabbi Chiya; Rabbi Yeisa; Rabbi Acha.</ref> The Aramaic term means "the holy fellowship." Some also suggest a secondary reason for the name: most members of the circle served in their home communities as members of the local [[Chevra Kadisha]] — the burial and funeral society.</ref> were a select group drawn from the closest disciples of the [[Baal Shem Tov]] — towering figures, masters of both Torah scholarship and Chassidic life — who carried the teachings of Chassidus into every corner of White Russia and the surrounding lands.<ref>[https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/528925 Hayom Yom, 3 Kislev]: "One difference between the Baal Shem Tov's manner of leadership and that of the Maggid: the Baal Shem Tov traveled extensively, while the Maggid remained at home. Moreover, in the days of the Maggid's leadership, the Chassidic movement had already become known even in distant places, through the travels of the Chevraya Kadisha."</ref>

'''The Chevraya Kadisha''' The term originates in the [[Zohar]], where it refers to the circle of Tannaim who studied the innermost secrets of Torah together with [[Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai]]. That circle numbered approximately ten disciples.<ref>Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, head of the circle; his son Rabbi Elazar; Rabbi Abba the Scribe; Rabbi Yehudah; Rabbi Yosi; Rabbi Yitzchak; Rabbi Chizkiyah; Rabbi Chiya; Rabbi Yeisa; Rabbi Acha.</ref> The Aramaic term means "the holy fellowship." Some also suggest a secondary reason for the name: most members of the circle served in their home communities as members of the local [[Chevra Kadisha]] — the burial and funeral society.</ref> were a select group drawn from the closest disciples of the [[Baal Shem Tov]] — towering figures, masters of both Torah scholarship and Chassidic life — who carried the teachings of Chassidus into every corner of White Russia and the surrounding lands.<ref>[https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/528925 Hayom Yom, 3 Kislev]: "One difference between the Baal Shem Tov's manner of leadership and that of the Maggid: the Baal Shem Tov traveled extensively, while the Maggid remained at home. Moreover, in the days of the Maggid's leadership, the Chassidic movement had already become known even in distant places, through the travels of the Chevraya Kadisha."</ref>

The name also captures something essential about the relationship between the members of the circle and the Baal Shem Tov himself. It was not the relationship of master and disciples as it would become in later generations, but of a fellowship — companions laboring together in the service of G‑d.<ref>See below, in the section "In the Era of the Maggid." See also ''Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov'', p. 37, in a letter by Rabbi [[Meir Margolios]] — one of the Baal Shem Tov's foremost disciples — who addresses him as a ''yedid'', a cherished friend: "My beloved friend, the rabbi, the Chassid, the wonder of the generation"; "From my youth, from the day I came to know the bond of love with my teacher, my beloved friend, our master Rabbi Yisrael."</ref>

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	"The Chevraya Kadisha~~" <ref>~~The term originates in the [[Zohar]], where it refers to the circle of Tannaim who studied the innermost secrets of Torah together with [[Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai]]. That circle numbered approximately ten disciples.<ref>Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, head of the circle; his son Rabbi Elazar; Rabbi Abba the Scribe; Rabbi Yehudah; Rabbi Yosi; Rabbi Yitzchak; Rabbi Chizkiyah; Rabbi Chiya; Rabbi Yeisa; Rabbi Acha.</ref> The Aramaic term means "the holy fellowship." Some also suggest a secondary reason for the name: most members of the circle served in their home communities as members of the local [[Chevra Kadisha]] — the burial and funeral society.</ref> were a select group drawn from the closest disciples of the [[Baal Shem Tov]] — towering figures, masters of both Torah scholarship and Chassidic life — who carried the teachings of Chassidus into every corner of White Russia and the surrounding lands.<ref>[https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/528925 Hayom Yom, 3 Kislev]: "One difference between the Baal Shem Tov's manner of leadership and that of the Maggid: the Baal Shem Tov traveled extensively, while the Maggid remained at home. Moreover, in the days of the Maggid's leadership, the Chassidic movement had already become known even in distant places, through the travels of the Chevraya Kadisha."</ref>		'''The Chevraya Kadisha''' The term originates in the [[Zohar]], where it refers to the circle of Tannaim who studied the innermost secrets of Torah together with [[Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai]]. That circle numbered approximately ten disciples.<ref>Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, head of the circle; his son Rabbi Elazar; Rabbi Abba the Scribe; Rabbi Yehudah; Rabbi Yosi; Rabbi Yitzchak; Rabbi Chizkiyah; Rabbi Chiya; Rabbi Yeisa; Rabbi Acha.</ref> The Aramaic term means "the holy fellowship." Some also suggest a secondary reason for the name: most members of the circle served in their home communities as members of the local [[Chevra Kadisha]] — the burial and funeral society.</ref> were a select group drawn from the closest disciples of the [[Baal Shem Tov]] — towering figures, masters of both Torah scholarship and Chassidic life — who carried the teachings of Chassidus into every corner of White Russia and the surrounding lands.<ref>[https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/528925 Hayom Yom, 3 Kislev]: "One difference between the Baal Shem Tov's manner of leadership and that of the Maggid: the Baal Shem Tov traveled extensively, while the Maggid remained at home. Moreover, in the days of the Maggid's leadership, the Chassidic movement had already become known even in distant places, through the travels of the Chevraya Kadisha."</ref>

	The name also captures something essential about the relationship between the members of the circle and the Baal Shem Tov himself. It was not the relationship of master and disciples as it would become in later generations, but of a fellowship — companions laboring together in the service of G‑d.<ref>See below, in the section "In the Era of the Maggid." See also ''Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov'', p. 37, in a letter by Rabbi [[Meir Margolios]] — one of the Baal Shem Tov's foremost disciples — who addresses him as a ''yedid'', a cherished friend: "My beloved friend, the rabbi, the Chassid, the wonder of the generation"; "From my youth, from the day I came to know the bond of love with my teacher, my beloved friend, our master Rabbi Yisrael."</ref>		The name also captures something essential about the relationship between the members of the circle and the Baal Shem Tov himself. It was not the relationship of master and disciples as it would become in later generations, but of a fellowship — companions laboring together in the service of G‑d.<ref>See below, in the section "In the Era of the Maggid." See also ''Shivchei HaBaal Shem Tov'', p. 37, in a letter by Rabbi [[Meir Margolios]] — one of the Baal Shem Tov's foremost disciples — who addresses him as a ''yedid'', a cherished friend: "My beloved friend, the rabbi, the Chassid, the wonder of the generation"; "From my youth, from the day I came to know the bond of love with my teacher, my beloved friend, our master Rabbi Yisrael."</ref>