This afternoon, an African American woman on the subway asked me if I was a Chassidic Jew. I hestitated for a moment and replied that I was just an Orthodox Jew.
How could I quickly explain to her that although I am not a chassid, I aspire to be one; that I learn Chassidus everyday, am connected to a Chassidic Rebbe, and adhere to a number of Chassidic practices and yet I am still not a Chassidic Jew?
This leads to a deeper question: At what point can I call myself a chassid? It is a both a level and also identity. It is something that can be defined, and yet no amount of words can properly define it.
How could I quickly explain to her that although I am not a chassid, I aspire to be one; that I learn Chassidus everyday, am connected to a Chassidic Rebbe, and adhere to a number of Chassidic practices and yet I am still not a Chassidic Jew?
This leads to a deeper question: At what point can I call myself a chassid? It is a both a level and also identity. It is something that can be defined, and yet no amount of words can properly define it.
I think the vast majority of people that read this blog would agree that you have earned the right to call yourself a chossid. Probably more than most chassidim.
ReplyDeleteIf a person establish a kesher with a specific chassidic Rabbi, how can he not call himself chassid?
ReplyDelete!!
ReplyDeleteLike!
David, how much of a kesher would suffice?
ReplyDeleteI'd say that you are if that's what you aspire to be. How close do any of us get to our ideal?
ReplyDelete(Just for the record, I definitely consider you a Chassid, however you define yourself!)
Good move.
ReplyDeletePintele Litvak showing itself there? :)
Perhaps you are loathe to separate yourself off from your non-Hassidic ancestors and friends with such a step.
Keep on nurturing your inner Litvak! :)
Simple,
ReplyDeleteDo you see a difference between a chossid and a Hasidic Jew?
Gandalin
Hamodia Newspaper made me a chossid. I helped a little bit in organizing aspects of the Koidinover Rebbe's first visit to the Five Towns. A picture of me shaking hands with the Rebbe made into Hamodia with the caption, "The Koidinover meets with one of his chassidim in the Five Towns." I became a clean-shaven chassid just like that!
ReplyDeleteBut kidding aside, I think on an emesdike level, it's like Rabbi Sears said, that one is what one aspires to be. But it's still difficult to come right out and call oneself a chassid.
I think you'd then have to change the name of your blog.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't you just be a simple Jew? After all, that is what your blog is about really, serving Hashem as a simple Jew, even if your particular path is called Chassidus.
ReplyDeleteThere are two types of Jews: Hasidim and those on the road to becoming Hasidim.
ReplyDeleteKol Tuv!
www.treasuredpeople.com
I am reminded of the story that someone approached Reb Yaakov Kaminetsky, zt"l, in Toronto and asked him if he was a chossid. Reb Yaakov replied, "Yes, but my Rebbe is a Litvak."
ReplyDeleteI understand the feeling, but for you to deny being a chasid, even out of humility, may not be entirely honest. :)
ReplyDeleteThere is a maiseh from the kotzker that goes something like this:
ReplyDeleteA follower of the Kotzker once approached his Rebbe and asked, "Rebbe, who is a Chossid?" The Kotzker responded, "Anyone who wants to be a chossid is a chossid." The follower at this point gets very frustrated and says, “What!? For years I have been devoting myself to the ways of chassidus, and struggling day in day out and that’s it? Anyone who wants to be a chossid is a chossid?!” The Kotzker replied, “You have missed the point. As I said, anyone who wants to be a chossid, he is a chossid. As soon as one stops wanting to be a chossid, he can not be called a chossid.”
I believe you have embodied this teaching. Ashrecha!
The other way I have heard the Kotsker'scomment is in response to the question as to who may not become a chasid, he answered one who already thinks that he is a chasid.
ReplyDeleteOr better, one who already "is" a chasid
ReplyDeleteMy Grandfather,R'Duvid Fenster AHSh was aLitvak who hailed from Eastern Prussia and came to America in the early20th century.He became attracted to the Tolner Chassidim in Philadelphia and their leader Rebbe Moshe Tzvi Twersky. He took on chassiic customs, and dovenned in their shtieble. He did not however define himself as a "Tolner Hassid" nor did he wear a kapoteh or a Shtreimel. He also retained some litvische traditions like winding the tefillin to the inside.
ReplyDeleteThis is the basis of minhag in our family today.
Interesting to know that when my father went off to the second world war, my grandmother took him to the Tolner Rebbe for a blessing.The Rebbe also wrote him an amulet. Ifound this s little strange since the Tolners are said to be an "intellectual" chasidut. In any case the amulet diddnt hurt since mt father returned from having been a combat soldier with the US Army in France,in one piece,withonlt a few shards of Shrapnel in his back that give him problems passind airline security.
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ASJ: If you consider yourself in your avodah a work-in-progress, then you are a chossid. If you thought that you'd reached perfection, then you would davka not deserve that title. Cf. Tanya ch. 15.
ReplyDeleteAlso, see my posts on this general topic here.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you have to call yourself anything other than a Jew trying to follow the Torah and do the will of the creator. That is what a Jew is. Not a chassid, charedi, dati leumi, etc. There is no such thing in shamyim. Hashem only cares about the end result. He doesn't want or need the label. He knows what is in the heart of hearts! That is all that counts!
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