The_Origins_And_Development_Of_Hasidic_Jewry_And_Its_Alterat

The Origins And Development Of Hasidic Jewry And Its Alterations Of Jewish Faith In Poland In early to mid-18th Century Poland, lower class Jews were in a time of struggle. A series of massacres starting in 1648 led to a severe economic downturn in Jewish Poland. This prompted the Kahals (autonomous Jewish councils that were government-authorized to govern the Jewish people, whose chief duty was to apportion taxes) to increase taxes in order to compensate the Kahals’ debts from the recession in the Jewish community. So while lower class Jews were suffering at home, their taxes increased. During this time of depression, these Jews had nowhere to turn for religious support. They wished for unbridled, emotionally gratifying faith, but Judaism of the time was intended for only intense pupils of the Talmud, which was not only against their wishes, but was also inept to their abilities; most common Jews were illiterate. The exclusive Talmudic Education of the time was too spiritually meaningless and too intellectual for them to practice. They wished for a leader to bring them from the depths of economic and spiritual hardship to a more peaceful place in their minds. Therefore, economic misfortune, spiritual dissatisfaction, and lack of leadership all uniquely attributed to the growth in popularity of Israel Ba’al Shem Tov, jewish, jews, poland, time, polish, however, shem, common, ba’al, tov, talmudic, hasidism, europe, education, besht, taxes, man, kahal, judaism, century, because, talmud, prayer, movement, lands, israel, four, economic, class, after, zevi, years, truly, sabbatai, religious