Hasidic Masters Compiled by: Rabbi Dr. Ariel Evan Mayse R. Israel ben Eliezer, the Ba’al Shem Tov (BeSHT; 1700-1760) Themes: serving God in joy; divine immanence in all aspects of the world; uplifting the physical instead of fasting or asceticism; devekut; centrality of prayer; constantly approaching each aspect of religious life with a sense of newness. Major work: Sefer Ba’al Shem Tov al ha-Torah R. Pinhas of Koretz (1726/28–1790) Themes: devotion, faith, joy, and truth and integrity. Major work: Imrei Pinhas R. Jacob Joseph of Pollnoye (d. 1783) Disciple of the BeSHT, and cites his teacher many hundreds of times. Themes: strong criticism of rabbinic leadership, which he saw as corrupt and disconnected; the need to align homer (“physicality”) with the inner tsurah (“spirit”). Major works: Toledot Ya’akov Yosef; Ben Porat Yosef; Tsofnat Pane’ah; Ketonet Passim R. Dov Baer Friedman of Mezritsh (1704-1772) Themes: notions of yesh/ayin; ambivalence toward the physical realm; introspective mystical theology; parables of the parent and child to explain God’s delight in human service. Major works: Maggid Devarav le-Ya’akov; Likkutim Yekarim; Or Torah R. Elimelekh of Lizhensk (1717–1786/87) Trained a number of prominent disciples, including the Maggid of Kozhnitz, the “Seer” of Lublin, and the Ma’or va-Shemesh. Themes: the importance of the tsaddik; uplifting the middot, and especially practicing humility. Major work: No’am Elimelekh R. Menahem Nahum Twersky of Chernobyl (~1730–1797) Themes: embrace of the physical world; divine immanence; positive spiritual growth involves accepting and uplifting all aspects of one’s self. Major work: Me’or Eynayim R. Zeev Wolf of Zhytomir (d. 1796) Themes: reluctant acceptance of serving God through the corporeal; highly critical of sham piety; finding a spiritual lesson (remiza de-hokhmata) in everything that happens. Major work: Or ha-Me’ir R. Levi Isaac of Barditshev (~1740–1809) Themes: God’s love for the Jewish people; the power of the tsaddik to intercede on high and to function as an intermediary; God receives pleasure from —and is in need of—human action. Major work: Kedushat Levi R. Shne’ur Zalman of Liady (~1745–1812) Themes: sophisticated development of Maggid’s teachings into a contemplative, introspective mystical path; the importance of the intellect; the tsaddik is qualitatively different than other Jews, but that everyone has an obligation for inner work and spiritual growth. Major works: Tanya; Likkutei Torah; Torah Or R. Israel of Kozhenits (~ca. 1737–1814) Bibliophile, brilliant rabbinic scholar and practical Kabbalist; also a disciple of R. Elimelekh. Themes: ecstatic prayer; mystical contemplation; kabbalistic exegesis. Major work: Avodat Yisrael R. Moses Hayyim Efrayim of Sudilkov (~1737/48–1800) Grandson of the BeSHT, whom he cites quite often and upon whose ideas his theology stands. Themes: Those of the BeSHT, together with the idea of the tsaddik Major work: Degel Mahaneh Efrayim R. Nahman of Bratslav (1772–1811) Attempted to revitalize Hasidism, which had lost its creative vitality and sunken into dynastic rule. Themes: joy, ecstasy, and faith; hidbodedut; centrality of the “true” tsaddik; confrontation of God’s absence from the world without relinquishing belief in His presence; importance of moments of darkness and obstacles (meniot) in spiritual growth. Major works: Likkutei Moharan, Sippurei Ma’asiyyot R. Kalonymous Kalman Epstein of Krakow (1754-1823) Themes: humility; the relationship between members of a sacred community; the transformative power of journeys undertaken and learning from one’s fellow-travelers. Major work: Ma’or va-Shemesh R. Simhah Bunem of Peshiska (1765-1827) Disciple of the “Holy Jew,” R. Jacob Isaac Rabinowitz (1766–1814). Themes: the path of the individual; struggle against rote service. Major work: Kol Simhah R. Menahem Mendel of Kotsk (1787-1859) Themes: intellectual toil; quest for truth, integrity and authenticity, elevated to an extreme ideal. Major works: Amud ha-Emet, Emet ve-Emunah R. Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter of Ger (1847-1905) Second leader of the Ger community, and grandson of R. Isaac Meir of Ger (the Hiddushi ha-RIM, a friend and disciple of the Kotsker Rebbe). Themes: the “inner point” (nekudah penimit), a unified indwelling aspect of God within all elements of the world and within the human soul; the Sabbath as a time of opening to the world of the spirit. Major work: Sefat Emet R. Kalonymous Kalman Shapira of Piazecna (1889-1943) Attempted to revitalize the mysticism side of Hasidism. Themes: inner spiritual work, self-awareness; educational philosophy; contemplative techniques; attainment of prophecy. Major work: Derekh ha-Melekh, Hovat ha-Talmidim, Hakhsharat ha-Avreikhim/Mevo ha-She’arim, Benei Mahshavah Tovah R. Shalom Noah Barzofsky (1911-2000) Themes: Blend of Hasidism and mussar. Major work: Netivot Shalom See also: http://www.yivoencyclopedia.org/.