The Mystical Origins of Hasidism

Download or read book The Mystical Origins of Hasidism written by Rachel Elior and published by Liverpool University Press. This book was released on 2006-11-28 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This very accessible introduction to hasidism as a movement opens a new window on its mystical underpinnings. It discusses the origins and dissemination of hasidism and the literature that facilitated this; the theological basis of hasidism and the mystical significance of the tsadik; the major figures of hasidism; and the complex links to kabbalah and Sabbatianism. The discussion of the intellectual and social implications highlights the eighteenth century as a key period in modern Jewish history.