I am in the middle of a six-week course at LSJS (I know what is a nice ‘reform’ Jewish boy doing at LSJS). It is taught by Rabbi Belovski who is an amazing teacher and has the ability to make the complex and challenging ideas of the Polish Hasidic Rebbes accessible.
I don’t know why anybody hasn’t mentioned them before. Its not as if I am new to Jewish studies but I had not come across the thoughts and works of Rebbes like Rabbi Simham Bunim of Przysucha, and Rabbi Mordecai Yosef Leiner of Izbica. Although I had of course not only heard of but also studied, at least to some extent, the Kotzker.
I have always felt drawn to Hasidic ideas but the ideas that we are beginning to explore in this course are like a breath of fresh air. Really unlike anything I have come across before either within Judaism or outside of it. The focus on truth and authenticity is really challenging. I can see why it got these Rabbis into such trouble with the other leaders of Hasidic Judaism. It also provides an antidote to the false characterisation of Hasidic Judaism as being all about mysticism and tells of wonder working Rebbes. Not that I am going to abandon either my very minor readings in Jewish mysticism or the stories of the Hasidim.
But I am enjoying the course so much that I have ordered a couple of books by and about these very interesting religious thinkers.
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