Mitnagdim or misnagdim is a Hebrew word (מתנגדים) meaning "opponents"; this term was used to refer to European religious Jews who opposed Hasidic Judaism. Hebrew (עִבְרִית ‘Ivrit) is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Jewish communities around the world. ... Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to some dispute as to Europes actual borders. ... Hasidic Judaism (from the Hebrew: Chasidut חסידות, meaning pious, from the Hebrew root word chesed חסד meaning loving kindness) is a Haredi Jewish religious movement. ...

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Today the term mitnagdim is loosely used to refer to European religious Orthodox Jews who are not Hasidic, although they are not necessarily opposed to Hasidic Judaism. Image File history File links Star_of_David. ... Menorah. ... Who is a Jew? (Hebrew: ) is a religious, social and political debate on the exact definition of which persons can be considered Jewish. ... Look up Jew in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Secular Jewish culture embraces several related phenomena; above all, it is the culture of secular communities of Jewish people, but it can also include the cultural contributions of individuals who identify as secular Jews, or even those of religious Jews working in cultural areas not generally considered to be connected... Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people with around 15 million followers as of 2006 [1]. It is one of the first recorded monotheistic faiths and one of the oldest religious traditions still practiced today. ... 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Timeline of Zionism in the modern era: 1861 - The Zion Society is formed in Frankfurt, Germany. ... A Bundist demonstration, 1917 The General Jewish Labour Union of Lithuania, Poland and Russia, in Yiddish the Algemeyner Yidisher Arbeter Bund in Lite, Poyln un Rusland (אַלגמײַנער ײדישער אַרבײטערסבונד אין ליטאַ, פוילין און רוסלאַנד), generally called The Bund (בונד) or the Jewish Labor Bund, was a Jewish political party operating in several European countries between the 1890s and the... Kibbutz Dan, near Qiryat Shemona, in the Upper Galilee, 1990s A kibbutz (Hebrew: קיבוץ; plural: kibbutzim: קיבוצים, gathering or together) is an Israeli collective community. ... Jewish history is the history of the Jewish people, faith (Judaism) and culture. ... This is a timeline of the development of Judaism and the Jewish people. ... 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There are many non-Hasidic Orthodox Jews, such as Lithuanian Jews ("Litvaks"), German Jews ("Yekies") and Modern Orthodox Jews. Though Sephardic and Yemenite Jews are not Hasidic, they are generally not called mitnagdim. Lithuanian Jews (in Yiddish known as Litvish or Litvaks) are Ashkenazi Jews who were historically associated with Lithuania. ... ... Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox, also known as Modern Orthodoxy and sometimes abbreviated as MO) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular modern world. ... In the strictest sense, a Sephardi (ספרדי, Standard Hebrew Səfardi, Tiberian Hebrew Səp̄ardî; plural Sephardim: ספרדים, Standard Hebrew Səfardim, Tiberian Hebrew Səp̄ardîm) is a Jew original to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal: ספרד, Standard Hebrew Səfárad, Tiberian Hebrew Səp̄áraḏ / Səp̄āraḏ), or whose ancestors were among the Jews expelled from... Yemenite Jews (תֵּימָנִי, Standard Hebrew Temani, Tiberian Hebrew Têmānî; plural תֵּימָנִים, Standard Hebrew Temanim, Tiberian Hebrew Têmānîm) are those Jews who live, or whose recent ancestors lived, in Yemen (תֵּימָן far south, Standard Hebrew Teman, Tiberian Hebrew Têmān), on the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula. ...

Origins

The rapid spread of Hasidism in the second half of the eighteenth century greatly troubled many traditional Jewish rabbis; many saw it as a potentially dangerous enemy. They feared that it was another manifestation of the recent dreaded false-messiah movement of Sabbatai Zevi that had led many Jews astray from mainstream Judaism. (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Rabbi (Classical Hebrew רִבִּי ribbī;; modern Ashkenazi and Israeli רַבִּי rabbī) in Judaism, means teacher, or more literally great one. The word Rabbi is derived from the Hebrew root-word RaV, which in biblical Hebrew means great or distinguished, (in knowledge). In the ancient Judean schools (and among Sefaradim today) the sages... Sabbatai Zevi, (שבתאי צבי Shabtai Tzvi in Hebrew) (also known as Shabbethai, Shabbetai, Sabbetai, or Shabtai; Zvi or Tzvi) (July 23, 1626–possibly September 30, 1676) was a claimed Messiah and Kabbalist. ...

Hasidism's founder was Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, known as the Baal Shem Tov, or simply "the Besht"; he taught that man's relationship with God depended on immediate religious experience, in addition to knowledge and observance of the details of the Torah and Talmud. Israel ben Eliezer Rabbi Israel (Yisroel) ben Eliezer (about 1698 Okopy Świętej Trójcy – May 22, 1760 Międzyborz) was a Jewish Orthodox mystical rabbi who is better known to most religious Jews as the Holy Baal Shem (der Heiliger Baal Shem in Yiddish), or most commonly, the Baal... The Talmud (תלמוד) is a record of rabbinic discussions on Jewish law, Jewish ethics, customs, legends and stories, which Jewish tradition considers authoritative. ...

Much of Judaism was still fearful of the pseudo-messianic movements of the Sabbateans and the Frankists. Many rabbis, incorrectly as it turned out, suspected Hasidism of an intimate connection with these movements. Sabbatai Zevi, (שבתאי צבי Shabtai Tzvi in Hebrew) (also known as Shabbethai, Shabbetai, Sabbetai, or Shabtai; Zvi or Tzvi) (July 23, 1626–possibly September 30, 1676) was a claimed Messiah and Kabbalist. ... Jacob Frank (1726-1791) was a Jewish merchant who claimed to be the messiah. ...

Opposition of the Vilna Gaon

The first attacks on Hasidic Judaism came during the times of the founder of Hasidic thought. Two bans of excommunication against Hasidic Jews first appeared in 1772, accompanied by the public burning of several early Hasidic pamphlets. Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, the Vilna Gaon galvinized opposition to Hasidic Judaism. He believed that the claims of miracles and vision made by Hasidic Jews were lies and delusions. Opponents of Hasidim held that Hasidim viewed their rebbes in an idolatrous fashion. 1772 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Elijah Ben Solomon, the Vilna Gaon The Vilna Gaon (April 23, 1720 – October 9, 1797) was a prominent Jewish rabbi, Talmud scholar, and Kabbalist. ...

Hasidism's changes and challenges

The stress of prayer over study, and the Hasidic disparagement of Torah study for its own sake, was seen as a rejection of the traditional Jewish views. Yet, Hasidic Jews added some stringencies to traditional Jewish halakha on kashrut, the laws of keeping kosher. They made certain changes in how livestock were slaughtered and in who was considered a reliable mashgiach (supervisor of kashrut). The end result was that they essentially considered other kosher food un-kosher. This was seen as an attack on non-Hasidic Judaism, and a violation of halakha (Jewish law.) It has been suggested that Kosher foods be merged into this article or section. ...

Hasidism's rejection of the traditional Ashkenazi prayer rite, and instead created their own rite which was a combination of Ashkenazi and Sephardi rites, along with the ideas of Isaac Luria, a mystic from Safed. This was seen as a rejection of the traditional Jewish liturgy. Rabbi Isaac Luria (1534–July 25, 1572) was a Jewish scholar and mystic. ...

Hasidism was criticised because some Hasidic rebbes lived a life of affluence, based on contributions from their followers. Hasidic Jews believed that by financially supporting their rebbe with worldly goods, their rebbe would better be able to intervene on their behalf with God.

Hasidic Jews developed innovative ideas in Jewish theology, such as the idea that all of the world is actually completely nullified to God. Depending on how this idea was preached and interpreted, it could give rise to either pantheism or mistaken for panentheism. These beliefs were attacked as blasphemy. Pantheism today is still generally considered false by Orthodox Judaism; however panentheistic theology is now considered acceptable. Pantheism (Greek: pan = all and Theos = God) literally means God is All and All is God. It is the view that everything is of an all-encompassing immanent God; or that the universe, or nature, and God are equivalent. ... Panentheism (Greek words: pan=all, en=in and Theos=God; all-in-God) is the view that God is immanent within all Creation or that God is the animating force behind the universe. ...

The Hasidic doctrine of bittul ha-yesh, which is the belief that one's entire existence is only to do what God wants, was held to be dangerous, as it could lead to immoral behaviour.

Struggles and persecutions

A bitter struggle soon arose between traditional observant Jews and the newer Hasidim. At the head of the Orthodox party stood Rabbi Elijah ben Solomon. In 1772, when the first secret circles of Hasidim appeared in Lithuania, the rabbinic kahal ("council") of Vilna, with the approval of Rabbi ben Solomon, arrested the local leaders of the sect, and excommunicated its adherents. Letters were sent from Vilna to the rabbis of other communities calling upon them to make war upon the "godless sect." Elijah ben Solomon, the Vilna Gaon Elijah (Eliyahu) ben Solomon Kremer (born April 23, 1720, Vilna, Lithuania; died there October 9, 1797). ... 1772 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Location Ethnographic region Dzūkija County Vilnius County Municipality Vilnius city municipality Elderate Number of elderates 20 Coordinates General information Capital of Lithuania Vilnius County Vilnius city municipality Vilnius district municipality Population (rank) 540,318 in 2005 (1st) First mentioned 1323 Granted city rights 1387 Vilnius ( (help· info), Belarusian: , Polish...

In many places persecutions were instituted against the Hasidim. The appearance in 1780 of the first works of Hasidic literature created alarm among the Orthodox. At the council of rabbis held in the village of Zelva, government of Grodno, in 1781, it was resolved to uproot Hasidism. In the official letters issued by the council, the faithful were ordered to expel the Hasidim from every Jewish community, to regard them as members of another faith, to hold no social intercourse with them, not to intermarry with them, and not to bury their dead. 1781 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Hasidism in the south of eastern Europe had established itself so firmly in the various communities that it had no fear of persecution. The main sufferers were the northern Hasidim. Their leader, Rabbi Zalman, attempted to allay the anger of the Mitnagdim and of Elijah Gaon.

On the death of the latter in 1797 the exasperation of the Mitnagdim became so great that they resolved to denounce the leaders of the Hasidim to the Russian government as dangerous agitators and teachers of heresy. In consequence twenty-two Hasidic Jews were arrested in Vilna and other places. Hasidic Rabbi Zalman was arrested at his court in Liozna and brought to St. Petersburg (1798). 1797 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1798 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

The struggle of rabbinism with Hasidism in Lithuania and White Russia led to the formation of the latter sect in those regions into separate religious organizations; these existing in many towns alongside of those of the Mitnagdim. In the south-western region the Hasidim almost completely crowded out the Mitnagdim.Lithuania remained strongly Mitnagdic until the Holocaust-another group of non-Hasidic jews were the Oberlander Jews of Hungary and Slovakia. Oberlander Jews are Ashkenazic, Western Yiddish speaking Jews originating in the Oberland region of Hungary and the disctrict surrounding Bratislava in Slovakia. ...

Winding down the battles

By the mid-1800s most of non-Hasidic Judaism had discontinued its struggle with Hasidism and had reconciled itself to the establishment of the latter as an accomplished fact. Gradually the Mitnagdim and the Hasidim began to intermarry, which practise had formerly been strictly forbidden. Today, Hasidic Judaism is seen as a mainstream part of Haredi Judaism. Haredi or Charedi Judaism, often referred to as Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ...

See also

• Agudath Israel of America
• Degel HaTorah
• Haredi Judaism
• Hasidic Judaism
• Hasidim and Mitnagdim
• Lithuanian Jews
• United Torah Judaism
• Vilna Gaon
• Yosef Shalom Eliashiv
• World Agudath Israel

Agudath Israel of America or Agudas Yisroel of America or Agudas Yisrael of America or simply the Agudah (agudah is Hebrew for gathering or union ), is an Orthodox Jewish communal organization affiliated with the international Agudath Israel movement. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Haredi or Charedi Judaism, often referred to as Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ... Hasidic Judaism (from the Hebrew: Chasidut חסידות, meaning pious, from the Hebrew root word chesed חסד meaning loving kindness) is a Haredi Jewish religious movement. ... Schisms among the Jews: // First Temple era Based on the historical narrative in the Bible and archeology, Levantine civilization at the time of Solomons Temple was prone to idol worship, astrology, worship of reigning kings, and paganism. ... Lithuanian Jews (in Yiddish known as Litvish or Litvaks) are Ashkenazi Jews who were historically associated with Lithuania. ... United Torah Judaism (In Hebrew: יהדות התורה which translates as Judaism [of the] Torah) (UTJ) is a small Haredi political party in the Israeli Knesset. ... Elijah Ben Solomon, the Vilna Gaon The Vilna Gaon (April 23, 1720 – October 9, 1797) was a prominent Jewish rabbi, Talmud scholar, and Kabbalist. ... Rabbi Y.S. Eliashiv Yosef Shalom Eliashiv (יוסף שלום אלישיב), (b. ... World Agudath Israel (The World Israelite Union) was established in the early twentieth century as the political arm of Orthodox Judaism. ...

External links and references

• Hasidim And Mitnagdim (jewishvirtuallibrary.org)
• The Vilna Gaon and Leader of the Mitnagdim (jewishgates.com)
• Misnagdim: The Opposition to Hasidism (E. Segal, Univ. Calgary)
• Misnagdim Website