Executive Briefing: Joy Over Austerity
Founded in 18th-century Podolia by the Baal Shem Tov (Besht), Hasidism democratized mystical ecstasy, teaching that sincere joy (*Simcha*) and prayer from the heart surpass cold scholastic elitism.
1. Devekut: Continual Cleaving to the Creator
Hasidism taught that God can be served through everyday physical activities—eating, singing (*Niggunim*), and social kindness—by elevating the holy sparks hidden in every physical vessel.
2. References
- Buber, M. (1947). Tales of the Hasidim. Schocken Books.