The mitnagdim opposed the chassidim not so much because they differed in Torah but because the chassidim threatened the mitnagdim’s incumbent power structure as leaders of the Jewish people. Chassidic leaders created social structures that were not based on the local community, the town or village, and organized social identities instead on a regional basis.
The incumbent mitnagdic leadership had failed to bring the general Jewish population out of poverty and misery. The Chassidic masters created an ideology that spoke to that misery.
The test of a set of teachings is in its adoption by the people. The abandonment by most Jews of the rabbinic teachings testifies to its failure. Torah's test is political, economic, ideological, and moral.
No comments:
Post a Comment