(Courtesy of www.derechhamelech.org)*Update 8.28*
I realized after a day of thought and a response by a fellow Chasid that the blog wasn't really about the claim that Chasidim dont learn Chassidus, but I critical commentary on Chabad philosophy. My Yetzer Hara one uped me here because this is something I had told myself I wouldn't do anymore. Criticizing other derechs of Judaism does not further my pursuit or bring me closer to Hashem. So I rewrote the blog that ends with a question I hope non Chabad Chassidim who are allowed to use the internet can answer.
Darche Noam has an interesting Chassidic element to it. Three Rabbis who teach there are Chassidish and there are more than a few students inspired by them and the larger part of Chassidus. This is where I heard a most interesting statement made by a Lubavitcher Chasid that is a student at Darche Noam. He told me straight faced and serious that "Chasidim don't learn Chassidus anymore except for Chabad and Breslov." Flabbergasted, I said that it was simply not true and that many Chasidim learn Chassidus. He said to ask anyone and they will agree with his statement which he wishes wasn't true but is a reality none the less. The only Chasidim I am exposed to in Long Beach are Lubavitchers, Breslov, and my Rav who is neither of the two. He is a Polish Chasid, spodik and all. I learn Chassidius with him once or twice a week. I was scared and confused at his words. Does this mean I am a Breslover or a Lubavitcher since I learn Chassidus? Ok, I wasn't scared, I knew that this Baal Teshuva, just like other B.T's (including myself), sometimes believe what a certain person, Rabbi, or group might say and take this as the Emes of all Emes.
Even though I didn't believe him, I was on a mission to figure out if there was some truth into what he had said. First, I went to all the Chassidic Rabbi's who teach at Darche Noam. One is Vizhnitz, another Breslov, and the third seems to lean towards Chassidus in general. The Breslover laughed, the Rabbi who is a general Chasid was confused, but the Vizhnitzer had the best response of them all.
"First of all Chasidim learn Chassidus, there is just different opinions on how you learn Chassidus, when you learn Chassidus, and how often you learn Chassidus. Chasidus is the dessert of Torah. The Gemara is the Cholent. Some Chasidim eat dessert first and then have no room for Cholent. In Vizhnitz we don't learn Chassidus as much until you are older for this reason."
I'm not a Chabad Chasid or any specific Chasid but I try to learn Chassidus daily. If I am successful or not is another story. I know I'm not the only Non-Chabad Chasid learning Chassidus out there because I learn Chasidus with non Lubavitchers. Our last Shabbos in Eretz Yisroel was in Bnei Brak with an Aleksander Chasid who runs the Aleksander Shtiebel off of Rabbi Akiva St. It was one of the most amazing Shabbosim I have ever experienced and it will have its very own post, but I can tell you one thing about Aleksander Chasidim. They learn Chassidus. They learned Yismach Yisrael, by the second Aleksander Rebbe, Rebbe Yerachmiel Yisroel Yitzchok Dancyger after Shachris during Kiddush AND at Shalosh Seudos.
I am convinced that Chasidim are still learning Chassidus, but I wont be able to answer my own question until my wife and I get back to Israel to learn next year. Hopefully till then you can answer my question.
"Do Chassidim still learn Chassidus? and if they dont, what are they learning?"
7 comments:
Typical chabad elitism.
Us Aleksanders learn Yismach yisroel, and numerous other seforim.
I was in the Satmar shul on 45th and 10th in Boro Park, they have every chassidishe sefer you want.
I was at machane Yehuda, a Satmar boys camp in the north of New York, and in their beis medrash, they have a special set of volumes of books, a compilation of every major chassidic sefer by every group.
Chabad just thinks that their chassidus is the best, so that no one else really learns it.
My wife and I stayed by Aleksander Chassidim in Bnei Brak for Shabbos and it was amazing. Another thing that made an impression on me was the vast library in the Chasid's house and how many seforim he had from different Chassidic Rebbe's.
We hope to spend more time with them upon our return to Eretz Yisroel iy"H Next year.
I think that what your friend may have meant is as follows.
Like your Rabbi said, Vizhnitz, as well as most Hungarian/ Romanian chassidim, view Toras HaChasddidus as dessert after a good meal of Gemara and Poskim.
Breslov and Chabad, as well as many Polish Chassidim like Aleksander, view Chassidus as medicine for a sick soul. Of course, someone sick especially needs to eat healthy meals of Gemara and Poskim, but if he doesn't take his medicine, he's just going to get sicker and sicker.
I've seen this analogy in the sefer from R' Yaakov Meir Shechter, shlit"a, one of the leaders of Breslov.
I've been to most of the larger chassidic communities, and they certainly do learn chassidus. This past shabbos I was in New Square, and the two other guests staying with me in the basement couldn't believe that the entire basement bookcase had only seforim on chassidus. The upstairs bookcases had many more books on chassidus, and a member of the family even encouraged me to learn Meor Einayim a while back, which I have begun to do.
However, what's missing today, of course is the real essence of chassidus as conceived of and first taught by the Besht. Chassidus today is exclusive and insular, not welcome open to the disenfranchised, poor, unlearned, or any other Jew who felt left out. I'm talking in general terms. In this sense, chassidim no longer learn chassidus.
Yakov Ovinu had 12 sons. These were the holy Shevotim/tribes.
They each followed a special path that was unique to them.
So, too, I believe it is with Chassidim. Each chossid should follow his own Rebbe.
However. Please remember - ALL Rebbes are Holy. All Rebbes are the Faithful Shepherds of their flock, their Chassidim. So let's not squabble about this or that.
We say in our Morning prayers on Shabbat: Kulom ahuvim, kulom berurim... All of the Angels on High are Special, they are all Holy, etc. etc.
And so, too, with Rebbes.
And so too, with their Chassidim.(Never mind that some perhaps, appear "less-than-holy").
Whether Chossid or not: WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF ONE HASHEM.
AND MAY HE REDEEM US ALL. NOW!!!
I stayed by Aleksander Chassidim in Bnei Brak for Shabbos and it was amazing. Another thing that made an impression on me was the vast library in the Chasid's house and how many seforim he had from different Chassidic Rebbe's.
Reading about Mr Chassidim in Bnei Berak informed me about the Shabbos. It impressed me on how large his library was. Chasid's house is hug with many modern conveniences.
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