In the 1700s, on the Eastern European Jewish scene, emerged a movement that spread like wildfire, alighting the hearts, minds and souls of millions of Jews. Steeped in mysticism and aiming to open to the masses the secret practices of Kabbalah, Chasidism grew to revolutionize Jewish worship, and redefine the purpose of Judaism altogether. In doing so, it drew the ire and fierce opposition of the Talmudic, scholarly, traditional Jews who castigated this new radical movement as heresy. What was Chasidism? Where did it come from and what mystical teachings were at its source? How was it able to translate these teachings into actual daily practices aimed at spiritual awakening? Rabbi Olivier will guide us through an in-depth exploration of the movement that changed the face of Judaism, its main teachers, its revolutionary approach to worshiping and encountering God. He will, of course, also invite us to sample some of its mystical practices. Recommended as a complement to this course, and a text Rabbi Olivier will invite us to discover, please purchase Martin Buber's "Tales of the Hasidim."

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