Podcast
Questions and Answers
In which century did the Jews of Germany begin to migrate eastwards to Poland and Russia?
In which century did the Jews of Germany begin to migrate eastwards to Poland and Russia?
16th Century
What was the social class that the Jews in Poland belonged to?
What was the social class that the Jews in Poland belonged to?
Their own social class, neither peasants, nor noblemen.
Who issued a charter in 1551 that gave the Jews of Poland the right to govern themselves?
Who issued a charter in 1551 that gave the Jews of Poland the right to govern themselves?
King Sigismund Augustus
How many provinces was Poland split into during the time of King Sigismund Augustus?
How many provinces was Poland split into during the time of King Sigismund Augustus?
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What was the name of the Jewish government that was formed by the kahal in each province?
What was the name of the Jewish government that was formed by the kahal in each province?
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Why were the Polish kings welcoming to the Jews?
Why were the Polish kings welcoming to the Jews?
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What was the purpose of the kahal in each province?
What was the purpose of the kahal in each province?
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What was a major problem that the Jews of Eastern Europe faced during the 17th and 18th Centuries?
What was a major problem that the Jews of Eastern Europe faced during the 17th and 18th Centuries?
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What was the name of the founder of Chasidut, who was known for his emphasis on enjoying the warmth of Judaism?
What was the name of the founder of Chasidut, who was known for his emphasis on enjoying the warmth of Judaism?
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Who was the leader of the opposition to Chasidut, known as the Mitnagdim?
Who was the leader of the opposition to Chasidut, known as the Mitnagdim?
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What was the main reason for the Mitnagdim's opposition to Chasidut?
What was the main reason for the Mitnagdim's opposition to Chasidut?
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What was the name of the followers of the Ba'al Shem Tov and other Chasidic leaders?
What was the name of the followers of the Ba'al Shem Tov and other Chasidic leaders?
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What was the name of the Chasidic leaders who emerged after the Ba'al Shem Tov's death?
What was the name of the Chasidic leaders who emerged after the Ba'al Shem Tov's death?
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What was the criticism of the Mitnagdim regarding the Chasidic emphasis on spirituality?
What was the criticism of the Mitnagdim regarding the Chasidic emphasis on spirituality?
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What was the ultimate outcome of the two different paths of Orthodox Judaism, Chasidut and Mitnagdim?
What was the ultimate outcome of the two different paths of Orthodox Judaism, Chasidut and Mitnagdim?
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Study Notes
Polish Jewry
- Most Jews in Eastern Europe originated from Germany, fleeing persecution in the 16th century.
- They were welcomed by Polish kings, who valued their technical and business expertise.
- The Polish kings made the Jews directly accountable to them, not the nobles, to protect them from anti-Semitism and allow them to live under their own Torah laws.
The Kahal
- The Jews formed their own social class, neither peasants nor noblemen.
- In 1551, King Sigismund Augustus issued a charter giving the Jews of Poland the right to govern themselves.
- The Jewish communities organized their own government (kahal), electing governors in each region.
- The Va'ad Arba Artzot (Council of the Four Lands) was responsible for negotiating with the king's representatives, collecting taxes, managing Jewish courts, setting up and running Jewish schools, charity, and commerce.
Jewish Life
- Jews built thriving communities with banks, farms, craftsmen, butchers, bakers, and printers.
- The period from 1500-1600 is seen as the Golden Years for the Jews of Poland.
- Boys attended cheder (elementary school) from 4-13, and bright students went on to further Torah studies in a Yeshiva.
- Girls' formal education did not take off until the 19th century in Eastern Europe.
Chmielnicki Massacre
- In 1648, the Cossacks, led by Bohdan Chmielicki, began a series of attacks against the Jews, massacring thousands during 1648-1649.
- The massacre was devastating, and famine and epidemics swept through parts of the country.
Life in the Pale
- The Pale of Settlement was the area where the Russian government allowed Jews to settle, including Eastern Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania.
- Most of Europe's Jews lived in the Pale over the next 200 years.
- Jewish self-government was abolished for a period of time due to the Chmielnicki massacre and the Shabatei Tzvi disaster.
Rise of Chasidut
- The Ba'al Shem Tov (Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer) founded Chasidut, focusing on enjoying the warmth of Judaism and making it more spiritual and emotional.
- The leaders that emerged after his death were known as Rebbes, and their followers were known as Chasidim.
- Many different sects of Chasidim emerged, each with a different emphasis and set of customs.
Chasidic Dress
- Chasidim dress in the style of their predecessors in 18th-century Poland.
- Examples of Chasidic items of clothing include Streimel, Spodik, Bekishe, Rezhvolke, and Payot.
Opposition to Chasidut (the Mitnagdim)
- The Rabbis who opposed Chasidut were known as the Mitnagdim, led by the Vilna Gaon (Rabbi Eliyahu ben Shlomo).
- They opposed Chasidut due to the high regard Chasidim had for their Rebbes, seen as intermediaries between themselves and HaShem.
- Mitnagdim maintained that individuals were personally responsible to HaShem and could connect directly to Him without the need for a middle-man.
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Description
Explore the origins and customs of Chasidim, as well as the life of Jews in Eastern Europe during the 17th and 18th Centuries.
