I had a discussion about modern orthodox with a Rabbi who works for the OU. He said something about Chabad being considered modern to the chassidishe communities in Borough Park and Williamsburg. I was slightly affronted but it was also something I had not considered before. Other than the knowledge that tznuis manifests itself differently, I did not have a lot of interactions with those communities.
Last Shabbos, someone asked me what Chabad is. Technically, it is a type of chassidus. What chabad is as a movement is another story. The sects from Borough Park, Williamsburg and Crown Heights are all chassidish. The mystery: how does this common denominator translate to daily life? And does Chabad share the implications in their daily conduct?
Chassidus philosophy was first taught to the average man by the Baal Shem Tov in the year 5490 (1730). After his passing on the first day of Shavuot of 5520 (1760), his disciple the Maggid of Mezeritch took over until his passing on the 19th day of Kislev 5533 (1772). At this point the Chassidic movement was split between three of his students. (Read more here, subtitle Spread of Hasidism). At this point the different sects developed.
During another discussion, the same Rabbi from the OU said something to the effect that Maimonides in Moreh Nevuchim, third chelek, section 18 claims that hashgacha protis is proportionate to spiritual level. This in contradiction to the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov. There is a famous story of the Baal Shem Tov, when he was walking with his students and pointed out a leaf floating softly to the ground. He asked his students what caused this to happen. It was not the wind, but G-d who directed the leaf to fall precisely so to shade a worm from the blazing sun. Chassidim believe in Divine Providence in the inanimate object as much as the spiritual being.
How to resolve this? I asked my Bobov coworker who knew the story and said her understanding of Hashgacha Protis went according to the Baal Shem Tov. The point of this essay is to discover commonality between my community and hers and this confirmed we have the same root philosophy. For the answer to the conundrum, see Chapter 2 of the book Led By G-d's Hand.
What are traditions we share?
My chassidish co-worker met her husband three times before they became engaged. Once at her house, once at his house and once at the home of her grandmother. Some chabad couples date very little. However they still go out on dates. Then again, some chabad couples date for a few months or even a year.
My Satmar co-worker had a nine month engagement. In Chabad, the average engagement is two to three months. If it is more it is usually because Chabad custom is not to marry during the Omar weeks between Pesach and Shavout.
The Rebbe encouraged the idea that the prospective bride and groom should not be in the same town during the engagement and should not spend an excessive amount of time together. My Satmar co-worker chatted with her husband once every three weeks! Her husband spoke to her dad weekly to wish her family a good Shabbos. More chassidish Chabad adheres to this idea and meet at Shabbos meals or meet up for wedding preparations. Most Chabad couples hang out frequently during the engagment
There is also a shared tradition not to be photographed together during the engagement. Both get around this by taking un-posed pictures. Today, it is a normal practice for Chabad families to hire a photographer for the engagement party.
All this makes Chabad another variant on the chassidishe lifestyle. However, the things that make Chabad chassidish, outside of its philosophy, are not widely recognized. The shared customs and traditions connect us and as we get lax about them we lose something of that shared heritage.
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