This article is about the term. For the branch of Orthodox Judaism, see Hasidic Judaism. For the medieval sect, see Ashkenazi Hasidim.
Ḥasīd (Hebrew: חסיד, "pious", "saintly", "godly man"; plural חסידים "Hasidim") is a Jewish honorific, frequently used as a term of exceptional respect in the Talmudic and early medieval periods. It denotes a person who is scrupulous in his observance of Jewish law, and often one who goes beyond the legal requirements of ritual and ethical Jewish observance in daily life. In the Mishnah, the term is used thirteen times, the majority of which being in the Tractate Pirkei Avot.[1]
The Hebrew word Ḥasīd appears for the first time in the Torah (Deuteronomy 33:8) with respect to the tribe of Levi, and all throughout the Hebrew Book of Psalms, with its various declensions.[2] In classic rabbinic literature it differs from "Tzadik" ("righteous") by instead denoting one who goes beyond his ordinary duty. The literal meaning of Ḥasīd derives from Chesed (חסד) (= "kindness"), the outward expression of love (lovingkindness) for God and other people. This spiritual devotion motivates pious conduct beyond everyday limits. The devotional nature of its description lent itself to a few Jewish movements in history being known as "Hasidim". Two of these derived from the Jewish mystical tradition, as it could tend towards piety over legalism.
Rabbi Saadia Gaon, the medieval Hebrew linguist and biblical exegete, translated the Hebrew word Ḥasīd in Psalm 18:25 into the Judeo-Arabic word אלמחסן, meaning, "he that does good."[3]
Usage in rabbinic textsedit
As a personal honorific, both "Ḥasīd" and "Tzadik" could be applied independently to the same individual with both different qualities. The 18th-century Vilna Gaon, for instance, at that time the chief opponent of the new Jewish mystical movement that became known as "Hasidism", was renowned for his righteous life. In tribute to his scholarship, he became popularly honored with the formal title of "Genius", while amongst the Hasidic movement's leadership, despite his fierce opposition to their legalistic tendencies, he was respectfully referred to as "The Gaon, the Ḥasīd from Vilna".
A general dictum in the Talmud (Baba Kama 30a) states: "He that wishes to be pious (Aramaic: ḥasīda), let him uphold the things described under the indemnity laws in the Mishnaic Order of Neziqin." Rava, differing, said: "Let him observe the things transcribed in Pirkei Avot." (ibid.)
Of the few known pious men in the early 2nd century, the Talmud acknowledges the following: "Wherever we read (in Talmudic writings), 'It is reported of a pious man', either R. Juda b. Baba it meant or R. Judah, the son of R. Ilai."[4]
Other usesedit
In the aggregate, "Ḥasīd" may also refer to members of any of the following Jewish movements:
the Hasideans of the Maccabean period, around the 2nd century BCE
the New Testament twice refers to Jesus of Nazareth as the Davidic ḥasīd foretold in Psalm 16:10 (Book of Acts 2:27; 13:35 ὅσιος, quoting Ps 15:10 Greek Septuagint translation; "ḥasīd" is here used in the Hebrew NT translations of Delitzsch, Salkinson-Ginsburg, “The Way,” etc., and is paralleled by the Syriac Peshitta). Followers of this royal ḥasīd were commanded to practice ḥesed among themselves (Gospel of Luke 10:37, using Septuagintal poiein eleos meta from Hebrew asah ḥesed ʿim).
the Ashkenazi Hasidim, an ascetic German mystical-ethical movement of the 12th and 13th centuries
^Torah: Deuteronomy 33:8, translated as "thy holy one"; Book of Psalms: Psalm 4:4; Psalm 12:2; Psalm 16:10; Psalm 18:26, translated here as "the merciful"; Psalm 31:24; Psalm 37:28; Psalm 145:17, translated here as "gracious"; Psalm 149:1, translated here as "saints"; Psalm 32:6, translated as "one that is godly"; Psalm 86:2, translated as "godly", etc.
^Saadia Gaon (2010). Qafih, Yosef (ed.). Book of Psalms, with a Translation and Commentary made by Rabbi Saadia Gaon (תהלים עם תרגום ופירוש הגאון רבינו סעדיה בן יוסף פיומי זצ"ל) (in Hebrew). Kiryat-Ono: Makhon Moshe (Makhon Mishnat haRambam). p. 80. OCLC 741156698., s.v. Psalm 18:26
^Babylonian Talmud (Temurah 15b - end); Jastrow, M., ed. (2006), Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Publishers, p. 487, OCLC 614562238, s.v. חסיד
January 01, 1970
hasid, this, article, about, term, branch, orthodox, judaism, judaism, medieval, sect, ashkenazi, Ḥasīd, hebrew, חסיד, pious, saintly, godly, plural, חסידים, jewish, honorific, frequently, used, term, exceptional, respect, talmudic, early, medieval, periods, d. This article is about the term For the branch of Orthodox Judaism see Hasidic Judaism For the medieval sect see Ashkenazi Hasidim Ḥasid Hebrew חסיד pious saintly godly man plural חסידים Hasidim is a Jewish honorific frequently used as a term of exceptional respect in the Talmudic and early medieval periods It denotes a person who is scrupulous in his observance of Jewish law and often one who goes beyond the legal requirements of ritual and ethical Jewish observance in daily life In the Mishnah the term is used thirteen times the majority of which being in the Tractate Pirkei Avot 1 Contents 1 Hebrew etymology 2 Usage in rabbinic texts 3 Other uses 4 See also 5 ReferencesHebrew etymology editThe Hebrew word Ḥasid appears for the first time in the Torah Deuteronomy 33 8 with respect to the tribe of Levi and all throughout the Hebrew Book of Psalms with its various declensions 2 In classic rabbinic literature it differs from Tzadik righteous by instead denoting one who goes beyond his ordinary duty The literal meaning of Ḥasid derives from Chesed חסד kindness the outward expression of love lovingkindness for God and other people This spiritual devotion motivates pious conduct beyond everyday limits The devotional nature of its description lent itself to a few Jewish movements in history being known as Hasidim Two of these derived from the Jewish mystical tradition as it could tend towards piety over legalism Rabbi Saadia Gaon the medieval Hebrew linguist and biblical exegete translated the Hebrew word Ḥasid in Psalm 18 25 into the Judeo Arabic word אלמחסן meaning he that does good 3 Usage in rabbinic texts editAs a personal honorific both Ḥasid and Tzadik could be applied independently to the same individual with both different qualities The 18th century Vilna Gaon for instance at that time the chief opponent of the new Jewish mystical movement that became known as Hasidism was renowned for his righteous life In tribute to his scholarship he became popularly honored with the formal title of Genius while amongst the Hasidic movement s leadership despite his fierce opposition to their legalistic tendencies he was respectfully referred to as The Gaon the Ḥasid from Vilna A general dictum in the Talmud Baba Kama 30a states He that wishes to be pious Aramaic ḥasida let him uphold the things described under the indemnity laws in the Mishnaic Order of Neziqin Rava differing said Let him observe the things transcribed in Pirkei Avot ibid Of the few known pious men in the early 2nd century the Talmud acknowledges the following Wherever we read in Talmudic writings It is reported of a pious man either R Juda b Baba it meant or R Judah the son of R Ilai 4 Other uses editIn the aggregate Ḥasid may also refer to members of any of the following Jewish movements the Hasideans of the Maccabean period around the 2nd century BCE the New Testament twice refers to Jesus of Nazareth as the Davidic ḥasid foretold in Psalm 16 10 Book of Acts 2 27 13 35 ὅsios quoting Ps 15 10 Greek Septuagint translation ḥasid is here used in the Hebrew NT translations of Delitzsch Salkinson Ginsburg The Way etc and is paralleled by the Syriac Peshitta Followers of this royal ḥasid were commanded to practice ḥesed among themselves Gospel of Luke 10 37 using Septuagintal poiein eleos meta from Hebrew asah ḥesed ʿim the Ashkenazi Hasidim an ascetic German mystical ethical movement of the 12th and 13th centuries Hasidic Judaism Yiddish Chassidische movement a movement which began in Ukraine in the 18th centurySee also editAmidah Illui TzadikReferences edit Danby H ed 1933 The Mishnah Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 815402 X s v Hagigah 2 7 Avot 2 8 ibid 5 10 ibid 5 11 ibid 5 13 ibid 5 14 ibid 6 1 Berakhot 5 1 Sukkah 5 4 Sotah 9 15 Kiddushin 4 14 Keritot 6 3 et al Torah Deuteronomy 33 8 translated as thy holy one Book of Psalms Psalm 4 4 Psalm 12 2 Psalm 16 10 Psalm 18 26 translated here as the merciful Psalm 31 24 Psalm 37 28 Psalm 145 17 translated here as gracious Psalm 149 1 translated here as saints Psalm 32 6 translated as one that is godly Psalm 86 2 translated as godly etc Saadia Gaon 2010 Qafih Yosef ed Book of Psalms with a Translation and Commentary made by Rabbi Saadia Gaon תהלים עם תרגום ופירוש הגאון רבינו סעדיה בן יוסף פיומי זצ ל in Hebrew Kiryat Ono Makhon Moshe Makhon Mishnat haRambam p 80 OCLC 741156698 s v Psalm 18 26 Babylonian Talmud Temurah 15b end Jastrow M ed 2006 Dictionary of the Targumim the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi and the Midrashic Literature Peabody Mass Hendrickson Publishers p 487 OCLC 614562238 s v חסיד Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hasid amp oldid 1185061398, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
