The Only True Chasidus?

[Moshe Shulman]

>From: Y...@my-dejanews.com
I am making this a new thread.

>> "we're going to learn chasidus - derech mitzvosecha, or tanya, or
tzemahc
>> tzedek" not kedushas levi, or noam elimelech, or likutei moharan,
or
>> beis aharon.
>When any chasid refers to "the Rebbe," I presume he's talking about
his

When I refer to my Rebbe, here or other places where people who are
not of my group are found I say 'my Rebbe.' That is what is normal
among non-LUbavitch Chasidim.

>Rebbe. When any chasid refers to "chasidus," he is similarly talking
about
>his particular brand's teaching. It's a default designation. To infer
what

Likewise not true. 'Chassidus' means the whole body of teachings of
the talmidim of the Baal Shem Tov and further. It would include the
Toldos, and other seforim, even though there is not a single
chasidic group that traces back to him.

>you infer from this alone is still a stretch. (Not that there aren't
such
>people in Chabad.) Is it any different with any other chasidim? How
>widespread is the study of Tzemach Tzedek outside of Chabad?

True, very few learn his chassidic discourses, however most if not
all learn Tanya, which is quoted in many works. The Siddur is quoted
many times in the work 'Yismach Yisroel' (Alexander).

>> That the "boreinu" idea came out of Lubavitch, and not out of any
other
>> Chasidus, not even Bratslav which has dealt with the
non-continuation of
>> their dynasty, says something about Lubavitch in comparison to other
>> schools of Chasidus. As such, it is appropriate to look for
precursors
>> to the heretical ideas, so that should they pop up again, we can
deal
>> with them.
>Now we're talking business. I think that a serious accusation such as
>"Lubavitch as an ideology, as a movement, considers itself the One
True
>Judaism, the One True Chasidus" requires more substantiation than I've
seen to
>date. The only item of evidence I've seen so far are the Rebbe's
references to
>"nasi doreinu" WRT his father-in-law. I agree that it appears a major
stretch.
>But it may very well reflect a different understanding of the concept.
Would
>you say that Korach's rebellion disqualified Moshe Rabeinu as nasi
hador, at
>least for the duration?

Yisroel, I have an idea. Speak with fellow L's in your area and ask
them about other Chasidim, and other Chasidus. I think it would
unfair to make this a black white issue. There certainly are some in
Lubavitch who do not have the views that Jon mentions. However it
appears to be a small group. I recently was suggested to read a L
work which discussed other types of Chasidis. The view point was
negative and in fact misepresented what they were about. I assume
that in L what is stated there is the 'official' view.

--
Moshe Shulman mshu...@ix.netcom.com 718-436-7705
http://www.pobox.com/~chassidus Chassidus Website