What is a Hasidic Jew?
A-1: A Hasidic (Hah-SEE-dik) or Chassidic (with a gutteral CH sound) Jew is a Jew who practices Hasidism (HAH-see-DIZZ-um), which is a form of mystical Orthodox Judaism that began in the 1700’s in Eastern Europe. It was founded by Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, who is better known as the Baal Shem Tov (Besht for short) which means Master of the Good Name in Hebrew. As far as I know, there are no actual photos of the Besht, but this is an old painting of him. Read a short biography of the Baal Shem Tov…) Before the Holocaust, the Hasidic communities were primarily in Eastern Europe. The largest Hasidic communities today are in the United States, Israel, and Canada, but there are also Hasidim in many other countries, too. Some major cities where Hasidim can be found are New York, Chicago, Baltimore, Paris, Sydney, London, Montreal. But there are also Hasidim in out-of-the-way places like Uman, Ukraine and Postville, Iowa. I myself live in Minnesota — you can read more about my life there o
