Crisis Management: The Great Crisis of the Chassidic Movement

Published: Sept. 3, 2021, 11:05 a.m.

b"Modern times brought a host of challenges to the Chassidic movement in the closing decades of the 19th century and intensified in the 20th. World War One and the havoc that it wreaked led to a full blown crisis. Demographically the chassidic movement began to decline in numbers for the first time in its history. Urbanization transformed the chassidic experience and the interaction between the Rebbe and his followers. The Russian Revolution left the chassidic heartland and birthplace of the movement behind the Iron Curtain. Immigration to the west and United States loosened the affiliation of the immigrants to the courts.\\nThis crisis was met courageously\\xa0by chassidic leaders in a variety of creative ways. A renewed focus on education led to the establishment of yeshivos, and even girls' education was encouraged for the first time. Spiritual renewal was seen in courts such as the Piacezna Rebbe Rav Klonymous Kalman Shapira. Involvement in politics and using the media became more common. And a stronger shift towards traditionalism became the most recognizable and long lasting effect on the movement across the entire chassidic society. Emphasis on a uniform form of dress to promote a collective identity, became perhaps the most recognizable manifestation of this new way of closing the ranks in a changing, increasingly urban society.\\n\\xa0\\nThis episode is sponsored by\\xa0Alephbeta.org\\xa0. Filled with stunningly animated videos and audios on the parsha, holidays, prayers, and more. Their goal is to help people discover the beauty of Torah and add to its meaning and relevance. Their programs on the yomim tovim will leave you moved, inspired and with a new understanding of the significance of these holy days.\\xa0\\nListeners of Jewish History Soundbites for a limited time will\\xa0 receive the gift of Koren\\u2019s brand new, flexcover Tanach. To get your free gift today, go to Alephbeta.org and enter coupon code freetanach when you subscribe to an annual premium membership. Hurry, offer ends September 30th!\\n\\xa0\\nFor sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at:\\xa0\\xa0yehuda@yehudageberer.com\\n\\n\\xa0\\n\\nSubscribe To Our Podcast on:\\xa0\\n\\xa0\\nPodBean:\\xa0https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/\\n\\xa0\\n\\nFollow us on Twitter or Instagram at\\xa0@Jsoundbites\\nYou can email Yehuda at\\xa0yehuda@yehudageberer.com"