Hasidic Judaism

I never realized how strict and complex the religion of Hasidic Judaism went until I began to research it. Before I began my research on this topic, I thought of Hasidic Judaism as any other religion…with it own rules and beliefs. Not far into my research did I realize how many different levels this religion has on so many things! I found my jaw dropping a lot as I was reading and feelings of disbelief on how the religion can be so demanding of its people. I felt compelled to research more and more. It is truly an interesting religion. I found in my research that Hasidic Judaism is so complex that I will not be able to sum it all up in 800 words, so I will write about the things that I felt were most interesting to me.

Hasid, in the word Hasidic is a Hebrew word that describes a person whose spiritual devotion extends far beyond the rules of Judaism laws. This is how Hasidic Judaism got its name. Each person that follows this religion must go far and above the religious rules in every way shape and form. This religion has six hundred and thirteen commandments! Known to the Jews as “Mitsvots”. I can’t imagine ever being able to abide by so many commandments. After all I guess this religion can be traced back to the 1700’s, so they had plenty of time to come up with many commandments.

Hasidic Jews believe that the point to life is to serve God. He is unlimited in his abilities and his strengths. He exists and lives in everything. They believe our world is totally dependent on God, and it would not exist if it weren’t for him. He continuously interacts with everything and everyone. It is because of him that we are able to live. They also believe that the physical body is only a capsule for the spiritual soul. Spirituality is the key to life, to have it is to have the best quality of life.

Jews do not believe that just because you don’t practice their religion, you are going to go to hell. They believe in having many different religions, they just don’t practice them. In the Torah that was given to the Jews on Mount Sinai, it has a set of seven commandments given to Non-Jews. Other wise none as “Noah’s Seven Commandments.” These are to be followed by non-Jews in order to go to heaven. They are as follows: You may not worship Idols; Do not blaspheme God; You must establish courts of Justice; you may not kill; you may not commit adultery and you may not rob. It was not until the Great Flood that the seventh one was made…”Man shall not eat the flesh of animals.” (Torah, Chpt. 2, Vs. 16)

The views on women are pretty degrading.