Weekly Living Torah: Why Chassidus?

In this week’s Living Torah, the Rebbe discusses the founding of the Chassidus movement. How, why, and what?

In the wake of the horrific massacres of the Chmielnicki pogroms 1648-1649, the Jews of Europe were demoralized. It was during this time that the Baal Shem Tov appeared. Uplifting the Jewish people, he illuminated a path whereby every Jew could climb the ladder of spirituality, imbuing that energy into their mundane lives as well. This renewed a spirit of life into their bruised and broken hearts, giving new meaning to the Jewish nation in their devotion and commitment to God Almighty.