Yitzhak Buxbaum’s Jewish Tales of Mystic Joy is mainly a collection of Chasidic tales from the early days of the movement, and, in a few cases, from the author’s direct experiences.
I’m struck by the use of alcohol by the early Chasidim to induce joyfulness and nearness to God. This isn’t Purim drinking mind you, but a few shots of slivovitz on a Thursday afternoon to get closer to Hashem! This is definitely not a part of modern Chasidic experience. In a few stories, if the strictures of Sabbath observance impede a sense of joy, they can be discarded (but in very serious circumstances). Again, not a modern Chasidic take on the Sabbath.
The early Chasidim were enjoined to always be joyful. Everything comes from God (and in a sense, all is God) so how can anything bad really happen? It is a good point, and given the premise, logical. Of course, most of us do not experience this; we are buffed about by our own emotions, and slaves to external stimuli that engender feelings of all sorts.
The early Chasidim shifted their states of consciousness to one that is more God-centered. For us, who live in a more secular and cynical age, this is a difficult program - but not wholly impossible.
I’m struck by the use of alcohol by the early Chasidim to induce joyfulness and nearness to God. This isn’t Purim drinking mind you, but a few shots of slivovitz on a Thursday afternoon to get closer to Hashem! This is definitely not a part of modern Chasidic experience. In a few stories, if the strictures of Sabbath observance impede a sense of joy, they can be discarded (but in very serious circumstances). Again, not a modern Chasidic take on the Sabbath.
The early Chasidim were enjoined to always be joyful. Everything comes from God (and in a sense, all is God) so how can anything bad really happen? It is a good point, and given the premise, logical. Of course, most of us do not experience this; we are buffed about by our own emotions, and slaves to external stimuli that engender feelings of all sorts.
The early Chasidim shifted their states of consciousness to one that is more God-centered. For us, who live in a more secular and cynical age, this is a difficult program - but not wholly impossible.
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