In contrast to the traditional leaders of his day, Israel Ben Eliezer, later known as the Ba'al Shem Tov (Master of the Good Name), de-emphasized the importance of Talmudic study and extolled inner piety and sincerity. His mannerisms while praying (ecstatic outcry or delirious trance) clashed with the somber behavior of traditional religious leaders.
After his death, Eliezer's heirs, the tzaddihim, or "righteous men," spread Hasidism throughout Eastern Europe. These charismatic men won devoted adherents. A tzaddik, or rebbe as he came to be called, supposedly acted as an intermediary, passing on the supplications of his followers to God. A number of dynasties arose as each of the tzaddikim passed on his position to a male heir. During the 1800s, the Hasidim abandoned their original disdain for Talmudic study and became as Talmud-oriented as other Orthodox Jews.
The Hasidic movement helped stay the swelling tide of assimilation. While a growing number of European Jews were abandoning traditional dress and neglecting to observe various religious commandments, the Hasidim staunchly refused to relinquish their customs or compromise their beliefs.
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