Hasiduth: The Mimounia Path

Hasiduth, as it is called in Hebrew, is generally understood by scholars and Hasids to be the inner, mystical, or psycho-spiritual dimension of the Torah.  Rebbi Abraham, the son of Rabbenu Moshe ben Mimoun, the foremost authority of medieval Judaism, in his book: The Satisfaction of the Servant of God (kafaia al-a’badin) contends that Hasiduth is simply the name for the inner or esoteric dimension of the Torah.

After nearly 30 years of the study of Hasidism, I would say that, in spite of its many variations and voluminous expressions, the essence of Hasidic practice is quite simple. It is that the Hasid surrenders to God, in love, over and over.   This involves embracing with love at each moment the content of one's consciousness (one's perceptions, thoughts, and feelings, as well as one's sense of self) as gifts from God or, more precisely, as manifestation of God.