The Divine-Human Unity in the Context of the Hasidic Doctrine of the Tsaddik’s Power

Abstract

For the founders of Hasidism, its fundamental principle is a spiritual practice that ensures an unceasing connection between the believer and his Creator. This doctrine is not purely theological: it serves as a rationale behind the societal hierarchy proposed by the Hasidim. The leader, having achieved the highest point of unity with the Lord, sets a pattern to be followed by the community members in their relationship with him as the one who rules over them, thus justifying the all-encompassing power of the Tsaddiks. The paper discusses three basic concepts of God-man unity. The essence of the first is the perception of the believer as immersing himself in the deity and dissolving there like a water drop in an ocean. The other two envision the unity as a peculiar interpersonal communication. The paper argues that within the Hasidic doctrine all three concepts are on an equal footing and shows the principles of their coexistence.