Conflict Of Two Teachings In Judaism

Question: In the 18th century, two teachings emerged among the Jewish people. One of them was Hasidism—a direct appeal to the human soul, to the Creator, to the study of the Creator and oneself.

This course was opposed by another school, which promoted only the dry teaching of the Torah. There was a serious conflict between them. As it was written by the eyewitnesses: “Heretics were persecuted, subjected to Herem (excommunication), forced to publicly repent their sins, and even subjected to corporal punishment.”

What was the reason for this conflict?

Answer: The reason was very profound because it stems from the destruction of the Temple. It was destroyed precisely because people refused to work on the connection between them due to unfounded hatred. They started to distance from each other and stopped working on love and connection. And this is how it has been ever since.

Some of them understood that the most important thing is a sensory, heartfelt, mutual connection between everybody. Yet, if for them the most important thing was to create such a unity between them as was in the soul of Adam, to be as one man with one heart, it was not so for others.

This is how people usually are: physicists and lyricists, some more inclined to mental research, and others to sensory research. This was clearly evident among the Jews, and therefore, they were in great opposition to each other.

Remark: The main point is that Kabbalists were spiritual leaders for both sides.

My Reply: Yes, but it did not matter. The point was not about the Kabbalists who understood each other and knew what was going on and why the other group thought so. The point was how to lead the masses: just teach them the Talmud, or educate them in a sensory attitude toward each other.

Remark: You said that one of the reasons for this split was that it was not yet time to spread this wisdom. Although many Kabbalists of the 16th century were already writing that it is possible to reveal Kabbalah, to this day not everyone agrees with this.

Answer: Indeed, to this day, Kabbalists feel the echoes of past battles. However, not to such an extent anymore.

I hope that modern history and the development of humanity will quickly neutralize all this and bring us to a common denominator.

For more on this topic, read my book A Very Narrow Bridge: The fate of the Jewish people.
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From KabTV’s “The Systematic Analysis of the Development of the People of Israel” 12/28/19