Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liady

Etkes, Immanuel; Green, Jeffrey M.

doi:10.2307/j.ctv102bghd

Cited by 20 publications

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“…In terms of culture, ethnicity, religion, and language, he grew up in a region later called “Yiddishland”. He came from a prominent Chassidic dynasty: Schneersohn was the last name adopted by the descendants of Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745–1812), an influential Chassidic leader of the 18th century (Etkes, 2015; Stroll, 2007). Shneur Zalman—or the alter rebbe (“old rabbi”)—was the founder of Chabad, a school of thought inside Chassidism named for the Hebrew acronym of “wisdom”, “understanding”, and “knowledge” (Rubinstein & Elior, 2007).…”

Section: Yiddishlandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecstatic expeditions: Fischl Schneersohn’s “science of man” between modern psychology and Jewish mysticism

Freis

2020

Transcult Psychiatry

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This article examines Fischl Schneersohn’s (1887–1958) “science of man” as a psychotherapeutic approach situated between modern psychology and Chassidic mysticism. While almost forgotten today, Schneersohn was a prolific writer, well-known in Yiddish-speaking circles as a psychologist, educationalist, novelist, and psychotherapist. As a descendant of an important dynasty of Chassidic rebbes, he grew up inside the Chabad movement, but followed a secular career. The first part of this article traces Schneersohn’s biography from the outskirts of the Russian empire to Germany, Poland, the United States, and Palestine, and shows how his upbringing and historical experiences shaped his psychological works and his self-understanding as educationalist and psychotherapist. The second part examines Schneersohn’s main work, Studies in Psycho-Expedition, which blended Chassidic mysticism and contemporary psychology in a way that was both idiosyncratic and unique. The psycho-sociological “science of man” was a modern psychological and psychotherapeutic approach, using specific methods to gain knowledge about the human mind, and to counteract and treat mental disorders, neuroses, and nervousness. At the same time, however, it was deeply influenced by Chassidic mysticism; revolving around the assumption of a universal human need for spiritual ecstasy. Schneersohn universalised, secularised, and reframed elements of the Kabbalah as a modern psychotherapy. By examining an almost forgotten psychotherapeutic approach outside the mainstream in its specific historical context, this article contributes to the history of the connection between religion and the psy-disciplines, as well as to ongoing debates about the role of spirituality and ecstasy in psychology and psychotherapy.

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Section: Yiddishlandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecstatic expeditions: Fischl Schneersohn’s “science of man” between modern psychology and Jewish mysticism

Freis

2020

Transcult Psychiatry

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“…The sons-who were not eyewitnesses to the events 61 -published the account in the rst volume of Shulḥ an 'arukh ha-rav, which appeared in 1814, two years after their father's demise. 62 This account has been accepted by scholars, 63 but considering the lack of corroborating evidence, the introduction may be more indicative of the sons' perception than the father's experiences.…”

Section: Hasidic Context Of the Codementioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a Judicial Biography of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liady

Cooper

2015

J. law relig.

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This study seeks to forge a new avenue of legal scholarship on the modern religious movement known as Hasidism. The paper focuses on Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liady (ca. 1745-1812)-Hasidic master, religious thinker, and jurist. Much has been written on Shneur Zalman, his formidable leadership in the face of strident opposition and his groundbreaking religious philosophy. His legacy continues to animate contemporary Judaism, primarily through his spiritual heirs-the Lubavitch Hasidic community-and through his Hasidic thought known as Chabad. The present study maps out an aspect which has been widely neglected, but is nonetheless crucial to understanding this religious leader: Rabbi Shneur Zalman's legal activity. The rst part of the study surveys existing research, assessing what has been achieved thus far, and what tools are available for further research. The second part of the essay highlights salient questions to be considered as part of a judicial biography, offering preliminary answers to these questions. The article concludes with the contention that without serious analysis of Rabbi Shneur Zalman's legal writings-or for that matter, legal writings of Hasidic masters in general-any intellectual history of this religious movement will be incomplete.

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The Rise of Hasidism

Rosman¹

2017

The Cambridge History of Judaism

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Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liady

Cited by 20 publications

References 0 publications

Ecstatic expeditions: Fischl Schneersohn’s “science of man” between modern psychology and Jewish mysticism

Ecstatic expeditions: Fischl Schneersohn’s “science of man” between modern psychology and Jewish mysticism

Towards a Judicial Biography of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liady

The Rise of Hasidism

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