Chapter Eight

The Alter Rebbe, founder of Chabad Chasidus, states that the main objective of Chasidus is to mold one's character. In other words, the essence of man's service must be concentrated on himself-to mold his own character.

Chabad Chasidus is a comprehensive discipline, arranged in perfect order-in its own style-into a number of elementary, fundamental and principle books, written by the founders of Chabad Chasidus, each Nassi1 in his generation.

The first Chasidim, the disciples of the Alter Rebbe, were men eminent in the wisdom of the Torah and in piety, outstanding theologians, and gifted with remarkable intellects. It was to them that the saintly Alter Rebbe expounded the principles and doctrines of Chasidus.