Chapter Four

The two objections of the correspondent (on the grounds of irreverence and the incapacity of mortals to clearly understand these subjects) are not limited to the subject “Israel arose in thought” alone. They are as relevant to most of the subject matter of Chasidus. These claims are similar to the anti-chasidic arguments proposed by the moderate mitnagdim of earlier generations.

The opponents of the ideology and practices of Chasidus were of two types. The first group bitterly opposed the movement and was unreasonably suspicious of chasidim. A second more patient group was cognizant of the principles of intellectual fairness. The acts of the first group need no elaboration here. For the second group, however, the above-mentioned objections and other similar allegations formed the basis of their antipathy to Chasidus.

During the first period of the birth and expansion of Chabad Chasidus, i.e., during the lifetime of the Alter Rebbe, the second group was quiescent, while the first active and vociferous. After the victories of 1798 and 1801,1 the first group was discredited and the second began to take form. During the next ten years (until 1812) they carried on disputes and debates with the chasidim.

Undeniably, in a number of instances they weakened the study of Chasidus, particularly among the common householder who was mainly occupied with personal affairs and who had precious little time to apportion between Talmud or the like and Chasidus. In most chasidic strongholds the mitnagdim exploited epistles2 of the Alter Rebbe himself (“To begin with blessing,” and “Ten who study Torah”) and other citations that stress the importance of Talmud study. They pointed out that the Rebbe too holds that the study of Talmud and halacha must be rigorously observed before anything else.

During these crucial years many students of the Alter Rebbe’s chadorim 3 travelled extensively throughout the land; local and regional committees were formed to carefully observe developments. The mitnagdim, in turn, sent secret emissaries into the chasidic camp. It was secret, internal warfare, neither group eager for publicity. Then, (in the summer of 1812) the Franco-Russian War erupted throwing the world into turmoil. The Rebbe fled from his home in Liadi, and more than a year elapsed before his son and successor, Rabbi DovBer, the Mitteler Rebbe, settled in Lubavitch.