Hasidim, Mitnagdim, Maskilim: Part 1. Prolegomenon

First in a three-part series looking at the major Jewish intellectual movements of the 18th century. Guest lecture at Beth Jacob Congregation, Beverly Hills CA, April 21, 2021.
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[@laurenannkattner7030]

I teach European history 1648-1996 at a midwestern US community college. I have distant Jewish ancestry but am not a practicing Jew. Even so I have had fantastic Jewish teachers and friends. One of my goals has been to integrate the histories of non-traditional people of Europe with the history of those generally categorized as European. I must say that your lectures have helped me a lot to understand European Jews. I don't tire of your jokes or your more serious stories.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Very glad to hear the lectures are useful to you, Professor Kattner!

[@TheGyn1000]

As a secular Israeli, I was happy to discover your channel and to learn more about Judaism and the various groups (zramim) of Jews. While I’m totally secular I feel connected and love all Jews and see them as brothers which they are. Thank you so much for these fascinating lectures with great knowledge and talent.

[@carloselfrancos7205]

8:30 This, this is so important to understand any "conservative vs progressive" conflict. The key takeaway for me is that "Traditionalism is distinct from Tradition". Tradition is not a political, religious or in any way "temporary movement", but it is what you receive, contemplate and transmit *even when you don't think about it*, naturally, one could even say organically. Whereas "traditionalism" in all its shapes is a reaction to an opposing "progressivism" in the shape of a novel idea or novel manifestation of an already existing idea. I try my hardest, as a Western man, to steer away from "traditionalism", as I realized it wasn't Truth itself but a modern simulacra of it. I'm very optimistic, as I don't think Tradition can ever be "lost", only "hidden" or "misunderstood".

[@episcospanky]

I always feel happy after listening to your lectures.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Glad to hear that!

[@valmarsiglia]

Thank you, Dr. Abramson -- you have a real gift for lecturing.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@Amazativity]

This is the best explanation on this period of Jewish History that I’ve ever seen. Thank you!

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Wow, what praise! Thank you.

[@Noodles.FreeUkraine]

What a great lecture from a very charismatic and knowledgeable professor. Even as a non-Jew, I find your content very fascinating.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@helderchimbalandongohelder7475]

I love the Jewish history and you're the most resilient people that ever set foot on this planet

[@helderchimbalandongohelder7475]

@Henry Abramson thanks and may the God of Israel keep blessing you

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Enjoy in good health!

[@randiwaxman8412]

I never heard that explanation about the Spanish ezpulsion. It now makes sense; some Jews who were forcibly "baptized" were allowed to learn outside of their community.

[@mikelinux1961]

Thank you for your videos. I started watching your older videos and I'm happy your are still at it.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Me too!

[@randiwaxman8412]

Lo again Shachris Mincha maariv. Even funnier because I'm listening at double speed!!

[@stuartbowenjr8393]

Great teaching, again!

[@arieljgrasky3370]

As always, thank you for an amazing shiur! I was thinking how you could improve that joke by saying when the Rabbi answered after what he thought: “What r you talking about? I didn’t have any time to think between Shacharit Mincha AND Maariv!!!!” 😮 🤔 😭 ❤️ Or maybe not? 😉 G-d bless you!

[@parnoss]

I really appreciate the work you did organizing what is a very complicated period of time. (The subtitles need some serious review and editing)

[@yosefzee7605]

This is so so so rich!!

[@ninorpereira]

Happy to hear that you pronounced Spinoza correctly ;-)

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Well, I pay attention to my channel members! Thanks for the correction.

[@gregcollins7602]

Ha! I too get mistaken often as a famous celebrity. All to often I hear someone say "look, it's Marty Feldman"! 😃

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Ha!

[@aleckrem]

Love this video! Thank you !

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@earthwater9964]

Crazy scholarship! Thanks, wow.

[@Lil.Isrealit]

Shalom Thanks for sharing

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Welcome!

[@Yonosanperry]

CORRECTION: Chassidim don’t daven late for the purpose of sleeping in. Preparation for davening is the beginning of davening. Chassidim wake up early and learn Chassidus and meditate on Hashem in preparation for davening. This preparation begins far before zman Tefilah. And arguably a more important correction: everyone knows Chabad Chassidim are far and away the best dressed ; )

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Point 1: agreed. Point 2: hard to disagree, especially given the Shabbos kapotes.

[@bobfitz7886]

Sir you might not read this but I am very curious about the amulet bearing the Star of David, what time period was that exactly?

[@mynameisnotyours888]

Thanks doc

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

YW

[@batukhan6406]

The Jews being the great peoples of the long history to keeping there cultural. The Chinese Emperor giving the welcome to the Jew saying may live in the happy way in the China. I can learn about the peoples of the Jew religious from Master Abrahamson who have the genius and hold the secret of the Jew peoples. 猶太人的歷史非常有趣。 感謝您製作這些視頻，讓人們可以了解猶太人的故事

[@witness4justice]

We go to China Town! It's amazing.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

我很高兴你喜欢这些视频！

[@batukhan6406]

@@HenryAbramsonPhD ha ha. You speak the Chinese. Say you happy I like the video. You use the simplify Chinese character. I use the traditional Chinese character. Communist after 1948 change the Chinese writing to making it easier to learn. In Taiwan they using the traditional. Taiwan the free place to go. Have the demoncracy there. Taiwan politician sometime get into the fight but everybody happy.

[@hrvlogs7267]

Hi sir I support Isreal

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Me too

[@iprogramplus]

Be strong and blessed. I can see the Maskilim wanting to expand their knowledge of science, physics, engineering, etc. but non-Jewish literature, not to include philosophy, any thoughts?

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

There was quite a range of attitudes among the maskilim. More in the next lecture.

[@gregcollins7602]

Bravo. Great presentation.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Thanks as always!

[@Dave-um7mw]

What is that symbol at the end of your name? I'm seeing that a lot in these comments.

[@gregcollins7602]

@@Dave-um7mw it means I pay $5/month to get access to more material.

[@Dave-um7mw]

@@gregcollins7602 cool. Thanks for answering.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

@@Dave-um7mw Yup. I am kind of overwhelmed by comments so I focus on people who are motivated enough to be channel members, like Mr. Collins.

[@matthewsainsbury1801]

hellow henry abramson i had abit of a trublsome week i wasnt well i had to get a covid test thank god it was negative keep me in youre prayers and thoughts

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Good to hear, stay healthy

[@matthewsainsbury1801]

@@HenryAbramsonPhD thank you and you keep safe

[@georgerodriguez4207]

Perty good

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Thanks!

[@iprogramplus]

BTW, is this the same Beth Jacob founded by Rabbi Dolgin? yes, I see it is. He was my godfather in 1962

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Very interesting!

[@mikeklein9923]

The Vilna was a kabbalist himself; yet he was a Mitnaged.... Mah Pitom ?

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Who says Mitnagdim can't also be kabbalists?

[@sywerner13]

The Mitnagdim were not against kabalah. The Vilna Gaon himself was outspokenly a huge fan of the Ramchal, as well as wrote many books in Kabalah himself!! The Mitnagdim were against the Hassidic revolutionary interpretations of kabalah, and many of the practices that came from them. The Mitnagdim also opposed the teaching of Kabalah and it's interpretations (considered secrets of the Torah) to people who were not already great Torah scholars. Although, the teaching of Torah secrets outside a select few students (themselves great torah scholars) only started from Rabbi Shneur Salman of liadi through the Tanya two generations after the Baal Shem Tov started the Hasidic movement.

[@mikeklein9923]

Moses Mendelssohn was a Rav ?

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Depends on who you ask, I guess

[@frieder8676]

I think he didn‘t get a smicha. Thanks to „rabbi“ Abramson for your great lectures. Shalom from Germany.

[@arieljgrasky3370]

(Now you know why I get kicked out from every shul….. 😝)

[@neilgoodman2885]

!!!

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

!!!!

[@sdem4128]

7:21 LOL

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

What can I say?

[@michaels4255]

Although baptisms should be performed by a priest (presbyteros) if possible, baptisms performed by laymen are still legitimate and grace-bearing, although it does one's soul no good if he does not follow through by living a Christian life.

[@mikeklein9923]

Zman tefilah - be thankful for the tefilah - don't hone in on details

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Amen

[@MrGreen4go]

7:33 lol

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

ty

[@randiwaxman8412]

Lol

[@tucut8054]

funny joke. only religiose jewish will understand.