Teitelbaums are the best
In
the times of the Chasam Sofer, Chasidus in Hungary wasn’t as
popular as in the Ukraine and Poland.
When
Chasidus started to infiltrate Hungarian communities the Chasam Sofer was not too supportive of it .
He wrote “ Chodosh Assur min
Hatora בין לאיסור (Chasidim) bein בין להיתר (L’havdil reform)
One
of the first and foremost Chasidic Rebbes in Hungary
was
the Yismach Moshe (R. Moishe Teitelbaum Zt"l ,
Rov in Uhel Hungary-great
grandfather of R. Yoilish Teitelbaum Zt"l the Satmarer rebbe )
The
Chasam Sofer had many arguments (regarding chasidus) with the
One
of the arguments the Chasam Sofer had with the Yismach Moshe was about kabbala
being introduced to the masses.
Chasidim
adopted Kabbala for the masses, and the Chasam Sofer argued and held
that Kabbala is not for the masses.
The
Chasam Sofer felt that the Yismach Moishe had accused him of overstepping the line
in
criticizing Chasidim.
The Chasam Sofer sent him a letter of apology, informing him that he
didn’t say
what the Yismach Moshe thought he said, therefore the Yismach Moshe owes
him a brocho. (Choshed Biksheirim) The Chasam Sofer concludes that he still
disagrees with him.
The Chasam Sofer was trying to appease the Yismach Moshe by asking him the following question.
How
do chazal know that Dvash of the Shivas Haminim are
dates.
He
answered, that
by Bikurim it says מראשית (the first and also the best)
Chazal knew the
sweetest and best honey (nectar) comes from dates.
Teitelbaum is a
Date
tree . (Tshuvas Chasam Sofer Orach Chaim #197)
(Tshuvas
Chasam Sofer end of Chelek 7- Kovetz Teshuvas #36)
Not sure if your summary of the Chasam Sofer's attitude towards Chassidus is wholly accurate. The Hebrew biography put out by the Kol Arye Institute certainly has an entirely different take. His main teacher was the Baal Hafla'ah, who along with his brother, Shmuel Shmelke of Nikolsburg, was a student of the Maggid of Mezritch. He himself said that he was sure, that after 120 years, he would have to answer why he never visited the Choze of Lublin. But, "what could I do? I cant stop from learning Torah." He sent the Kol Arye to the Sanzer Rav when he saw that it would be a better fit.
ReplyDeleteThis doesn't negate the fact that he might have disagreed with some aspects of Chassidim. Ain Chadash...I thought he said about the Reform movement.
(I always enjoy your blog, BTW.)
DeleteNot sure if your summary of the Chasam Sofer's attitude towards Chassidus is wholly accurate. The Hebrew biography put out by the Kol Arye Institute certainly has an entirely different take. His main teacher was the Baal Hafla'ah,SOME CLAIM IT'S DEBATEABLE.
TRUE HE ALWAYS CALLS HIM MORI V'RABI AND QUOTES THE HAFLAH NUMEROUS TIMES BUT HE HAPPENED TO BE THE RAV IN FRANKFURT THE RAV OF THE KEHILLA THE CHASAM SOFER BELONGED TO.AND THEREFORE CALLS HIM MORI V'RABI BUT WAS NOT HIS REBBIE LIKE R NOSON ADLER. who along with his brother, Shmuel Shmelke of Nikolsburg, was a student of the Maggid of Mezritch.HE DEFINITELY DIDN'T ACCEPT THE MAGID'S DERECH.. IN THE ENTIRE SEFER HAFLAH THERE IS NOT A SINGLE MENTION OF CHASIDUS. He himself said that he was sure, that after 120 years, he would have to answer why he never visited the Choze of Lublin. But, "what could I do? I cant stop from learning Torah." He sent the Kol Arye to the Sanzer Rav when he saw that it would be a better fit.ALL THIS IS HEARSAY ON THE OTHERHAND I ONLY QUOTED TESHUVOS THERE ARE OTHER TESHUVOS TO OTHER
GEDOLIM WHERE HE CRITICIZES CHASIDUS. HIS TESHUVOS ARE RELIABLE THEY WERE WRITTEN BY THE CHASAM SOFER HIMSELF.
This doesn't negate the fact that he might have disagreed with some aspects of Chassidim. Ain Chadash...I thought he said about the Reform movement. YOU ARE CORRECT WHEN HE SAID CHODOSH ASUR MIN HATORAH HE WAS REFERRING
TO THE REFORM JEWS BUT WHEN HE WRITES "בין לאיסורא ובין להתירא HE COULD NOT
HAVE MEANT THE REFORM WHO WERE ONLY MATIR ASURIM AND NEVER CAME
UP WITH THEIR OWN ISURIM
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CHASAM SOFER FELT THREATENED ONLY IN THE BEGINNING WHEN CHASIDUS STARTED TO CREEP IN THE COMMUNITIES AND LATER REALIZED
THEY ARE NOT AS BAD AS HE THOUGHT AND ENDED TOLERATING AND LIKING
THEM.
(I always enjoy your blog, BTW.)