Bidspirit auction | The Messianic Secret of Hasidism

The Messianic Secret of Hasidism – Mor Altshuler, 2002 – Hasidism, Kabbalah, Baal Shem Tov - Mor Altshuler – The Messianic Secret of Hasidism Kinneret • Zmora-Bitan • Dvir 2002 • 360 pages • Hardcover A groundbreaking scholarly study by Dr. Mor Altshuler, shedding new light on the early messianic foundations of Hasidism. The book focuses on two major Kabbalists active in Eastern Europe between 1740–1781:  • The Baal Shem Tov (Besht), legendary founder of Hasidism, who sought to hasten redemption through mystical practices.  • The Maggid of Zlotshov, his disciple, who established a messianic-Kabbalistic Hasidic court that flourished for a decade, sending select followers as a pioneering “advance guard” to the Land of Israel in 1777. The book exposes, for the first time, the structured messianic program of the Maggid of Zlotshov and his circle: attempts at soul-rectification, dissemination of Kabbalistic secrets, and — according to tradition — the Maggid’s death as punishment for revealing esoteric teachings. Altshuler challenges accepted narratives, presenting the emergence of Hasidism from a small esoteric circle into a widespread popular movement, and reassesses the role of messianism in shaping the early Hasidic world. Condition  • Hardcover, clean and well-preserved  • Pages in very good condition  • No missing leaves