Hasidism and the Rebbe/Tzaddik: The Power and Peril of Charismatic Leadership

 https://hakirah.org/Vol%207%20Schochet.pdf

For many decades, the Conservative Movement sought to define itself as an authentic halakhic movement by selectively citing more liberal teachings and teshuvot from traditional sources.

This phenomenon ought not come as a surprise. Even the spokesmen and the followers of Shabbetai Ẓevi put forth great effort to authenticate his messianic identity by appealing to traditional, eschatological sources.

In truth, quoting an ancient view and using it as a modern movement’s mantra is not all that difficult a task. Our tradition is a broad one and diverse views are articulated on many issues in traditional sources. Minority voices are faithfully recorded in our sacred texts, and many an esoteric comment has been preserved for subsequent generations to study.

Two great works on Jewish ethics, Ḥovot haLevavot and Mesillat Yesharim, stand in interesting contrast to one another—to a great degree because of the deep Kabbalistic motifs of the latter that are lacking in the former. Yet, each is undeniably “authentic” to our tradition in spite of differences in emphases.