Friends and Friendship in Hasidism Early Hasidism stressed
fellowship among followers of the same charismatic leader, but
not necessarily among all Jews. Reprinted with permission from
The Encyclopedia of Hasidism, edited by Tzvi M. Rabinowicz
(Jason Aronson). From the time of the Besht [Yisrael Ba'al Shem
Tov, the founder of Hasidism in the late 18th century], the love
of friends and the close attachment of friends marked the
Hasidic shtieblech [synagogues and study halls]. Hasidism
stressed the marvelous friendship that united David and Jonathan
in a spontaneous effluence that endured to death (2 Samuel
1:25). The reason the movement thrived and expanded so rapidly
was due, in a large measure, to its emphasis on developing close
personal ties among its followers. New hasidim were welcomed
with open arms. They came to feel that they were part of one
family. They could enter the homes of other hasidim as
"brothers." They could share the most intimate concerns with
older hasidim, who would serve as their "big