Orthodox and Non-Orthodox Judaism part 17

The great historian of Kabbalah, Gershom Scholem, suggested that Hasidism was, in its early phases, an anti-Messianic movement. Remnants of the Shabbatean heresy were still waiting for Shabbetai Tzvi's return in glory. The founders of Hasidism strove to make that feeling into a more internal transformation. (The Kingdom is within you", to borrow a Christian phrase.) Not that they ever rejected the concept of Mashiach, but the idea was put on a back burner. First and foremost was the spiritual awareness of the community, as well as that of the individual.The famous letter of the Baal Shem Tov, describing his meeting with Mashiach, was only published a decade after his death, and is now considered by scholars to be inauthentic. Early Hasidic writings, including the Tanya, mostly mention the concept of Mashiach only in passing. So how did Chabad come to be known for Messianism? The fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Shalom DovBer Shneerson, (1860-1920), lived through the upheavals of the Russian Revolution. At times of great upheaval, Jews think of Mashiach. During the tenure of his son, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Shneersohn (1880-1950) not only did he suffer persecution from the Soviet regime, but also witnessed the rise of Nazism. He was in Warsaw when the Germans took over. Diplomatic efforts for his rescue were successful. He arrived in New York in 1940, where he lived for the remainder of his life. He stated that Mashiach was very near, and would come in his lifetime. This aroused anger in Lithuanian Yeshiva circles, especially with Rabbi Aaron Kotler, the esteemed head of the Lakewood, New Jersey Yeshiva. Rav Kotler considered his remarks dangerous, bordering on the heretical. When Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak suffered a stroke, pundits on both sides claimed that it was a result of a curse from Rav Kotler. Animosity between the two groups continues until this day. When Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak died, people around him, including his son-in-law and eventual successor, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shneerson, declared their belief that his father-in-law was, in fact, the Mashiach. This declaration, with its unheard of idea of a dead Mashiach, with none of the signs of a Messianic era visible, caused widespread opposition to the movement. These ideas soon went underground, while efforts to establish Jewish education and outreach took the forefront. In Rabbi M.M. Shneerson's first public letter, after assuming leadership, contained Judah's words to Joseph "Bi Adoni", which means. in context, "please, my lord". But it can also mean "My lord is in me". Was this just an unfortunate coincidence, or was he hinting that the Messianic soul of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak was now inhabiting his body? Rav Kotler was incensed when he saw the letter. Some Chabad Hasidim refused to read too much into these words. Others saw a redeemer before them. Ambiguity added to ambiguity. Battle lines became clearer with time. To be continued.