Differences in Attitudes to Study and Work between Present-day Hasidim and Mitnaggedim: A Sociological View
This chapter investigates the differences in attitudes to study and work between present-day hasidim and mitnaggedim. It considers the concept of tsimtsum—a process underlying the work of Creation through which God was concealed on various levels in the process of creation. Thus, God withdrew Himself, as it were, in order to make room for Creation. This view was accepted in principle by both hasidim and mitnaggedim, but each group gave it a completely different interpretation. According to the mitnaggedim, God had withdrawn His essence from the world, so that the material world that remained was less divine. Consequently, any real relationship with God could be established only through the spiritual activity of studying the Torah in which He had revealed Himself. According to hasidic teachings, on the other hand, tsimtsum refers only to the concealment of a certain divine manifestation and not to the withdrawal of God Himself. From this, it follows that God's essence is present in matter as well; His infinity has not been affected by the creation of the world.