Among Chabad chasidim, there is a tradition of counting the generations of Chasidut, which includes the Ba’al Shem Tov, his student the Maggid of Mezritch, and the seven Chabad Rebbes (up to and including the Lubavitcher Rebbe)—a total of nine generations. According to this count, it can be said that we, all of us, constitute the tenth generation of Chasidut. The number ten is rife with meaning: it symbolizes the completion of a cycle and the beginning of a new one. The notion that we are the tenth generation invites us to transcend the boundaries between the different Chasidic streams and return to the source of the Ba’al Shem Tov’s spirit.
Indeed, in recent generations, there has been a revival and renewed interest in the teachings, spirit, and customs of Chasidut. In particular, there has been a significant renewal around Chabad and Breslov, attracting many returnees to faith from all segments of the population.
This spiritual renewal is connected to a long-held dream of the Baal Shem Tov. One of his great desires was to make aliyah (“ascent”) to the Land of Israel and to bring the Chasidic revolution there as well. Many stories tell of how the Ba’al Shem Tov set out to fulfill this dream and began a journey to the Land of Israel, but, unfortunately, his journey was interrupted, and he was forced to return.
The renewal of Chasidut is an opportunity to return to the original vision of the Ba’al Shem Tov and to bring about a second Chasidic revolution—a spiritual revival of Judaism, this time in a manner more connected to the body and nature. After thousands of years of exile, a great many Jews have returned to our physical home, but spiritually, we are still in exile, wandering among the fragments of cultures not our own. Our new existence in the land is a call to return to Judaism in a new, full, and richer environment, encompassing the life of the body, the emotions, and creativity, and covering both the individual and the community together. Returning to the Land of Israel can also mean returning to our inner land, to the soil of our souls, from which we have been exiled for so long.
In a wonderful verse Jeremiah says to his people: “How long will you waver, O faithless daughter? For God has created a new thing on the earth: a woman encircles a man.” This verse predicts that a time will come when God will not need to chase after His people, but the Congregation of Israel—always likened to His wife—will court (encircle) Him. This awakening to seek God spontaneously, not out of coercion, is called “repentance out of love,” and constitutes the beating heart of the Ba’al Shem Tov’s vision, fulfilling his mission to awaken the people of Israel from their stupor. The expression “a woman encircles a man” (נְ קֵ בָ ה תְּ סוֹבֵ ב גָּבֶ ר) has the exact value as the words, “Land of Israel” (אֶ רֶ ץ יִ שְׂ רָ אֵ ל )! Repentance out of love is deeply connected to the vision of the Jewish people dwelling in their land.
The Ba’al Shem Tov fulfilled the dreams of many by guiding them to their spiritual home; perhaps the time has come for us to fulfill his?
