Regarding the Baba Sali, the expression “to conquer with a strong hand” opens a door to an interesting fact: In the modern world, the concept of religious coercion has become a negative term, far removed from the freedom preached and educated in the West. In contrast, among Baba Sali's followers, there wasn't much concern about coercion or any reticence at the use of the fear of punishment. Baba Sali’s kinsmen recognized that coercion is necessary for dealing with undesirable disturbances originating either with society at large or with the evil inclination, as the individual level (and thus we ask God every day, “subjugate our inclination to serve You”).
For those who follow the pathway of Chasidut, even coercion should ultimately be exercised with joy. On the way to this goal, there are three stages, as our teacher the Ba’al Shem Tov divides rectification into submission, separation, and sweetening.
