The 19th-century ḥasidic rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izbica is best remembered today for his radical theological speculations. But this very extremism has made Leiner’s work attractive to devotees of the Jewish Renewal movement with its emphasis on “neo-ḥasidic” meditation, chanting, yoga, and the like. Presenting a brief historical account of Leiner and the sect he founded, David Bashevkin asks why his heterodox ideas never led to deviations from strict religious observance of the sort countenanced by his latter-day admirers:
Without the tempering effect of the communal environment, ḥasidic texts can seem deceptively radical. However, it cannot be forgotten that whatever [theological] radicalism existed in Izbica-Lublin, there was a concomitant experiential tradition among the “intimates” [of the rebbes] that assured communal radicalism did not develop.
Some have chosen to ignore that distinction and now use the theologically pregnant texts of Izbica-Lublin to create a new [sort of Jewish] community. Such innovations are not a continuation of the Izbica-Lublin community. At best they are misguided attempts at authenticity; at worst they can become perversions of legitimacy. For those who misapply and misrepresent ḥasidic thought, it seems that having cast off the pressure of [God’s] yoke, they now just seek solace in the touch of His presence. Unfortunately, for sound communal policy, both are needed.
Read more on Torah Musings: http://www.torahmusings.com/2015/08/open-orthodox-symposium-iv/