Editing Hasidic Judaism (section)

===Literature===
{{see also|Hasidic philosophy#Writings|Rabbinic literature #Hasidic thought}}
[[File:Chassid22.jpg|thumb|right|Sculpture of the Hasidic movement's celebration of spirituality on the [[Knesset Menorah]]]]
Hasidic tales are a literary genre, including the [[hagiography|hagiographies]] of various rebbes and moralistic themes. Some are anecdotes or recorded conversations about faith, practice, etc. The most famous tend to be terse and carry a strong and obvious point. They were often transmitted orally, though the earliest compendium is from 1815.<ref name="Schacter-Shalomi, Zalman 2003">Schacter-Shalomi, Zalman, Wrapped in a Holy Flame (2003) San Francisco CA, Jossey-Bass, {{ISBN|978-0-7879-6573-0}}</ref>

Many revolve around the righteous. The Baal Shem Tov, in particular, was subject to excess hagiography.<ref name="Buber, Martin 1948">Buber, Martin, Tales of the Hasidim: The Early Masters (1948) New York, NY, Schocken Books {{ISBN|978-0-8052-0995-2}}</ref> Characterized by vivid metaphors, miracles, and piety, each reflects the surrounding and era it was composed in. Common themes include dissenting the question what is acceptable to pray for, whether or not the commoner may gain communion, or the meaning of wisdom.<ref name="Buber, Martin 1948"/>
The tales were a popular, accessible medium to convey the movement's messages.<ref name="Schacter-Shalomi, Zalman 2003"/>

In addition to these tales, Hasidim study the numerous mystical/spiritual works of [[Hasidic philosophy]]. (Chabad, for example, daily study the [[Tanya (Judaism)|''Tanya'']], the ''[[Torah Or/Likutei Torah]]'', and the voluminous works of the [[Chabad#The leaders of Chabad-Lubavitch|Rebbes of Chabad]]; [[Breslov]]ers study the teachings of [[Nachman of Breslov]], additional to his "tales".) These works draw on the earlier esoteric theology of Kabbalah but articulate this in terms of inner psychological awareness and personal analogies. In addition to its formal, intellectual component, this study thus makes Jewish mysticism accessible and tangible, so that it inspires emotional devekut and embeds a deep [[Hashkafa#Principles|spiritual element in daily Jewish life]].