Uniter of Heaven and Earth SUNY Series in Judaica: Hermeneutics, Mysticism, and Religion Michael Fishbane, Robert Goldenberg, and Elliot Wolfson, editors Uniter of Heaven and Earth Rabbi Meshullam Feibush Heller of Zbarazh and the Rise of Hasidism in Eastern Galicia Miles Krassen State University of New York Press Published by State University of New York Press, Albany ©1998 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, address the State University of New York Press, State Universty Plaza, Albany, NY 12246 Production by Marilyn Semerad Marketing by Fran Keneston Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Krassen, Miles Un iter of heaven and earth: Rabbi Meshullam Feibush Heller of Zbarazh and the rise of Hasidism in Eastern Galicia / Miles Krassen. p. cm. - (SUNY series in Judaica) Includes biblographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-3817-1. - ISBN 0-7914-3818-X (pbk.: alk. paper) 1. Heller, Meshullam Feivush, d. ca. 1795. 2. Rabbis-Ukraine Galicia, Eastern-Biography. 3. Hasidim-Ukraine-Galicia, Eastern-Biography. 4. Hasidism-Ukraine-Galicia, Eastern History. 1. Title. II. Series. BM755.H318K73 1998 296.8'322'092-dc21 [BI 97-50607 eIP 109 876 543 2 1 Contents Introduction 1 1. Meshullam Feibush Heller and His Circle in Eastern Galicia 9 2. Sources of Devequt in Early Hasidism 43 3. Cosomological Bases for Meshullam Feibush's Concept of Devequt 81 4. The Barrier to Divine Aid 95 5. The Problem of Corporeality: Conditions for Devequt 107 6. The Remedy: Prayer, Torah, Sacred Calendar 123 7. Meshullam Feibush and the Maggid of Mezeritch 163 8. The Importance of Zaddiqim 187 9. Meshullam Feibush's Place in Early Hasidism 203 Notes 217 Bibliography 285 Index 301 Uniter of Heaven and Earth