Ashkenazi Hasidim
Jewish mystical, ascetic movement in Germany during the 12th and 13th centuries / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the medieval sect. For the modern movement, see Hasidic Judaism.
The Hasidim of Ashkenaz (Hebrew: חסידי אשכנז, trans. Hasidei Ashkenaz; "German Pietists") were a Jewish mystical, ascetic movement in the German Rhineland during the 12th and 13th centuries.
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The movement is known for its strict asceticism and mystical doctrine who radically reimagined Jewish ethics, holding themselves accountable to din shamayim (an unwritten Law of Heaven) in addition to traditional halakha. Some posit that its theology fits into the general canon of Jewish mysticism. It certainly parallels other Jewish mysticism; however in other ways it was very original. The extent of this community's effect and influence during Middle Age German Judaism has not been studied.