Hasidic sects are groups of
Hasidic Jews led by a single
Rabbi, who himself is usually a member of a hundreds-year old
dynasty, usually named for a town in
Eastern Europe. Grand Rabbis can often trace their scholarly, if not genetic, lineage to the
Magid of
Meseritz, the primary student of the
Baal Shem Tov. Members of Hasidic sects often live together in their own neighborhoods, pray together in their own
synagogues, and learn together in their own
yeshivas. Sometimes a sect will have unique variations ("
manhagim") on religious rituals. Very devoted individuals- the word "
Hasid" itself means "pious"- will attend their sect's Rabbi's
tisch (meal/table) on
Sabbath and
holidays, or request audiences at which to ask him for
blessings and advice.
There are currently an estimated 250,000 Hasidim worldwide.* What follows is a list of the major Hasidic sects still extant. Some sects (
Chernobyler Hasidim? I shit thee not) no longer exist. Can you guess which one
isn't named for a town in Europe?
*http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/hasid.html
For general information on Hasidus, see HasidicNews.com