Text Panel
The religious experience is at the heart of Chassidic existence. The Babylonian Talmud, the writings of the founders of Chassidism and other works are also studied, but they are only one element in the complete religious experience. Each community is headed by an Admor – an honorific title given to its spiritual leader. The Admor is considered a kind of conduit that links his followers with loftier worlds. His authority does not necessarily derive from his scholarly ability, but rather from the supernatural powers that are attributed to him. The Chassidim believe the Admor is capable of knowing hidden things, predicting the future or performing miracles and his leadership is usually passed from generation to generation. Breslov and Chabad are unique among Chassidic groups because they are also active among non-Orthodox Jews in an attempt to bring them closer to Judaism.
