Hasidic Judaism is a religious movement within Judaism that arose as a spiritual revival movement in the territory of contemporary Western Ukraine during the 18th century. The movement was founded by Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, who taught love, joy, and humility. Hasidic Jews are Orthodox Jews who belong to a special movement within Orthodox Judaism. They are noted for their religious conservatism and social seclusion. Some key facts about Hasidic Jews include:

• Beliefs: Hasidic Jews believe that they are set apart to worship God wholeheartedly, based upon the written Torah, the Talmud, and the teachings of their leaders.

• Practices: Hasidic Jews are known for their distinctive clothing, which is influenced by the style of Polish-Lithuanian nobility. They also have a greater than average study of the inner aspects of Torah.

• Organization: The Hasidic community is organized in a sect known as a "court" (Hebrew: חצר, romanized: chatzer; Yiddish: הויף, romanized: Hoif; from German Hof/Gerichtshof). Within the Hasidic world, it is possible to distinguish different Hasidic groups by subtle differences in dress. There are perhaps a dozen major Hasidic movements today, the largest of which is the Lubavitch group headquartered in Brooklyn, NY.

• History: Hasidism was at once a call to spiritual renewal and a protest against the prevailing religious establishment and culture. The movement survived a century of slow decline and then near-total destruction in the Holocaust. After World War II, Hasidism was transplanted by immigrants to America, Israel, Canada, Australia, and Western Europe. Today, Hasidism is thriving as an evolving creative minority that preserves the language--Yiddish--and many of the religious traditions of pre-Holocaust Eastern European Jewry.

Overall, Hasidic Jews are a sub-group within Haredi Judaism who adhere closely to Orthodox Jewish practice and the traditions of Eastern European Jews.