Akup,
“Let’s settle this. Find someone who is 200% Litvish – Yeshivish – Misnagdid to the core – stuck in a 19th century world view. Then ask him if someone is “Chasidish”.
The answer will be that Satmar, Lubavitch, Breslov and all the others are clearly “Hasidisch” (even if Chabad is also “Litvish).
Interesting how many here are really confused and misinformed on this topic.
Just to give you an example – The Brisker Rav said in regards to the Cherim/ban of the GR”A and talmidim against “Chassidim”, that the ONLY ones that it really pertains to (at least in his times) are:
Chabad and Breslov”.
This was based on a Kabalah he had from Rav Chaim up onto Talmidei haGR”A – understanding what the Cherim was truly based on. (Note, and the Cherim was not really based upon what people think… )
Meaning, that all the other ones, in essence, are not truly Chasidim as per the issues of the Gr”a, they just have a couple minhagim etc but not in theory and in essence.
Can someone explain with what and how exactly would you define, let’s say ‘Satmar’, as following the Derech Habesh”t vs a regular Yeshivish Charedi yungerman . And I’m not speaking about Nusach haTfilah, Rabenu Tam Z’man mincha after shkiah, (many think that has anything with “Chasidus” which is by far not), Havarah or Levush.
Note – At the times of the BESH”T all wore the same levush — even Misnagdim wore Shtreimlach. The only difference in levush was that they wore White Bekitches on Shabbos, something that has long been abolished…
Let’s hear details : “x” is Derech haGra and “z” is Derech HaBesh”T
The main confusion, based from I’m reading here, is that people have decided that Shitas haChasidus is based on X Y and Z , and based on that, Chabad or others do/don’t fit into that molding.
So first define what Chasidus is truly all about and THEN see who fits into that mold.