Ḥasidim, Ḥasidism: asidism is a religious movement which arose among the Polish Jews in the eighteenth century, and which won over nearly half of the Jewish masses. In its literal meaning the word "Ḥasidism" is identical with "pietism" ("Ḥasid" = "the pious"), and ... (Jewish encyclopedia 1906) [100%] 1906-01-01 [Jewish encyclopedia 1906]