From Lurianic Kabbalah To Hasidism 114 religious conduct in light of the Messiah’s conduct in fulfilling his sacred mission . In other words, are they to go actively in the footsteps of the Messiah, follow his behavior and do what he did, or are they merely to wait for him to complete his burdensome activity and let him stand alone in the battle conducted within the area of defilement, until he emerges from it, having overcome, vanquished and annihilated it ? In the context of the dispute over this question – and additional interesting disputes over other issues, concerning especially the ‘Secret of Divinity’, which must remain outside our present discussion – Shabbateanism was divided into two camps, representing two different tendencies, one moderate one and one extreme . Moderate Shabbateanism asserted clearly – but not without doubts and compunctions – that this horrifying act of descent into defilement is the act of the Messiah alone . He is the only one endowed with the supreme p...
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