[Avodah] Since When Do Ashkenazim Daven Sephard?

[Prof. Levine]

The following is from an article titled "Reaching New Heights with 
Siddur Avodas Hashem" that appears in the Hamodia Showcase Judaica 
Supplement, Adar 5772.

Before the dawn of Chassidus, Yidden davened either Nusach Sephard or 
Nusach Ashkenaz, depending on their tradition and place of origin.
The originator of Chassidus, the holy Baal Shem Tov and his talmidim, 
zy"a, diverged from the Ashkenazic nusach, davening according to the
Sephardic nusach with the kavanos of the Arizal. In the early years 
of the Chassidic movement, only the tzaddikim would daven Nusach 
Sephard, while the
chassidim, who lacked a profound understanding of Kabbalah, would 
daven Nusach Ashkenaz. However, around the period of the Rebbe,
Harav Elimelech of Lizhensk, zy" a, (1717-1787), chassidim began 
davening together with their Rebbes- in the Rebbe's nusach - despite their lack
of understanding of the kavanos. Thus, Nusach Sephard gradually 
spread to the Chassidic shtieblach across Eastern Europe - even 
without the presence of
a Rebbe who knew the kavanos.

There was opposition to the change in nusach, as it was thought that 
simple folk who were not versed in Kabbalah were prohibited from 
davening Nusach
Sephard.
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