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<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0">The following is from Letter 15 of RSRH's Nineteen Letters I note that there is no mention of a chasid wearing a particular kind of dress, speaking a particular language, etc. Indeed, there is no mention of externalities
at all. YL</p>
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<div>Unfortunately, the term "chasid," meaning a pious person,<br>
has become misunderstood because of misconceptions foisted<br>
upon us from without. A "chasid" is a person who totally gives<br>
himself in love, does not look out for himself but relinquishes<br>
his own claims on the world in order to live only for others,<br>
through acts of loving kindness. Far from retiring from the<br>
world, he lives in it, with it and for it. For himself, the chasid<br>
wants nothing; but for the world around him, everything. Thus<br>
we find the term applied to David, a man who, from his<br>
earliest youth, labored ceaselessly for the spiritual and material<br>
welfare of his people and left the shaping of his own destiny,<br>
including redress of the wrong done to him by Sha'ul, entirely<br>
to God. No doubt you are familiar with the saying <i>shelach shelach v'sheli shelach</i></div>
<div><i></i>- -"He who says 'That which is yours is yours and that<br>
which is mine also is yours' is called a chasid." Again, a life<br>
of seclusion, of only meditation and prayer, is not Judaism.<br>
Torah and Avodah (study and worship) are but pathways meant<br>
to lead to deeds. Our Sages say, Talmud Torah gadol she'mavi l'y'day maaseh- <br>
"Great is study, for it leads to action" - the practical fulfillment<br>
of the precepts.</div>
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