ABSTRACT
In Hasidic community religion as a unified system of beliefs and practices exerts a cohesive integrating influence upon actions and thoughts, both public and private, of its members. It creates reciprocity between religion and all other community affairs. The sociological significance of such an orientation can perhaps best be understood in terms of Kingsley Davis's categorization of function of religion. Davis has elaborated Emile Durkheim's position to summarize these functions as follows: Religion then does four things that help to maintain the dominance of sentiment over organic desire, of group ends over private interests. First, it offers, through its system of supernatural belief. Second, it provides, throughout its collective ritual. Third, it furnishes, through its sacred objects. Fourth, it provides an unlimited and inseparable source of rewards and punishments. Hasidic community could not flourish equally well in a society characterized by economic hardship. Economic security contributes to the maintenance of Hasidic values by creating conditions conducive to religious observance.
