Hasidic Jews follow an ultra-Orthodox way of life. They live in small, close communities that are focused on spirituality. They follow one main leader who is both the religious and political authority within the community. Before the Second World War, Hasidism was common within Eastern European communities. The Holocaust particularly affected the Hasidic Jewish communities, as they were reluctant to emigrate or assimilate, so were more vulnerable to antisemitism and persecution.
