People sometimes think that that Chasidic means simply "extremely religious," or refers to Jews with a lot of black in their wardrobes.
In the "Blues Brothers," when Aretha Franklin says to her husband, "There are two honkies out there dressed like Chasidic diamond merchants," she's referring to their suits and hats, not to their spiritual personalities.
Being Chasidic is about much more than simply appearances. Chasidism is a Jewish revival movement which was started by Israel Ba'al Shem Tov in the 18th century.
It particularly insisted on inward devotion, and not just external observance. Chasidism taught that the sincere service of a simple person can be worth as much as that of a scholar.
