This is analogous to a
compassionate, wise and righteous father who hits his son. Surely a wise son
should not turn his back to escape and find himself help, or even an
intercessor to his father, who is compassionate, righteous and kind (chassid).
The Rebbe
Rayatz once remarked1
that when the Alter Rebbe first speaks of the father who punishes, he does not
use the term “chassid”. (He uses it only later, in the context of the
intercessor.) The reason, says the Rebbe, is that a father who smites his child
may indeed be compassionate, righteous and wise — but he is not a chassid, for
a chassid does not hit!
So what about all these "Chassidim" that hit kids in school? I guess they are not Chassidim.