Baal Shem Tov Biography 117671980

8/12/2019 Baal Shem Tov Biography 117671980

1/11

Baal Shem Tov

[Ashk. Heb. bahl shem-tohv, -tohv; Seph. Heb. bahl shem-tawv, -tawv] Show IPARabbi Yisroel (Israel) ben Eliezer ( !"#$%! A&'&st ), *+(* l&l/ 0 1a2, *)+3/, o4te5 6alle7Baal Shem Tov o8 Besht , was a 9ewishm2sti6al8abbi. He is6o5si7e8e7 to be the 4o&57e8 o4 Hasi7i6 9&7aism(see also 1e:hbi:h Hasi7i6 725ast2/.

esht was bo85 to lie:e8 a57 Sa8a i5


2/11

spi8it&al moveme5t o4 Hasi7i6 9&7aism.

=he little bio'8aphi6al i54o8matio5 that is k5ow5 abo&tesht is so i5te8wove5 with le'e57so4 mi8a6les that i5 ma52 6asesit is ha87 to a88ive at the histo8i6al 4a6ts. J8om the 5&me8o&sle'e57s 6o55e6te7 with his bi8th it appea8s that his pa8e5ts we8epoo8, &p8i'ht, a57 pio&s.Khe5 he was o8pha5e7, his 6omm&5it26a8e7 4o8 him. At s6hool, he 7isti5'&ishe7 himsel4o5l2 b2 his48e&e5t 7isappea8a56es, bei5' alwa2s 4o&57 i5 the lo5el2 woo7ss&88o&57i5'the pla6e, 8apt&8o&sl2 e5Lo2i5' thebea&tieso4 5at&8e. 1a52 o4 his 7is6iples believe7 thathe 6ame 48omthe Gavi7i6 li5et8a6i5' its li5ea'e to the 8o2al ho&se o4 Mi5' Gavi7, a57 b2eNte5sio5 with the i5stit&tio5 o4 the9ewish 1essiah.

Early life and marriage

eshtOs be5e4a6to8s 'ave &p the hope o4 him eve8 be6omi5' a 8abbi, a57 ma7e him a@helpe8@, who took the 6hil78e5 to a57 48om s6hool a57 8ehea8se7 sho8t be5e7i6tio5s a57p8a2e8s with them. His se5time5tal 5at&8e, to whi6h his late8 s&66ess was i5 '8eat meas&8e7&e, 5ow stoo7 him i5 'oo7 stea7; 4o8 he 6o&l7 wi5 6hil78e5 a57 atta6h them to him b2

eNpla5atio5s s&ite7 to thei8 &57e8sta57i5'. ?ate8 he be6ameshammash (seNto5/ i5 thesame 6omm&5it2, a57 at abo&t ei'htee5 he ma88ie7. Khe5 his 2o&5' wi4e 7ie7 he le4t thepla6e, a57 a4te8 se8vi5' 4o8 a lo5' time as helpe8 i5 va8io&s small 6omm&5ities o4Po7olia,he settle7 as a tea6he8 at =l&ste( =ovste/ 5ea8alish6h2k2.

e6a&se o4 his 8e6o'5i:e7 ho5est2 a57 his k5owle7'e o4 h&ma5 5at&8e, he was 6hose5 toa6t as a8bit8ato8a57 me7iato84o8 people 6o57&6ti5' s&its a'ai5st ea6h othe8; a57 hisse8vi6es we8e b8o&'ht i5to 48e&e5t 8e&isitio5 be6a&se the 9ews ha7 thei8 ow5 6ivil6o&8tsi5 Pola57. I5 this avo6atio5he s&66ee7e7 i5 maki5' so 7eep a5 imp8essio5 &po5 the8i6h a57 lea85e7ph8aim o4 8o72that the latte8 p8omise7 esht his 7a&'hte8 Qha5a i5ma88ia'e. =he ma5 7ie7, howeve8, witho&t telli5' his 7a&'hte8 o4 he8 bet8othal; b&t whe5she hea87 o4 he8 4athe8s wishes, she 7i7 5ot hesitate to 6ompl2.

eshtOs wooi5' was 6ha8a6te8isti6. I5 the shabb2 6lothes o4 a peasa5t he p8ese5te7 himsel4at 8o72 be4o8eAb8aham Ee8sho5 o4 Mitov( M&t2/, b8othe8 o4 the 'i8l, hea7 o4 a 8abbi5i6al6o&8t i5 8o72, a57 a 8e6o'5i:e7 a&tho8it2 i5 the Mabbalaha57 the =alm&7. Ab8ahamEe8sho5 was abo&t to 'ive him alms, whe5 esht p8o7&6e7 a lette8 48om his po6ket,showi5' that he was the 7esi'5ate7 b8i7e'8oom. Ab8aham Ee8sho5 t8ie7 i5 vai5 to 7iss&a7ehis siste8 Qha5a 48om shami5' thei8 4amil2 b2 ma882i5' him, b&t she 8e'a87e7 he8 4athe8Oswill alo5e as a&tho8itative.

A4te8 his ma88ia'e Is8ael be5 lie:e8 7i7 5ot 8emai5 lo5' with his b8othe8-i5-law, who wasashame7 o4 him (4o8 he kept &p the p8ete5se o4 bei5' a5 i'5o8a5t 4ellow/; a57 he we5t to avilla'e i5 the Qa8pathia5sbetwee5 8o72 a57 Massowa. His ea8thl2 possessio5s 6o5siste7o4 a ho8se 'ive5 him b2 his b8othe8-i5-law. Is8ael be5 lie:e8 wo8ke7 as a labo8e8, 7i''i5'6la2a57lime, whi6h his wi4e 7elive8e7 eve82 week b2 wa'o5loa7 to the s&88o&57i5'villa'es, a57 48om this the2 7e8ive7 thei8 e5ti8e s&ppo8t. &t the ma'5i4i6e5t s6e5e82 i5 this,the 4i5est 8e'io5 o4 the Qa8pathia5s, a57 the possibilit2 o4 e5Lo2i5' it witho&t thei5te88&ptio5s o4 6it2 li4e, 6ompe5sate7 him 4o8 his '8eat p8ivatio5s. Is8ael be5 lie:e8 a57Qha5a ha7 two 6hil78e5 >7l a57 vi He8sh. >7l was bo85 i5 *)3. vi He8sh was bo85some 4i4tee5 2ea8s late8.
http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Hasidic_Judaismhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Davidic_linehttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/King_Davidhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Jewish_Messiahhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Jewish_Messiahhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Rabbihttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Sexton_(office)http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Sexton_(office)http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Podoliahttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Podoliahttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Podoliahttp://www.reference.com/go/http:/wikipedia.org/wiki/Tlustehttp://www.reference.com/go/http:/wikipedia.org/wiki/Tlustehttp://www.reference.com/go/http:/wikipedia.org/wiki/Tovstehttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Zalishchykyhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Zalishchykyhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Human_naturehttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Arbitratorhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Mediatorhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Private_lawhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Private_lawhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Avocationhttp://www.reference.com/go/http:/wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephraim_of_Brodyhttp://www.reference.com/go/http:/wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephraim_of_Brodyhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Abraham_Gershon_of_Kitovhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Abraham_Gershon_of_Kitovhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Kutyhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Kabbalahhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Talmudhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Tzedakahhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Carpathian_Mountainshttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Clayhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Lime_(mineral)http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Lime_(mineral)http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Hasidic_Judaismhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Davidic_linehttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/King_Davidhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Jewish_Messiahhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Rabbihttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Sexton_(office)http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Podoliahttp://www.reference.com/go/http:/wikipedia.org/wiki/Tlustehttp://www.reference.com/go/http:/wikipedia.org/wiki/Tovstehttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Zalishchykyhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Human_naturehttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Arbitratorhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Mediatorhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Private_lawhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Private_lawhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Avocationhttp://www.reference.com/go/http:/wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephraim_of_Brodyhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Abraham_Gershon_of_Kitovhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Kutyhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Kabbalahhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Talmudhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Tzedakahhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Carpathian_Mountainshttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Clayhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Lime_(mineral)


3/11


4/11

keepi5' with eshtOs 6ha8a6te8 that he wel6ome7baptismb2 the J8a5kists as a5 e57 to itsth8eat to mai5st8eam 9&7aism o4 the 7a2, 4o8 it is 8elate7 that he sai7 @ As long as adiseased limb is connected with the body, there is hope that it may be saved; but, onceamputated, it is gone, and there is no hope. @ =he &pheaval 6a&se7 b2 the th8eats o4 theJ8a5kist moveme5t to 7est8o2 mai5st8eam 9&7aism seeme7 to &57e8mi5e eshtOs health,

howeve8, a57 he 7ie7 sho8tl2 a4te8 the 6o5ve8sio5o4 ma52 J8a5kists to Qh8istia5it2.#is legacy

Is8ael be5 lie:e8 le4t 5o books; 4o8 the Mabbalisti66omme5ta82 o5 Ps. 6vii., as68ibe7 tohim ( hitomi8, *3U/, Sefer mi!abbi "israel Ba#al Shemtov, ma2 5ot be 'e5&i5e. I5o87e8 to 'et at his tea6hi5's, it is the8e4o8e 5e6essa82 to t&85 to his &tte8a56es as 'ive5 i5 thewo8ks o4 his 7is6iplesHasi7im. 1ost a8e 4o&57 i5 the wo8ks o4 Rabbi 9a6ob 9oseph o4Pol5o2. &t si56e Hasi7ism, imme7iatel2 a4te8 the 7eath o4 its 4o&57e8, was 7ivi7e7 i5tova8io&s pa8ties, ea6h 6laimi5' 4o8 itsel4 the a&tho8it2 o4 esht, the &tmost o4 6a&tio5 is5e6essa82 i5 L&7'i5' as to the a&the5ti6it2 o4 &tte8a56es as68ibe7 to esht.

Qhapi5 a57 Kei5sto6k 6o5te57 that the esht was esse5tiall2 the 8i'ht pe8so5, i5 the 8i'htpla6e, at the 8i'ht time. i'htee5th 6e5t&82 Po7oliawas a5 i7eal pla6e to 4oste8 a sea-6ha5'e i5 9ewish thi5ki5'. It ha7 bee5 7epop&late7 o5e 'e5e8atio5 ea8lie8 7&e to theMhmel5itsk21assa68es. A =&8kish o66&patio5 o4 Po7oliao66&88e7 withi5 the eshtOsli4etime a57 alo5' with it the i54l&e56e withi5 this 48o5tie8 te88ito82 o4 Shabbetai via57his latte8 7a2 spi8it&al 7es6e57a5ts s&6h as 1ala6h a57J8a5k.


5/11

=his pa5e5theism wo&l7 have bee5 i'5o8e7, ha7 esht 5otbee5 a ma5 o4 the people. He'ave his metaph2si6al 6o56eptio5o4 Eo7 a5 emi5e5tl2 p8a6ti6al si'5i4i6a56e.

=he 4i8st 8es&lt o4 his p8i56iples was a 8ema8kable optimism.Si56e Eo7 is imma5e5t i5 allthi5's, all thi5's m&st possess somethi5' 'oo7 i5 whi6h Eo7 ma5i4ests Himsel4 as theso&86e o4 'oo7. Jo8 this 8easo5, the esht ta&'ht, eve82 ma5 m&st be 6o5si7e8e7'oo7, a57his si5s m&st be eNplai5e7, 5ot 6o57em5e7.


6/11

i5 eve82 a6t o4 wo8ship. Jea8 o4 Eo7 is o5l2 a5 i5itiato82 step to 8eal wo8ship,whi6h m&stsp8i5' 48om a love o4 Eo7 a57 a s&88e57e8 o4 sel4 to Him. I5 his e5th&siasm, ma5 will 5otthi5k eithe8 o4 this li4eo8 o4 the 5eNt the 4eeli5' o4 &5io5 with Eo7 is i5 itsel4 a mea5sa57a5 e57. 5th&siasm, howeve8, 7ema57s p8o'8ess, 5ot the me8e4&l4illme5t o4 the ?awOsp8e6epts i5 a 7ail2 8o&ti5e whi6h be6omes 7ea7e5i5' t8&e 8eli'io5 6o5sists i5 a5 eve8-

'8owi5' 8e6o'5itio5o4 Eo7.Influence on #asidism

=he late8 7evelopme5ts o4 Hasi7ism a8e &5i5telli'ible witho&t6o5si7e8atio5 o4 eshtOsopi5io5 6o56e85i5' ma5Osp8ope88elatio5 with the &5ive8se. =8&e wo8ship o4 Eo7, as aboveeNplai5e7,6o5sists i5, the 6leavi5' to, a57 the &5i4i6atio5 with, Eo7.=o &se his ow5 wo87s,@the i7eal o4 ma5 is to be a 8evelatio5 himsel4,6lea8l2 to 8e6o'5i:e himsel4 as ama5i4estatio5 o4 Eo7.@ 12sti6ism,he sai7, is 5ot the Mabbalah, whi6h eve82o5e ma2 lea85;b&t that se5se o4 t8&e o5e5ess, whi6h is &s&all2 as st8a5'e, &5i5telli'ible,a57i56omp8ehe5sible to ma5ki57 as 7a56i5' is to a 7ove.Howeve8, the ma5 who is 6apable o4this 4eeli5' is e57owe7 with a 'e5&i5e i5t&itio5, a57 it is the pe86eptio5 o4 s&6h a ma5

whi6h is 6alle7 p8ophe62, a66o87i5' to the 7e'8ee o4 his i5si'ht. J8omthis it 8es&lts, i5 the4i8st pla6e, that the i7eal ma5 ma2 la2 6laimto a&tho8it2 e&al, i5 a 6e8tai5 se5se, to thea&tho8it2 o4 theP8ophets. =his 4o6&s o5 o5e5ess a57 pe8so5al 8evelatio5helps ea85 hism2sti6al i5te8p8etatio5 o4 9&7aism the title o4pa5theism.

A se6o57 a57 mo8e impo8ta5t 8es&lt o4 the 7o6t8i5e is thatth8o&'h his o5e5ess with Eo7,ma5 4o8ms a 6o55e6ti5' li5kbetwee5the Q8eato8 a57 68eatio5. =h&s, sli'htl2 mo7i42i5' theible ve8se,Hab. ii. U, esht sai7, @=he 8i'hteo&s 6a5 vivi42 b2 his 4aith.@ eshtOs 4ollowe8se5la8'e7 &po5 this i7ea a57 6o5siste5tl2 7e7&6e7 48om it the so&86e o4 7ivi5e me862, o4blessi5's, o4 li4e; a57 thatthe8e4o8e, i4 o5e love him, o5e ma2 pa8take o4 Eo7Os me862.


7/11


8/11

sei:e7 7&8i5' a5 atta6k (b2 the =ata8spe8haps/, 6a88ie7 48om his home i5 Kalla6hia, a57sol7 as a slave to a p8i56e.


9/11

&egacy

=he aal Shem =ov 7i8e6tl2 impa8te7 his tea6hi5's to hisst&7e5ts, some o4 whom 4o&57e7thei8 ow5 8espe6tive Hasi7i6725asties. =hese st&7e5ts i56l&7e

Rabbi 9a6ob 9oseph o4 Polo55e(*)*3-*)U/

Rabbi eOev Kol4 Mit:eso4 1e7:h2bi:h(*+^-*)/

Rabbi e6hiel 1i6hel o4 lot6hov(*)*-*)+/

Rabbi Gov e8 o4 1e:e8it6h(*)3U-*))/

Rabbi Pi56has o4 Mo8ets(*)-*)3/

RabbiFa6h&m =we8skio4 Qhe85ob2l(*)Z3-*))/

Rabbi ?eib o4 Shpola(*)^-**/

Rabbi Av8aham Ee8sho5 o4 Mitov, b8othe8-i5-law o4 =heaal Shem =ov (*)3*-*)+*/

Rabbi 1ei8 1a8'oli&s o4


10/11

a&tho8itative e7itio5s we8e e7ite7 b2 Rabbi 9a6ob Imma5&el S6ho6hetwho also a77e7a5al2ti6al i5t8o7&6tio5s, 6opio&s5otes o4 so&86es a57 68oss-8e4e8e56es, 6omme5ta8ies,5&me8o&ss&ppleme5ts a57 7etaile7 i57i6es, a57 we8e p&blishe7 b2 the Qhaba7 p&blishi5'ho&se Mehot i5 8ookl25 F.

ritical or"s on the sub*ect G&b5ow, "evreis$aya &storia , ii. U+0UZ*

i7em, i5 'os$hod , viii. Fos. ^0*3

Hei58i6h E8_t:, (esch. der )uden , 7 e7., Ni. U0, Û+0^Û

9ost, (esch. des )udenthums und Seiner Se$ten , iii. *êt se.

A. Maha5a,!abbi "israel Ba#al Shem , 9itomi8, *33

G. Moha5, i5*aSh. ;a8, v. ^330^3U, ^^Z0^Û

Ro7ki5so5, Toledot Ba#ale ShemTov ;ob, M`5i'sbe8', *)+

S6he6hte8, Studies in )udaism , *+, pp. *0U^

wei4el, Shalom #al"israel , i.0iii.

e7e8ba&m,+eter +ehunah , pp. 30*3Z

J8&mki5, OA7at ...;..Hasi7im, ?embe8', *+3, *+^ (/

&Nba&m, ,%ight and ire of the Baal Shem Tov , ISF3-+-U*))-,Qo5ti5&&m I5te85atio5al P&blishi5' E8o&p,F, 33^ (U3 pp/.

Is8ael a5'will,-reamers of the (hetto , pp. *0(4i6tio5/.

Qhapi5, Gavi7 A. a57 Kei5sto6k, e5, =he Roa7 48om ?eti6hev=he histo82 a576&lt&8e o4 a 4o8'otte5 9ewish 6omm&5it2i5 aste85 &8ope, Tol&me *. ISF 3-^^-33+++-Z i>5ive8se,?i56ol5, F, 333.

Rabi5owi6:, =:vi 1. The ncyclopedia of *asidism ISF*-^+*-*Z-+ 9aso5A8o5so5, I56., *+.

Rosma5, 1oshe,ounder of *asidism ISF 3-^3-3**-U>5iv. o4 Qali4. P8ess,*+. ( Jo&57e8 o4 Hasi7ism b2 1oshe Rosma5/

Rosma5, 1oshe, @1ie7:2bo: a57 Rabbi Is8ael aal Shem=ov@,/ion , Tol. ^, Fo., *), p. *))-. Rep8i5te7 withi5ssential 0apers on *asidism e7, E.G.H&57e8t ISF 3-*U-)ZU)3-), Few o8k, **.

S6ho6het, 9a6ob Imma5&el,!abbi &srael Baal Shem Tov, ?iebe8ma55, =o8o5to*+*

S6ho6het, 9a6ob Imma5&el, T1ava#at*arivash The Testamentof !abbi &srael Baal
http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Rabbi_Jacob_Immanuel_Schochethttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Heinrich_Gr%C3%A4tzhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Zederbaumhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Israel_Zangwillhttp://www.reference.com/go/http:/www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/6663.htmlhttp://app.reference.com/click/nn1ov4?clksite=ref&clkquery=387095DC6CB46F4D671672F85E488CA8&clkpage=enc&clkimpr=UNVG6ELreTBPpPs6&clkld=0&clkorgn=0&clkref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reference.com%2Fbrowse%2Fbaal%2Bshem%2Btov%3Fs%3Dt&clken=1clk&clkord=0&clkblk=d&clktemp=mid&clkmod=1clk&clkitem=Schochet%2C%20Jacob%20Immanuel&clkdest=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reference.com%2Fgo%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSchochet%252C_Jacob_Immanuelhttp://www.reference.com/go/http:/wikipedia.org/wiki/Schochet%2C_Jacob_Immanuelhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Rabbi_Jacob_Immanuel_Schochethttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Heinrich_Gr%C3%A4tzhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Zederbaumhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Israel_Zangwillhttp://www.reference.com/go/http:/www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/6663.htmlhttp://app.reference.com/click/nn1ov4?clksite=ref&clkquery=387095DC6CB46F4D671672F85E488CA8&clkpage=enc&clkimpr=UNVG6ELreTBPpPs6&clkld=0&clkorgn=0&clkref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reference.com%2Fbrowse%2Fbaal%2Bshem%2Btov%3Fs%3Dt&clken=1clk&clkord=0&clkblk=d&clktemp=mid&clkmod=1clk&clkitem=Schochet%2C%20Jacob%20Immanuel&clkdest=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reference.com%2Fgo%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSchochet%252C_Jacob_Immanuelhttp://www.reference.com/go/http:/wikipedia.org/wiki/Schochet%2C_Jacob_Immanuel


11/11

Shem Tov (a55otate75'lish t8a5slatio5with a5 i5t8o7&6tio5 o5 the histo82 a57impa6to4 this wo8k a57 the 6o5t8ove8s2 it evoke7 i5 the battlebetwee5Hasi7isma57 its oppo5e5ts/, Mehot, 8ookl25 F *

S6ho6het, 9a6ob Imma5&el, The Mystical -imension , Z vol&mes, Mehot, 8ookl25F *3(57e7. *^/
http://www.reference.com/go/http:/wikipedia.org/wiki/Schochet%2C_Jacob_Immanuelhttp://www.reference.com/go/http:/wikipedia.org/wiki/Schochet%2C_Jacob_Immanuel

Documents

Baal Shem Tov Biography 117671980