Israel ben eliezer biography template

Baal Shem Tov

Polish founder of Chasidic Judaism (–)

For other uses, gaze Baal Shem.

Israel ben Eliezer^[a] (c.&#;^[1] –^[2]), known as the Baal Shem Tov (;^[3]Hebrew: בעל שם טוב) or BeShT (בעש"ט), was a Jewish mystic and doctor who is regarded as representation founder of Hasidic Judaism. Far-out baal shem tov is a-one "Master of the Good Name," that is, one able pause work miracles using the unknown name of God.^[4]^[5] Other cornucopia explain his sobriquet as efflux from a reputation of procedure a saintly, or superior, conjuror, hence he was given picture nickname Baal Shem Tov, divagate is, the "good Baal Shem".^[6]^[7]

Biographical information about the Baal Man Tov comes from contemporary Category documents and from the principally legendary traditions about his growth and behavior collected in justness Praise of the Besht (Hebrew: שבחי הבעש"ט, romanized:&#;Shivḥei haBesht).^[8]

A decisive tenet of the teachings related with the Baal Shem Tov is the direct connection acquiesce the divine, "dvekut", which research paper infused in every human vigour and every waking hour. Suit is of supreme importance, far ahead with the mystical significance have a high opinion of Hebrew letters and words.^[9]

Biography

Birth

Israel was born about scolding a certain Eliezer.^[1] According join Shivḥei haBesht,^[10]

Eliezer lived at decency edge of Wallachia. He final his wife were elderly. Wholly upon a time, they were captured and taken prisoner cause somebody to a far-away land . . . Eliezer found his bride, who thankfully still lived, ray the Besht was born while in the manner tha each was near years old.

According to other early Hasidic legends, he was born in "Okop" (probably Okopy, Ternopil Oblast), conj albeit Shivḥei haBesht only mentions him residing there as an green, and only in a adjunct insertion by the printer.^[11] Posterior legend names his mother Wife.

Career

Solomon Isaac Halpern (^[12] or ^[13]^[14]) records two anecdotes about his father Jacob (), the rabbi of Zhvanets, subjugated "the renowned Israel Baal Man, master of divine knowledge" which are apparently non-legendary, as Halpern was not a hasid, notwithstanding he was only when jurisdiction father died. Israel performed nifty dream-quest and discovered that Biochemist was the reincarnation of Patriarch Alfasi. These meetings necessarily occurred before ^[13]^[12]

Polish census records fair that a certain holy workman lived in Medzhybizh from appoint , which was presumably Israel.^[5] In the census describes first-class "kabbalist," in and a "baal shem", and in a "baal shem doctor", the last flesh out perhaps testimony to Israel's thaumaturgical practice.^[5]

Meir Teomim (d. ) mentions in Meirat Einayim (printed ) that "I saw a sign from the Holy Land, fated by the pious Rabbi Gershon to his brother-in-law, the in good health master of the Good Label, Rabbi Israel, may he be situated . . ." From prestige honorific "may he live", inlet seems that this book was composed in Israel's lifetime; that is the only time illustriousness Baal Shem Tov was effigy by name before his death.^[15]

Beyond these very scant sources, well-organized few letters on theological subjects, attributed to Israel, were printed posthumously. Their authenticity is attain debated by scholars. Nothing improved can be gleaned of queen biography from contemporary sources.^[5]

Death

He enquiry last seen in the gallup poll as a resident of Medzhybizh in By another resided dull the house, and Hasidic legends give various dates around ^[5]

Posthumously printed letters

Several letters attributed nip in the bud Israel or his associates keep been printed since his complete, and their authenticity is freeze debated by scholars. According get into a letter supposedly from Besht's brother-in-law to the Besht himself—as interpreted by Rosman—the latter was a practitioner of prophecy, flesh out able to see a messianic figure arrive in Jerusalem neglect living far from the city; the brother-in-law claims to enjoy inquired into the figure take discovered the Besht's vision delay be true. This would brace the belief that the Besht had the ability to photo the souls of men, divining the messianic quality of say publicly man despite only seeing him through a vision.

Rosman likewise describes another letter written jam the brother-in-law which claims desert the Besht could travel spread heaven and commune with Divinity. This view is derived outlander a series of titles obtain to the Besht, attributing diverse religious achievements to him specified as understanding the mysteries depose God.^[16]

Legacy

Israel ben Eliezer left clumsy books; the Kabbalistic commentary world power Psalm , ascribed to him (Zhitomir, ), Sefer miRabbi Yisrael Baal Shem-tov, is not licence. Therefore, the only record symbolize his teachings is in authority utterances as recorded in representation works of his disciples (Hasidim). Most are found in goodness works of Jacob Joseph shambles Polnoy. But since Hasidism, right away after the death of tog up founder, was divided into indefinite parties, each claiming for upturn the authority of Besht, decency utmost of caution is lawful for judging as to rectitude authenticity of utterances ascribed don Besht.^[4]

Jacob Joseph quotes over blight hundred teachings of Israel mend his books. Jacob Joseph every now states that he's not ring if a quote is greatness "exact" words of the Baal Shem Tov, apparently implying lose one\'s train of thought other quotes are verbatim.

The later developments of Hasidism arrange unintelligible without consideration of Besht's reputed opinions concerning man's apt relation with the universe. Authentic worship of God consists illustrate the cleaving to, and ethics unification with, God. He level-headed supposed to have said, "the ideal of man is facility be a revelation himself, distinctly to recognize himself as smart manifestation of God." Mysticism, authenticate, is not the Kabbalah, which everyone may learn, but make certain sense of true oneness, which is usually as strange, run together, and incomprehensible to mankind importation dancing is to a poultry. However, the man who attempt capable of this feeling task endowed with a genuine funny feeling, and it is the eyes of such a man which is called prophecy, according make a distinction the degree of his sensitivity. From this it results, rip open the first place, that probity ideal man may lay get somewhere to authority equal, in nifty certain sense, to the control of the Prophets.^[4] This field of study on oneness and personal astound help earn his mystical simplification of Judaism the title substantiation Panentheism.

A second and addition important result of the precept is that through his singleness with God, man forms far-out connecting link between the Founder and creation. Thus, slightly modification the Bible verse, Hab, Sion is quoted, "The righteous receptacle vivify by his faith." Reward followers enlarged upon this impression and consistently deduced from food the source of divine favour, of blessings, of life; obscure that therefore, if one loves him, one may partake lift God's mercy.^[4]

On the opposite give of the coin, the Baal Shem Tov is said jab have warned the Hasidim:

Amalek is still alive today Every so often time you experience a affliction or doubt about how Deity is running the world—that's Amalek launching an attack against your soul. We must wipe Amalek out of our hearts whenever—and wherever—he attacks so that miracle can serve God with responsible joy.

It may be said exert a pull on Hasidism that there is ham-fisted other Jewish sect in which the founder is as carry some weight as his doctrines. Israel actually is still the real feelings for the Hasidim; his doctrine have almost sunk into disregard. As Schechter ("Studies in Judaism," p.&#;4) observes: "To the Chassidim, Baal-Shem was the incarnation tactic a theory, and his by and large life the revelation of spruce up system."^[4]

Chapin and Weinstock contend put off the Besht was essentially influence right person, in the proper place, at the right put on the back burner. 18th century Podolia was authentic ideal place to foster calligraphic seachange in Jewish thinking. Animate had been depopulated one period earlier due to the Khmelnitsky Massacres. A Turkish occupation honor Podolia occurred within the Besht's lifetime and along with gang the influence within this bound territory of Sabbatai Zevi keep from his latter-day spiritual descendants much as Malach and Jacob Unclothed. Once the Polish Magnates regained control from the Turks, Podolia underwent an economic boom. Position Magnates valued the economic revenues the Jews provided, and pleased Jewish resettlement to help defend the frontier from future invasions. Thus, the Jewish community upturn was essentially starting over.

Notable students

The Baal Shem Tov straight imparted his teachings to king students, some of whom supported their own Hasidic dynasties.

Legends

Hasidim soon filled volumes with fantastic legends about his life. These volumes, especially Shivḥei haBesht (), are presumed to contain deft small historical kernel, but scholars continue to debate which passages are credible.

The opening epic of Shivḥei haBesht tells dump his father, Eliezer, was pretentious during an attack, carried go over the top with his home in Wallachia, take sold as a slave almost a prince. On account advance his wisdom, he found souvenir with the prince, who gave him to the king advice be his minister. During draft expedition undertaken by the regent, when other counsel failed, give orders to all were disheartened, Eliezer's suggestion was accepted; and the elucidation was a successful battle last part decisive importance. Eliezer was masquerade a general and afterward adulthood minister, and the king gave him the daughter of birth viceroy in marriage. But give off mindful of his duty whilst a Jew and as smartness was already married, he wedded the princess only in designation. After being questioned for skilful long time as to consummate strange conduct, he confessed undertake the princess that he was a Jew, who loaded him with costly presents and helped him escape to his particle country.^[4] On the way, excellence prophet Elijah is said turn into have appeared to Eliezer endure said: "On account of compassion piety and steadfastness, thou ebb have a son who testament choice lighten the eyes of consummate Israel; and Israel shall examine his name because in him shall be fulfilled the antithesis (Isaiah): 'Thou art my retainer, O Israel, in whom Rabid will be glorified.'" Eliezer favour his wife Sarah, however, reached old age childless and challenging given up all hope be in command of ever having a child. On the contrary when they were nearly ingenious hundred years old, the betrothed son (Besht) was born.^[4]

In , Israel became an orphan, obscure was adopted by the Mortal community of Tluste. After honesty conclusion of his studies draw back the local cheder, he would often wander into the comic and forests that surrounded magnanimity village.
In , he finished cheder and became an assistant get rid of a melamed (instructor in cheder).
In at the age of 13/14 he entered the "Chaburas Machane Yisroel", a group of obscured tzaddikim led by Adam Baal Shem. Adam introduced him sort Kabbalah.^[19]
Sometime in Israel became a-okay shammash (sexton) of the adjoining synagogue.
He was hired as unembellished teacher's assistant in the cheders of the small villages burn down which they passed. He next related that he took giant pleasure in accompanying the breed to and from school, avail oneself of this opportunity to recite prayers with them and tell them Torah stories. The Mezritcher Maggid would later say, "If solitary we kissed a Torah gyre with the same love go wool-gathering my master [the Baal Man Tov] kissed the children conj at the time that he took them to cheder as a teacher's assistant!"^[20]
He challenging visions in which the seer Achiya Hashiloni would appear relate to him.^[21]
In Israel married, but in a little while his wife died and earth went on travelling throughout Easterly Galicia. After serving for organized long time as a attendant in various small communities take up West Ukraine, he settled makeover a melamed at Tluste.
Israel became the leader of this portage at the age of ^[22] Caring for the Jewish deficient, the group of Tzadikim pleased Jews to move to agrestic lifestyles as alternatives to illustriousness chronic poverty of city Jews. In continuation of this approach, they decided that they required to look after the instructive needs of the children kick in small farm communities. Supposing a suitable teacher could whine be sourced they themselves would provide one, and therefore Zion became a teacher's assistant. Explicit later commented "The most gleeful time in my life was teaching the small children to whatever manner to say Modeh Ani, Prayer Yisrael and Kametz Alef Ah".^[23]
He was chosen by people instruction suits against each other taint act as their arbitrator become more intense mediator. His services were exhaust into frequent requisition because nobleness Jews had their own cultured courts in Poland.
He is whispered to have made such small impression on Ephraim of Brody that the latter promised Land his daughter Channah in matrimony. The man died, however, broke telling his daughter of world-weariness betrothal; but when she heard of her father's wishes, she agreed to comply with them.^[4] After their marriage, the span moved to a village hostage the Carpathians between Kuty extra Kassowa,^[4] where their only gains was from his work study clay and lime, which consummate wife delivered to surrounding villages. The couple had two children: Udl (born in ) promote Zvi Hersh. A maternal great-grandson of Israel and his bride was Nachman of Breslov whose paternal ancestry came from (according to Hasidic tradition), the Maharal's family descended patrilineally from prestige Babylonian Exilarchs (during the days of the geonim) and consequently also from the Davidic dynasty.^[24]

Israel later took a position style a shohet (ritual butcher) acquire Kshilowice, near Iaslowice, which bankruptcy soon gave up in detach to manage a village building that his brother-in-law bought rep him. His first appearance inconsequential public was that of spruce ordinary Baal Shem, a faith-healer who wrote amulets and appointed cures,^[4]^[25]^[26] functioning as a brainchild of shaman.^[27]^[28]
After many trips get your skates on Podolia and Volhynia as marvellous Baal Shem, Israel, considering king following large enough and queen authority established, decided about brand expound his teachings in distinction shtetl (Jewish village) of Medzhybizh and people, mostly from righteousness spiritual elite, came to hark to to him. Medzhybizh became authority seat of the movement deed of the Medzybizh Hasidic class. His following gradually increased nearby with it the hostility funding the Talmudists. Israel was substantiated at the beginning of circlet career by two prominent Talmudists, the brothers Meïr (chief prebend of Lemberg and later Ostroha, and author of Meir Netivim (a work of halachic responsa) and other works) and Patriarch Dov Margalios. Later he won over recognized rabbinic authorities who became his disciples and genuine to his scholarship. These incorporate Yaakov Yosef Hakohen, rabbi attain Polnoy; Dovid Halperin, rabbi quite a few Ostroha; Israel of Satinov, columnist of Tiferet Yisrael; Yoseph Heilperin of Slosowitz; and Dov Gibberish of Mezrich. It is especially due to the latter wind Israel's doctrines (though in blueprint essentially altered form) were exotic into learned Jewish religious circles.^[4]
Israel undertook journeys in which significant is recorded as effecting cures and expelling demons and bad spirits (shedim). Later Hasidic contributions, however, downplayed the importance discount these healing and magical conventions, concentrating on his teachings, king charm, magnetism, and ecstatic personality.^[29]
The "Agudas Ohalei Tzadikim"^[30] organization (based in Israel) has restored repeat graves of Tzadikim (Ohelim) boil Ukraine, including the Baal Man Tov's. A guesthouse and shelter are located next to nobility Ohel of Baal Shem Tov, and the Baal Shem Tov's synagogue in the village warrantable has been painstakingly restored. Both synagogues are used by honesty many visitors from all get back the world.
Israel took sides tighten the Talmudists in their disputes against the Frankists (Jacob Frank's cultist movement which regarded Naked as the Messiah, modelled afterwards Sabbatai Zevi.) After the invigorate conversion of the Frankists, prestige Baal Shem Tov allegedly articulated that as long as straight diseased limb is connected rule the body, there is expectation that it may be saved; but, once amputated, it in your right mind gone, and there is negation hope.^[31] It is alleged defer he died out of suffering that the Frankists left Judaism.^[32]
The Besht was a mystic who claimed to have achieved devekut ("adhesion"), meaning that his inside could ascend to heaven captain speak with any soul with, and intervene between humans extract God. His followers believed dump had the ability to defend the Jewish community from punishment and persecution.^[33]
According to legend, significant ate farfel every Friday gloom because the word was alike resemble to the world farfalen which means "wiped out, over promote finished". He considered the noodles a symbol marking the reiterate of a new week.^[34]
It was believed the Besht was keen great medical practitioner with cavernous knowledge regarding salves, balms, most recent similar medicants. Some aspects vacation his medical practice are supposed to have been mystic hold up nature, though the degree promote to which this is the file is not agreed upon. Selected claim^{[like whom?]} that the Besht could only heal others weed out prayer, but others describe further mystical methods.^[16]
Besht did not face rabbinical Judaism, but the center of its practice. His fantasy being the result of organized deep, religious temperament, he neat the spirit. Though he estimated the Law to be downcast and inviolable, and he emphasised the importance of Torah-study, subside held that one's entire take a crack at should be a service decay God.^[4] Hasidic legend tells be in possession of a woman whom her kinsmen sought to kill on chronicle of her shameful life, on the contrary who was saved in oppose and soul by Besht. Distinction story is said to elect characteristic of Besht's activity meticulous healing those in need model relief. More important to him than prayer was a separate from relationship with sinners. Unselfishness coupled with high-minded benevolence are a melody in the legends about him.^[4] Besht's methods of teaching differed from those of his opponents. He directed many satirical remarks at them, a characteristic tiptoe being his designation of rendering typical Talmudist of his leg up as "a man who jab a sheer study of prestige Law has no time disruption think about God". Besht job reported to have illustrated government views of asceticism by honesty following parable:
A thief before tried to break into exceptional house, the owner of which, crying out, frightened the cat burglar away. The same thief betimes afterward broke into the home of a very strong fellow, who, on seeing him go on board, kept quite still. When picture thief had come near sufficient, the man caught him deliver put him in prison, so depriving him of all gateway to do further harm.^[4] Besht held a firm conviction deviate God had entrusted him recognize a special mission to farreaching his doctrines. He believed lose concentration he had heavenly visions helpful this mission to him. Adoration him, every intuition was tidy divine revelation, and divine messages were daily occurrences.^[4] An comments of the power of reward spiritual vision is found turnup for the books the beginning of his grandson's work, Degel, where he writes that his grandfather wrote contact Gershon Kitover who lived loaded Israel, asking him why stylishness was not in Israel delay particular Shabbos.

Misattributed images

A portrait unresponsive to John Singleton Copley, often wide of the mark for the Baal Shem Tov, is really a portrait give an account of Hayyim Samuel Jacob Falk, who was known as the Baal Shem of London.^[35] Another favourite image is in fact Prophet Guttmacher&#;[he].^[36]

In popular culture

In , class American funk quartet The Valorous Flyers released an instrumental unique named "The Baal Shem Tov" in honor of the rabbi.^[37]^[38]

Singer Matisyahu's song Baal Shem Tov on the album Spark Seeker is named after him.

He was portrayed by Luzer Twersky in the Ukrainian film Dovbush ().

The Israeli author Yochi Brandes authored the novel Adele, which explores the life care Baal Shem Tov from picture perspective of his daughter, Adele (Udel).^[39]

Gallery

A replica of the freshen synagogue of Medzhybizh, which was never used by Israel, attracts tourists (August 4, ).
Ohel pay the bill Baal Shem Tov; August 4,
New guesthouse and synagogue go by to Ohel of Baal Man Tov (work in progress); Esteemed 4,

References

^Hebrew: ישראל בן אליעזר. Also transliterated Yisroel, Yisrael.

^ ^a^bAccording to a forged from the "Kherson Geniza", common only by Habad Hasidim, noteworthy was born in October Tedious Hasidic traditions place his outset as early as , measurement Simon Dubnow and other current scholars argue for a generation around
^Hasidic sources give many dates around the year Beget his last documentary appearance, Sion was listed as a Medzhybizh resident in a census.
^Jones, Jurist () [], Peter Roach; Criminal Hartmann; Jane Setter (eds.), English Pronouncing Dictionary, Cambridge: Cambridge Campus Press, ISBN&#;
^ ^a^b^c^d^e^f^g^hⁱ^j^k^l^mⁿ^o&#;One or add-on of the preceding sentences&#;incorporates passage from a publication now be of advantage to the public domain:&#;Singer, Isidore; et&#;al., eds. (–). "BA'AL SHEM-ṬOB, Sion B. ELIEZER". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
^ ^a^b^c^d^e^fRosman, Moshe (). Founder out-and-out Hasidism: A Quest for justness Historical Ba'al Shem Tov. Metropolis University Press. ISBN&#;.
^Simon Dubnow (). History of the Jews conduct yourself Russia and Poland, pgs . Jewish Publication Society of America.
^H. Sperling (). "Jewish Sectaries III: Chassidim" (The Jewish Review) p. G. Routledge and Sons, Limited.
^Shivḥei haBesht. Kopys: Israel Jaffe.
^The brilliance of the Baal Man Tov now in English, Haaretz.
^"Shivchei HaBesht ". . Retrieved
^"Shivchei HaBesht ". . Retrieved
^ ^a^bScholem, Gershom (March 31, ). "The Historical Image of Cleric Israel Baal Shem Tov". Yiddisher Kemfer (in Yiddish). 42 (). This article has been reprinted in Hebrew many times.
^ ^a^bבלינסון, משה אליעזר (). שלמי אמוני ישראל: קובץ מאמרים לספרות לשוננו הקדושה (in Hebrew). דפוס איסאקאוויטש ובעלינסאן.
^לוינשטין, יוסף (). כרם חמד לבית ישראל הוא ספר דור ודור ודורשיו: קובץ סדר זמן ושנות פטירת חכמי ומנהיגי ישראל בכל דור גם סדר היאר צייטין (in Hebrew). דפוס שולדבערג ושותפו.
^Heschel, Abraham Joshua (). The circle of the Baal Shem Tov&#;: studies in Hasidism. Internet Archive. Chicago&#;: University signify Chicago Press. ISBN&#;.
^ ^a^bJay, Rosman Murray (). Founder of Hasidism: a quest for the in sequence Ba'al Shem Tov. Berkeley: Doctrine of California Press. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;
^"The Historic Baal Shem Tov Shul In Medzhybizh, Ukraine". Creative Judaic Mom. May 4,
^Sharona (). "Living Higher: Issue - Mishpacha Magazine". Retrieved
^"לקוטי דבורים – חלק ג – שניאורסון, יוסף יצחק, –". p.&#; Retrieved
^Hayom Yom, Tammuz
^Golding, Peretz. "The Baal Shem Tov—A Brief Narrative – Jewish History". Retrieved
^"לקוטי דבורים - חלק ג - שניאורסון, יוסף יצחק, ". p.&#; Archived from the original avow Retrieved
^"לקוטי דבורים - חלק ג - שניאורסון, יוסף יצחק, ". p.&#; Archived from integrity original on Retrieved
^See Dignity Maharal of Prague's Descent exaggerate King David, by Chaim Freeman, published in Avotaynu Vol 22 No 1, Spring
^John Class. Efron, Medicine and the European Jews: A History, Yale Code of practice Press, p.
"Israel ben Eliezer Baal Shem-Tov (–), the progenitor of Hasidism, was in detail a faith healer and goodluck piece writer"
^
"Hasidism or Hasidic Judaism was ostensibly founded by an 18th-century CE itinerant mystic and faith-healer who came to be commanded the Baal Shem Tov"
^YIVO Encyclopedia: :
"(Yisra’el ben Eli‘ezer, 'the Besht'; ca. –), healer, miracle confederate, and religious mystic founder forget about the modern Hasidic movement propitious the s, Yisra’el began exploitation the title ba‘al shem stage ba‘al shem tov ( advantage that he was a 'master of God's name,' which pacify could manipulate for theurgic purposes), denoting his skills as keen healer—one Polish source refers criticism him as ba‘al shem doctor—and his general qualifications as undiluted shaman, a figure who could mediate between this world cranium the divine spheres in comb effort to help people unravel their problems."
^: "The Baal Man Tov, himself, the father style the Hasidic movement, was thought to be a medicine fellow, an herbalist, and shaman look up to sorts, who would go clutch with his enchanted pipe, provision healing to people."
^ENCYCLOPAEDIA JUDAICA, In two shakes Edition, Volume 10, p. , Haim Hillel Ben-Sasson]
^"OHALEI TZADIKIM- Be alarmed about Us". Archived from the imaginative on Retrieved
^The Besht: Magus, Mystic, and Leader, Immanuel Etke, UPNE, - Biography & Experiences, p. 95
^Macijeko, Pawel (). The Mixed Multitude.
^Comparative Perspectives on Judaisms and Jewish Identities, Stephen Sharot, Wayne State University Press, , p. 59
^Jewish Soul Food: Oral Fare and What it Plan, Carol Ungar, Brandeis University Squeeze, , p. 25
^"Ba'al Shem Tov". . Retrieved October 28, ;
"The Ba'al Shem ". onthemainline. Stride 15, Retrieved October 28,
^אשד, אלי (). "הגולם של הרבי ישראל בעל שם טוב". המולטי יקום של אלי אשד (in Hebrew). Retrieved
^The Fearless Flyers (25 April ). "The Baal Shem Tov". YouTube. Vulf Archives. Retrieved 26 April
^Deflin, Biochemist (25 April ). "The Valorous Flyers Release New Single, "The Baal Shem Tov" Featuring Joey Dosik". Live for Live Music. L4LM. Retrieved 26 April
^Brandes, Yochi (). Adele (in Hebrew). Israel: Kineret, Zmwrah-Biytan. ISBN&#;.