Baruch Portugali-Batlan

Baruch Batlan was the father of Rebbetzin Rachel, the grandmother of the Alter Rebbe.

Life History

He was a descendant of Portuguese exiles. His family name was Portugali, and the nickname 'Batlan' was given to him as a compliment, meaning that all the important and distinguished people of the city nullified themselves before him because of his virtuous qualities and noble personality. The study of Kabbalah was an integral part of the regular learning among Portuguese exiles, and R' Baruch was therefore educated in this spirit.

After his marriage, he established a free loan fund and would lend to merchants without any personal benefit. Besides fulfilling the mitzvah of gemilus chesed (acts of kindness) with his money, he also performed acts of kindness with his body—working for the benefit of others.

R' Baruch was educated by the students of R' Eliyahu Baal Shem of Worms. He himself was counted among the Chassidim of R' Yoel, the Baal Shem of Zamoshch, and was the leader of R' Yoel's group of Chassidim in Pozna.

He did nothing, whether in his business or in his way of life and household management, without consulting his teacher, the tzaddik R' Yoel Baal Shem.

As a veteran student of R' Yoel, he especially cherished simple people who excelled in fear of Heaven. They were sincere and fulfilled mitzvos with alacrity and enhancement solely because it was the will of Hashem. He would say: "I have more respect for the simplicity of R' Abba Shaul the wagon driver than for the wondrous novellae of R' Shlomo Leib, the prodigy from Prague."

Rabbi Baruch had nine children. Seven of them died, may Hashem protect us, and two remained and merited long lives.

The reason for this was that when R' Yoel Baal Shem once visited Pozna, R' Baruch was among those who welcomed him. He brought with him Rachel and Binyamin, his two surviving children. The Baal Shem blessed them with long life, and the two indeed merited to reach advanced old age.

Rabbi Baruch used to always quote the saying of the wise: "Good is separation while among people, and solitude in the midst of humanity." This means that a person should strive to walk the middle path, the golden path—neither being separated from people and isolated, nor being exuberant and wasting time in idle talk. While being with others and among people, one should take interest in all that is necessary, but at the same time remain separate and secluded.