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The Baal Shem Tov: Difference between revisions
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At age 18, the Baal Shem Tov was formally appointed as leader of the fellowship of hidden mystics. | At age 18, the Baal Shem Tov was formally appointed as leader of the fellowship of hidden mystics. | ||
On his 26th birthday, ''Achiya Hashiloni''<ref>''Achiya Hashiloni'', an ancient prophet. </ref> revealed himself to him and taught him Torah for 10 years. During this time, he disclosed the enlightenment found in ''nigleh''<ref>'' | On his 26th birthday, ''Achiya Hashiloni''<ref>''Achiya Hashiloni'', an ancient prophet. </ref> revealed himself to him and taught him Torah for 10 years. During this time, he disclosed the enlightenment found in ''nigleh''<ref>''Nigleh'' (Hebrew: "revealed"), the revealed aspects of the Torah. </ref> and Kabbalah as he was taught in ''Gan Eden''<ref>''Gan Eden'' Garden of Eden.</ref>. On the Besht's 36th birthday, his teacher urged him to reveal himself. | ||
=== Revelation and name === | === Revelation and name === | ||
On the 17th of Elul 1734 (5494), Achiya Hashiloni ordered the Baal Shem Tov to reveal himself to the world, and he first revealed himself in the town of Tolste. Afterward, the Baal Shem Tov began to transmit his teachings through travel and wanderings. At first, he dealt primarily with ''pidyon shvuyim,'' <ref>'' | On the 17th of Elul 1734 (5494), Achiya Hashiloni ordered the Baal Shem Tov to reveal himself to the world, and he first revealed himself in the town of Tolste. Afterward, the Baal Shem Tov began to transmit his teachings through travel and wanderings. At first, he dealt primarily with ''pidyon shvuyim,'' <ref>''Pidyon shvuyim'' (Hebrew: "ransoming of captives")</ref> strengthening Torah study and piety and disseminating the inner dimensions of the Torah. During his travels, he visited Horodenka, Kitov, Nemyriv, Sharhorod (In Yiddish: Shridgrod) in Galicia and Podolia, Polonne, Bila Tserkva, and Zaslaw in the district of Volhynia. | ||
In the course of his travels, the Besht healed people with remedies as well as amulets. His amulets were written by the scribe Rabbi Alexander Ziskind, and later on, when demand increased, he was helped by Rabbi Tzvi Sofer, whose writings were of high value. Eventually, Rabbi Sofer remained as the sole scribe. | In the course of his travels, the Besht healed people with remedies as well as amulets. His amulets were written by the scribe Rabbi Alexander Ziskind, and later on, when demand increased, he was helped by Rabbi Tzvi Sofer, whose writings were of high value. Eventually, Rabbi Sofer remained as the sole scribe. | ||
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On ''Rosh Hashanah'' 1746 (5507), the Baal Shem Tov experienced an ascent of the soul to the higher realms, which he related at length in the manuscript known as ''Igeret HaGeulah''. During the ascent, the King Moshiach told him that his arrival depended on the spreading of wellsprings of ''Chassidut''. The Besht himself wrote a description of the ascent and the words of the King Moshiach in a letter he sent to his brother-in-law R' Gershon Kitover, and it said the following: | On ''Rosh Hashanah'' 1746 (5507), the Baal Shem Tov experienced an ascent of the soul to the higher realms, which he related at length in the manuscript known as ''Igeret HaGeulah''. During the ascent, the King Moshiach told him that his arrival depended on the spreading of wellsprings of ''Chassidut''. The Besht himself wrote a description of the ascent and the words of the King Moshiach in a letter he sent to his brother-in-law R' Gershon Kitover, and it said the following: | ||
As you know, on Rosh Hashanah 1746 (5507), I experienced an ascent of the soul through an oath, and I saw wonderful things in a vision, things I had not seen before, since the day I gained awareness... and I ascended step after step until I entered the hall of Moshiach where Moshiach was studying Torah with all the '' | As you know, on Rosh Hashanah 1746 (5507), I experienced an ascent of the soul through an oath, and I saw wonderful things in a vision, things I had not seen before, since the day I gained awareness... and I ascended step after step until I entered the hall of Moshiach where Moshiach was studying Torah with all the ''Tannaim''<ref>''Tannaim'' (Amoraic Hebrew: "repeaters") sages who lived before and after the Second Temple period.</ref> and ''tzaddikim'' as well as the ''7 shepherds'', and there I witnessed a great joy... and I asked Moshiach: "Eimatai ati mar (when will the Master come)?" And he replied: "You will know when your teachings will be publicized and revealed through the world, and your wellsprings will burst forth, all that I have taught you and you have understood, | ||
and they should also be able to perform unifications and elevations like you, and then all ''kelipot''<ref>'' | and they should also be able to perform unifications and elevations like you, and then all ''kelipot''<ref>''Kelipot' (Hebrew: "shells") the outer covering that conceals G-d's light.</ref> will stop existing and there will be an ''et ratzon''<ref>''Et ratzon'' (Hebrew: a time of favor") a time of Heavenly mercy.</ref> and salvation." I wondered about this and experienced great sorrow over the length of time it would take for this to take place. | ||
— From the epilogue of the book ''Ben Porat Yosef'', also printed in the prologue to the book ''Keter Shem Tov''. | — From the epilogue of the book ''Ben Porat Yosef'', also printed in the prologue to the book ''Keter Shem Tov''. | ||
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=== Victory over the Frankists === | === Victory over the Frankists === | ||
On the 26th of Tammuz 1759 (5519), the Baal Shem Tov achieved victory over the ''Frankists'' in the city of Lviv. In letters discovered in the ''Kherson genizah'' it was found that the Besht and his students declared this day a festival. In a letter from the 8th of Kislev 1760 (5520), the Lubavitcher Rebbe replied to an individual who asked why this day is not celebrated every year, saying he had not heard an elucidation on the subject, but he thinks it is because by the following year, the Baal Shem Tov had already passed away (in 1760). | On the 26th of Tammuz 1759 (5519), the Baal Shem Tov achieved victory over the ''Frankists'' in the city of Lviv. In letters discovered in the ''Kherson genizah'' it was found that the Besht and his students declared this day a festival. In a letter from the 8th of Kislev 1760 (5520), the Lubavitcher Rebbe replied to an individual who asked why this day is not celebrated every year, saying he had not heard an elucidation on the subject, but he thinks it is because, by the following year, the Baal Shem Tov had already passed away (in 1760). | ||
=== Methodology === | |||
The Besht innovated and highlighted many aspects in his approach. The point of his ''chiddushim''<ref>''Chiddushim'' (Hebrew: "innovations")</ref> was to discover the source, the essence of every single thing. In other words, what is its purpose, its goal, its source, and where does it lead? In this manner, he discovers the essence of the world's creation: ''constant creation'' by the Almighty, blessed be He. | |||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||