The Baal Shem Tov: Difference between revisions

In his youth, the Baal Shem Tov enjoyed spending time in the forest after ''cheder'' (boys' school), reviewing his studies and enjoying nature. On one occasion, he encountered a hidden ''tzaddik'' (righteous man) engaged in devout prayer under a tree. The Baal Shem Tov observed the man and asked him to teach him Torah. After some time, the tzaddik introduced him to Rabbi Meir, the head of a secret group of hidden mystics. The Baal Shem Tov studied with Rabbi Meir for 4 years, gaining knowledge of the inner dimension of the Torah and Kabbalah. In later days, the Baal Shem Tov told his disciples that during those years with Rabbi Meir, he met Elijah the prophet.

The Baal Shem Tov moved to Brody, near Podolia, where he worked as a teacher in a 'cheder<ref>'''Cheder''' (Hebrew: “room”) – A traditional jewish religious elementary school.</ref>'. There, he met Rabbi Ephraim of Brody, a city dignitary and father of the well-known Rabbi Gershon of Kitov. Rabbi Ephraim was so impressed by the young man that he offered his daughter Chana as a bride. At their wedding, after the death of Rabbi Ephraim, the Besht showed up dressed as a peasant, wishing to appear as a simple man. After the wedding, R' Israel spent time partaking in ''hitbodedut'' (spiritual seclusion) in fields and forests while the couple moved from village to village. Eventually, the Besht became a ''melamed'' in a town in Poland, and the couple lived in dire financial straits.