Editing The Baal Shem Tov (section)

== Life History ==
{{Chabad}}
In 5408, fifty years before the birth of the Baal Shem Tov, the Cossack rebellion against Polish nobles erupted, during which many pogroms were carried out against Jews, known as the Gezeiros Tach V'Tat. As a result of these pogroms and destruction of communities, the physical and spiritual state of the Jewish people was at its lowest. This period is called in Chassidut "fainting," like a person who has fainted and is in deep slumber.

Rabbi Pinchas of Koritz said that the soul of the Baal Shem Tov descended to the world to awaken Jewish souls from their unconsciousness<ref>Sefer HaMaamarim 5663 Page 142</ref>.

The [[The Rebbe]] explains that just as one calls an unconscious person by their private name to awaken them, since a person's name comes from the essence of their soul, when awakening the essence, the person also awakens. Similarly, before the revelation of the Baal Shem Tov, the Jewish people were in a state of 'unconsciousness' and Hashem sent down the soul of the Besht (whose name is Israel) to the world to awaken the essence of the soul in the people, thus awakening them from their unconsciousness<ref>Likutei Sichos Vol. 2, Page 471</ref>.

==== Background to His Birth ====
His parents, Rabbi Eliezer and Rebbetzin Sarah were childless and lived in a settlement where they had abundant livelihood<ref>Story of the Maggid of Mezritch to the Alter Rebbe (Talk of the Rebbe Rayatz, First Night of Sukkot 5697, Section 5)</ref> and were great practitioners of hachnosas orchim (hospitality).

Once, a guest arrived very late on Erev Shabbos in weekday clothes, yet Rabbi Eliezer welcomed and brought him close. According to another version, the guest arrived on Shabbos after the meal, which appeared as if he had traveled beyond the Shabbos boundary, but despite this, Rabbi Eliezer honored and hosted him while other guests rebuked Rabbi Eliezer, but he continued to honor the guest.

The guest stayed, as was Rabbi Eliezer's custom, until Sunday afternoon, and after Rabbi Eliezer accompanied him, the guest revealed that he was Eliyahu Hanavi who had come to test him in the mitzvah of hachnosas orchim. Due to his passing the test, he would be blessed with a child, and he gave him instructions to tell the child when he reached two and a half years old.

After some time, Rabbi Eliezer's only son, the Baal Shem Tov, was born.

[[The Magid of Mezritch|The Maggid of Mezritch]] interpreted based on this story the pasuk "Bameh yezakeh naar es archo": How does one merit a child - through hachnosas orchim.

Chassidic elders interpreted based on this story the tradition from Chabad Rebbes that one should learn the weekly parsha with Rashi's commentary daily and once or twice a week a few lines from the Baal Shem Tov's book Kesser Shem Tov, explaining that the connection between these two shiurim is that both Rashi and the Baal Shem Tov were born after their fathers passed a test.

==== Early Life and Education ====
Rabbi Israel was born in the city of Tlust to his father R' Eliezer and mother Sarah on Monday, 18 Elul 5458 (the numerical value spells "Nachas," as his deeds brought satisfaction to both upper and lower worlds).

Rabbi Hillel of Paritch testified in the name of his teacher Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl, who heard from his father the Meor Einayim, that on 18 Elul the Besht was born in his body, spirit, and soul. In body - through his birth. In his soul - through the revelation of his holy teacher to him. In his spirit - through his general revelation to the Jewish people.

The Baal Shem Tov was an only child and was orphaned at age five. Before his father passed away, he told him: "My son, fear nothing except Hashem Himself, and love every Jew deeply in your heart regardless of who they are or what they do." This served as a testament for him and he internalized this message and lived by it. After his parents' passing, the townspeople provided for his sustenance, but this did not last long.

In his childhood years, he would go almost daily after his studies with his melamed to the forest and walk among the trees and flourishing nature, where he found his peace and would review his learning, sometimes falling asleep there. Once while in the forest, he met one of the hidden tzaddikim who was standing near a tree immersed in fervent prayer. The Besht observed the man, and later asked him to teach him Torah. After a period of wandering and learning with that tzaddik, the tzaddik left him with one of the leaders of the hidden tzaddikim, Rabbi Meir, so that he could learn with him in an organized manner. Indeed, the Besht stayed in his home for 4 years during which he accumulated all his knowledge in nistar and Kabbalah. Later, the Besht related that during his time with his teacher Rabbi Meir, he met Eliyahu Hanavi.

==== Marriage ====
At some point, the Baal Shem Tov left the settlement of Okup and moved to the Brody region near Podolia. There, he became a melamed in one of the cheders and met Rabbi Ephraim of Brody, who was among the city's dignitaries and the father of Rabbi Abraham Gershon of Kitov. Rabbi Ephraim suggested his daughter Chana to the Baal Shem Tov for marriage, and they became engaged, though the Baal Shem Tov wanted to keep it secret. Only after Rabbi Ephraim's passing did the Baal Shem Tov come to marry his wife, but when he arrived, he disguised himself in coarse farmer's clothing. Rabbi Abraham Gershon tried to turn him away but finally realized this was his sister's groom and they married, though he distanced himself from him. The young couple moved to one of the villages between Kutov and Kosov. Rabbi Israel spent most of his time in seclusion in forests and fields. Later they moved to another village. In 5490 they moved to Tlust in Galicia and began teaching again, living in financial hardship throughout their lives.