Editing The Baal Shem Tov (section)

==Activities and leadership==

===Children's education===

Prior to revealing himself as a ''tzaddik'', the Baal Shem Tov worked as a teacher's assistant and his job was to walk the children from their homes to the ''cheder''. In the course of these walks, the Besht educated the children on spiritual concepts, in particular, the concept of responding ''amen'' when appropriate. Additionally, he protected them from any danger on the way to school, such as dogs.

The Besht took on this work with joy and endless love, so much so that in later years he told his best students that "those were the happiest days of his life." His student, the Maggid of Mezritch, reflected: "If only people would kiss the ''Sefer Torah''<ref>''Sefer Torah'' (Hebrew: "Torah scroll")</ref> with the same amount of love with which the Baal Shem Tov kissed the children when he walked them to ''cheder'' when he was a teacher's assistant."

At age 18, in 1716 (5746), the Besht proposed a new course of action to his friends from the fellowship of hidden mystics: to go from village to village and ensure each one had a teacher for the local children. In villages lacking a teacher, the hidden mystics would serve as teachers. During that period, the Besht also served as a teacher.

=== Head of the fellowship of hidden mystics ===

At age 14, in 1712 (5742), the Baal Shem Tov was inducted into the fellowship of hidden mystics, which was then under the leadership of the ''Baal Shem''<ref>''Baal Shem'' (Hebrew: "master of the name"), a title applied to those who possess a mastery of the kabbalistic names of God and His angels.</ref> Rabbi Adam of Ropshitz.

Before Rabbi Adam Baal Shem passed away, he was directed in a dream to pass on the "writings" in his possession to Israel, son of Eliezer from Okopy. He sent his son to search for R' Israel and asked him to deliver the writings because they belonged to the root of his soul, and if he agreed to study with his son, even better. After a long search, the son found a house of study watchman named Israel, who was then 14 years old. He asked R' Israel to teach him and he agreed on the condition that they make it appear that he is the student. As a result of this studying, the Besht was matched with a woman from Okopy and married. His wife passed away shortly after the wedding.

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>''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===

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 contrast to the ''Baalei Shem'' who preceded him, the Baal Shem Tov did not summon the Divine names and the amulets he distributed did not contain the Divine names. For that reason, amongst others, his name differed from other ''Baalei Shem'', with the addition of the word ''Tov''<ref>''Tov'' (Hebrew: :good")</ref>.

In the year 1740 (5500), the Baal Shem Tov moved to Mezhibush, where admirers and ''chassidim''<ref>''Chassidim'' are followers or adherents.</ref> began to congregate around him, among them many great Torah scholars and well-known ''tzaddikim''. The Besht studied ''Gemarah'' with his students. The class was sharp and brilliant and also included the study of the ''Rambam,'' ''Rif'' and the rest of the commentators known as ''Rishonim,'' as applicable to the relevant ''Gemarah''. The Baal Shem Tov translated the words from Hebrew or Aramaic to Yiddish.

During that same period, the Baal Shem Tov was also planning to move to the Land of Israel, a place that loomed large in his teachings, but his plans did not come to fruition.

=== Ascent to the chamber of Moshiach ===

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 ''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>''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''.

During his time of sorrow, the Besht shed tears from his eyes.


=== 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).