Editing The Baal Shem Tov (section)

===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.