Baruch Portugali-Batlan - Revision history

Raphaelwilmowsky at 21:02, 21 June 2026

2026-06-21T21:02:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:02, 21 June 2026
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	~~Rebbe~~ '''Baruch Batlan''' was the father of [[Rebbetzin Rachel]], the grandmother of [[~~the~~ Alter Rebbe]].		Rabbi '''Baruch Batlan''' was the father of [[Rebbetzin Rachel (grandmother of the Alter Rebbe)\|Rebbetzin Rachel]], the paternal grandmother of the [[Alter Rebbe]].

	== Life ~~History~~ ==		== Life ==
	He was a descendant of Portuguese exiles. His family name was Portugali, and the nickname 'Batlan' was given to him as a compliment, meaning that all the important and distinguished people of the city nullified themselves before him because of his virtuous qualities and noble personality. The study of [[Kabbalah]] was an integral part of the regular learning among Portuguese exiles, and R' Baruch was therefore educated in this spirit.

	~~After his marriage, he established~~ a ~~free loan fund and would lend~~ to ~~merchants without any personal benefit. Besides fulfilling~~ the ~~mitzvah~~ of ~~gemilus chesed~~ (~~acts of kindness~~) ~~with his money~~, ~~he also performed acts~~ of ~~kindness with~~ his ~~body—working for~~ the ~~benefit of others~~.		Rabbi Baruch was a descendant of the Jews expelled from Portugal. His family name was Portuguese in origin; the epithet ''Batlan'' was attached to him as a term of honor — meaning that all the distinguished and prominent men of the city would set themselves aside (''mivatel'' themselves) before him, on account of his lofty character and noble bearing. The study of [[Kabbalah]] formed an inseparable part of the established learning among the Portuguese exiles, and Rabbi Baruch was raised in that spirit.

	R' ~~Baruch was educated by the students of R~~' ~~[[Eliyahu Baal Shem]] of Worms~~. ~~He himself was counted among~~ the ~~Chassidim~~ of [[~~R' Yoel, the Baal Shem of Zamoshch~~]], ~~and was~~ the ~~leader of R' Yoel's group~~ of ~~Chassidim in Pozna~~.		After his marriage, he founded a free-loan fund (''gemilus chasadim'' society) and would lend money to merchants without any personal benefit. Beyond fulfilling the mitzvah of [[gemilus chasadim]] with his money, he also gave of himself personally — exerting himself for the welfare of others.

	He ~~did~~ nothing, whether in his business or in his ~~way of life and~~ household ~~management,~~ without consulting his teacher, the tzaddik R' Yoel Baal Shem.		Rabbi Baruch was educated by the disciples of Rabbi [[Eliyahu Baal Shem]] of Worms. He himself was among the followers of Rabbi Yoel, the [[Baal Shem]] of Zamoshtsh, and served as the leader of Rabbi Yoel's circle of chassidim in Pozna. He would do nothing — whether in his business affairs, his personal conduct, or the running of his household — without first consulting his teacher, the tzaddik Rabbi [[Yoel Baal Shem]].

	As a ~~veteran student~~ of R' Yoel, he ~~especially cherished~~ simple people who ~~excelled in~~ fear of Heaven. They were ~~sincere~~ and fulfilled mitzvos with ~~alacrity~~ and ~~enhancement solely because it was~~ the will of ~~Hashem~~. He would say: "I have more ~~respect~~ for the simplicity of R' Abba Shaul the wagon driver than for the ~~wondrous~~ novellae of R' Shlomo Leib, the prodigy ~~from~~ Prague."		As a senior disciple of Rabbi Yoel, he had a particular love for simple people who distinguished themselves by their fear of Heaven. They were wholehearted, and fulfilled the mitzvos with eagerness and beauty for no other reason than that this is the will of G-d. He would say: I have more reverence for the simplicity of Reb Abba Shaul the wagon driver than for the brilliant novellae of Reb Shlomo Leib, the prodigy of Prague.

	Rabbi Baruch had nine children. Seven of them ~~died~~, may ~~Hashem protect us~~, and two ~~remained and~~ merited long lives.		Rabbi Baruch had nine children. Seven of them passed away, may we be spared, and two survived — both of whom merited long lives. This was because when Rabbi [[Yoel Baal Shem]] once visited Pozna, Rabbi Baruch was among those who came to receive him. He brought along Rachel and Binyamin, his two surviving children, and the Baal Shem blessed them with long life — a blessing both of them indeed fulfilled, living to a very advanced age.

	~~The reason for this was that when R~~' ~~Yoel Baal Shem once visited Pozna~~, R' ~~Baruch was~~ among ~~those who welcomed him. He brought with him Rachel~~ and ~~Binyamin~~, ~~his two surviving children. The Baal Shem blessed them with long life~~, and ~~the two indeed merited to reach advanced old age~~.		Rabbi Baruch would often quote the teaching of the sage: ''Praiseworthy is withdrawal in the company of others, and seclusion in the midst of people.'' That is to say, a person must strengthen himself to walk the middle path — the golden mean: he should neither be a recluse cut off from people, nor should he be frivolous and squander his time in idle conversation. When among people and in society, he should engage in whatever is necessary — but even then, he should remain inwardly withdrawn and recollected.

	~~Rabbi Baruch used to always quote the saying~~ of the ~~wise~~: ~~"Good is separation while among people, and solitude in the midst of humanity." This means that a person should strive to walk the middle path, the golden path—neither being separated~~ from people and isolated, nor being exuberant and wasting time in idle talk. While being with others and among people, one should take interest in all that is necessary, but at the same time remain separate and secluded.		[[Category:Family of the Alter Rebbe]]
			[[Category:Figures from Sefer HaZikronos]]

	[[he:ברוך פורטוגלי-בטלן]]		[[he:ברוך פורטוגלי-בטלן]]

M.robin at 10:12, 18 September 2025

2025-09-18T10:12:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:12, 18 September 2025
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	Baruch Batlan was the father of [[Rebbetzin Rachel]], the grandmother of [[the Alter Rebbe]].		Rebbe '''Baruch Batlan''' was the father of [[Rebbetzin Rachel]], the grandmother of [[the Alter Rebbe]].

	== Life History ==		== Life History ==
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	After his marriage, he established a free loan fund and would lend to merchants without any personal benefit. Besides fulfilling the mitzvah of gemilus chesed (acts of kindness) with his money, he also performed acts of kindness with his body—working for the benefit of others.		After his marriage, he established a free loan fund and would lend to merchants without any personal benefit. Besides fulfilling the mitzvah of gemilus chesed (acts of kindness) with his money, he also performed acts of kindness with his body—working for the benefit of others.

	R' Baruch was educated by the students of [[R' Eliyahu Baal Shem]] of Worms. He himself was counted among the Chassidim of [[R' Yoel, the Baal Shem of Zamoshch]], and was the leader of R' Yoel's group of Chassidim in Pozna.		R' Baruch was educated by the students of R' [[Eliyahu Baal Shem]] of Worms. He himself was counted among the Chassidim of [[R' Yoel, the Baal Shem of Zamoshch]], and was the leader of R' Yoel's group of Chassidim in Pozna.

	He did nothing, whether in his business or in his way of life and household management, without consulting his teacher, the tzaddik R' Yoel Baal Shem.		He did nothing, whether in his business or in his way of life and household management, without consulting his teacher, the tzaddik R' Yoel Baal Shem.

M.robin at 18:44, 27 March 2025

2025-03-27T18:44:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:44, 27 March 2025
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	Rabbi Baruch used to always quote the saying of the wise: "Good is separation while among people, and solitude in the midst of humanity." This means that a person should strive to walk the middle path, the golden path—neither being separated from people and isolated, nor being exuberant and wasting time in idle talk. While being with others and among people, one should take interest in all that is necessary, but at the same time remain separate and secluded.		Rabbi Baruch used to always quote the saying of the wise: "Good is separation while among people, and solitude in the midst of humanity." This means that a person should strive to walk the middle path, the golden path—neither being separated from people and isolated, nor being exuberant and wasting time in idle talk. While being with others and among people, one should take interest in all that is necessary, but at the same time remain separate and secluded.

			[[he:ברוך פורטוגלי-בטלן]]

104.148.209.107 at 04:40, 6 March 2025

2025-03-06T04:40:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:40, 6 March 2025
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	Baruch Batlan was the father of Rebbetzin Rachel, the grandmother of the Alter Rebbe.		Baruch Batlan was the father of [[Rebbetzin Rachel]], the grandmother of [[the Alter Rebbe]].

	== Life History ==		== Life History ==
	He was a descendant of Portuguese exiles. His family name was Portugali, and the nickname 'Batlan' was given to him as a compliment, meaning that all the important and distinguished people of the city nullified themselves before him because of his virtuous qualities and noble personality. The study of Kabbalah was an integral part of the regular learning among Portuguese exiles, and R' Baruch was therefore educated in this spirit.		He was a descendant of Portuguese exiles. His family name was Portugali, and the nickname 'Batlan' was given to him as a compliment, meaning that all the important and distinguished people of the city nullified themselves before him because of his virtuous qualities and noble personality. The study of [[Kabbalah]] was an integral part of the regular learning among Portuguese exiles, and R' Baruch was therefore educated in this spirit.

	After his marriage, he established a free loan fund and would lend to merchants without any personal benefit. Besides fulfilling the mitzvah of gemilus chesed (acts of kindness) with his money, he also performed acts of kindness with his body—working for the benefit of others.		After his marriage, he established a free loan fund and would lend to merchants without any personal benefit. Besides fulfilling the mitzvah of gemilus chesed (acts of kindness) with his money, he also performed acts of kindness with his body—working for the benefit of others.

	R' Baruch was educated by the students of R' Eliyahu Baal Shem of Worms. He himself was counted among the Chassidim of R' Yoel, the Baal Shem of Zamoshch, and was the leader of R' Yoel's group of Chassidim in Pozna.		R' Baruch was educated by the students of [[R' Eliyahu Baal Shem]] of Worms. He himself was counted among the Chassidim of [[R' Yoel, the Baal Shem of Zamoshch]], and was the leader of R' Yoel's group of Chassidim in Pozna.

	He did nothing, whether in his business or in his way of life and household management, without consulting his teacher, the tzaddik R' Yoel Baal Shem.		He did nothing, whether in his business or in his way of life and household management, without consulting his teacher, the tzaddik R' Yoel Baal Shem.

Raphaelwilmowsky: Created page with "Baruch Batlan was the father of Rebbetzin Rachel, the grandmother of the Alter Rebbe. == Life History == He was a descendant of Portuguese exiles. His family name was Portugali, and the nickname 'Batlan' was given to him as a compliment, meaning that all the important and distinguished people of the city nullified themselves before him because of his virtuous qualities and noble personality. The study of Kabbalah was an integral part of the regular learning among Portug..."

2025-03-06T01:47:13Z

Created page with "Baruch Batlan was the father of Rebbetzin Rachel, the grandmother of the Alter Rebbe. == Life History == He was a descendant of Portuguese exiles. His family name was Portugali, and the nickname 'Batlan' was given to him as a compliment, meaning that all the important and distinguished people of the city nullified themselves before him because of his virtuous qualities and noble personality. The study of Kabbalah was an integral part of the regular learning among Portug..."

New page

Baruch Batlan was the father of Rebbetzin Rachel, the grandmother of the Alter Rebbe.

== Life History ==
He was a descendant of Portuguese exiles. His family name was Portugali, and the nickname 'Batlan' was given to him as a compliment, meaning that all the important and distinguished people of the city nullified themselves before him because of his virtuous qualities and noble personality. The study of Kabbalah was an integral part of the regular learning among Portuguese exiles, and R' Baruch was therefore educated in this spirit.

After his marriage, he established a free loan fund and would lend to merchants without any personal benefit. Besides fulfilling the mitzvah of gemilus chesed (acts of kindness) with his money, he also performed acts of kindness with his body—working for the benefit of others.

R' Baruch was educated by the students of R' Eliyahu Baal Shem of Worms. He himself was counted among the Chassidim of R' Yoel, the Baal Shem of Zamoshch, and was the leader of R' Yoel's group of Chassidim in Pozna.

He did nothing, whether in his business or in his way of life and household management, without consulting his teacher, the tzaddik R' Yoel Baal Shem.

As a veteran student of R' Yoel, he especially cherished simple people who excelled in fear of Heaven. They were sincere and fulfilled mitzvos with alacrity and enhancement solely because it was the will of Hashem. He would say: "I have more respect for the simplicity of R' Abba Shaul the wagon driver than for the wondrous novellae of R' Shlomo Leib, the prodigy from Prague."

Rabbi Baruch had nine children. Seven of them died, may Hashem protect us, and two remained and merited long lives.

The reason for this was that when R' Yoel Baal Shem once visited Pozna, R' Baruch was among those who welcomed him. He brought with him Rachel and Binyamin, his two surviving children. The Baal Shem blessed them with long life, and the two indeed merited to reach advanced old age.

Rabbi Baruch used to always quote the saying of the wise: "Good is separation while among people, and solitude in the midst of humanity." This means that a person should strive to walk the middle path, the golden path—neither being separated from people and isolated, nor being exuberant and wasting time in idle talk. While being with others and among people, one should take interest in all that is necessary, but at the same time remain separate and secluded.