The Baal Shem Tov: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox | {{Infobox | ||
| name = Rabbi Yisroel ben Eliezer | | name = Rabbi Yisroel ben Eliezer | ||
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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. | 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. | 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. | 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 ==== | ==== Background to His Birth ==== | ||
His parents, Rabbi Eliezer and Rebbetzin Sarah were childless and lived in a settlement where they had abundant livelihood and were great practitioners of hachnosas orchim (hospitality). | 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. | 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. | ||
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During this period, the Baal Shem Tov also planned to make aliyah to Eretz Yisrael, which held an important and central place in his teachings, but his plan did not materialize. | During this period, the Baal Shem Tov also planned to make aliyah to Eretz Yisrael, which held an important and central place in his teachings, but his plan did not materialize. | ||
[[File:ביכנ בעשט מזיבוז.jpg|thumb]] | [[File:ביכנ בעשט מזיבוז.jpg|thumb|The Synagogue of the Baal Shem Tov in the Town of Mezhibuzh]] | ||
==== His Ascent to the Chamber of Moshiach ==== | ==== His Ascent to the Chamber of Moshiach ==== | ||
In Rosh Hashanah of 5507, the Baal Shem Tov performed a soul ascension to the upper worlds, which he described at length in a letter known as the Igeret HaGeulah. During this ascension, Melech HaMoshiach told him that his coming depends on spreading the wellsprings of Chassidus. The Baal Shem Tov himself wrote the description of the ascension and the words of Melech HaMoshiach in a letter he sent to his brother-in-law R' Gershon of Kitov, saying:<blockquote>"On Rosh Hashanah 5507, I performed the soul ascension as you know, and I saw wonderful things in a vision that I had not seen since I gained understanding... I ascended level after level until I entered the chamber of Moshiach, where Moshiach learns Torah with all the Tanaim and tzaddikim, and also with the seven shepherds. There I saw tremendous joy... I asked Moshiach: When will the master come? And he answered me: By this you shall know - when your teachings become famous and are revealed to the world, and your wellsprings spread outward, what I have taught you and what you have achieved, and they too will be able to perform unifications and ascensions like you, then all the kelipos will be eliminated and it will be a time of favor and salvation. I was amazed at this and had great anguish about the length of time, when this would be possible." | In Rosh Hashanah of 5507, the Baal Shem Tov performed a soul ascension to the upper worlds, which he described at length in a letter known as the Igeret HaGeulah. During this ascension, Melech HaMoshiach told him that his coming depends on spreading the wellsprings of Chassidus. The Baal Shem Tov himself wrote the description of the ascension and the words of Melech HaMoshiach in a letter he sent to his brother-in-law R' Gershon of Kitov, saying:<blockquote>"On Rosh Hashanah 5507, I performed the soul ascension as you know, and I saw wonderful things in a vision that I had not seen since I gained understanding... I ascended level after level until I entered the chamber of Moshiach, where Moshiach learns Torah with all the Tanaim and tzaddikim, and also with the seven shepherds. There I saw tremendous joy... I asked Moshiach: When will the master come? And he answered me: By this you shall know - when your teachings become famous and are revealed to the world, and your wellsprings spread outward, what I have taught you and what you have achieved, and they too will be able to perform unifications and ascensions like you, then all the kelipos will be eliminated and it will be a time of favor and salvation. I was amazed at this and had great anguish about the length of time, when this would be possible." | ||
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According to the Baal Shem Tov's approach, even a leaf falling from a tree must involve Hashgacha Pratis. Since there is no reality that doesn't contain G-dly reality, therefore it's impossible for even a single action to occur from the beginning of creation until the end of its seven thousand years of existence - that doesn't involve Hashgacha Pratis. | According to the Baal Shem Tov's approach, even a leaf falling from a tree must involve Hashgacha Pratis. Since there is no reality that doesn't contain G-dly reality, therefore it's impossible for even a single action to occur from the beginning of creation until the end of its seven thousand years of existence - that doesn't involve Hashgacha Pratis. | ||
[[File:אוהל הבעל שם טוב.jpg|thumb]] | [[File:אוהל הבעל שם טוב.jpg|thumb|The Ohel of the Baal Shem Tov in Mezhibuzh]] | ||
==== Drawing Close the Simple Jews ==== | ==== Drawing Close the Simple Jews ==== | ||
On the 17th of Elul 5474, while the Baal Shem Tov was in the forest alone, Eliyahu Hanavi appeared to him for the first time. He revealed that in heaven there is more nachas ruach when a simple Jew blesses and thanks Hashem for his parnassah than from all the yichudim and kavanos that tzaddikim perform. From then on, the Baal Shem Tov's main approach was specifically drawing close and cherishing the simple Jews, who sometimes couldn't even read or write. He would encourage them to bless and thank Hashem, traveling from village to village and inquiring about people's wellbeing so they would express their gratitude to Hashem. | On the 17th of Elul 5474, while the Baal Shem Tov was in the forest alone, Eliyahu Hanavi appeared to him for the first time. He revealed that in heaven there is more nachas ruach when a simple Jew blesses and thanks Hashem for his parnassah than from all the yichudim and kavanos that tzaddikim perform. From then on, the Baal Shem Tov's main approach was specifically drawing close and cherishing the simple Jews, who sometimes couldn't even read or write. He would encourage them to bless and thank Hashem, traveling from village to village and inquiring about people's wellbeing so they would express their gratitude to Hashem. | ||
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== His Image == | == His Image == | ||
There is a widely circulated image attributed to the Baal Shem Tov, but there are many doubts about its authenticity. Some attribute it to a certain Shabtai. The Rebbe said this image belongs to a different Baal Shem who lived and worked in Deutschland (Germany), not to the Baal Shem Tov. | There is a widely circulated image attributed to the Baal Shem Tov, but there are many doubts about its authenticity. Some attribute it to a certain Shabtai. The Rebbe said this image belongs to a different Baal Shem who lived and worked in Deutschland (Germany), not to the Baal Shem Tov. | ||
[[File:לא הבעש''ט.jpg|thumb]] | [[File:לא הבעש''ט.jpg|thumb|The picture which is mistakenly attributed to him, and some attribute it to Shabtai. See the link in the "External Links" category regarding the picture.]] | ||
There are several reasons why the Rebbe believed the image was not of the Baal Shem Tov. Besides professional research proving doubts about the image's authenticity, there are additional reasons. However, the main one is because the Frierdiker Rebbe said there is a kabbalah (tradition) that no image exists of the Baal Shem Tov. | There are several reasons why the Rebbe believed the image was not of the Baal Shem Tov. Besides professional research proving doubts about the image's authenticity, there are additional reasons. However, the main one is because the Frierdiker Rebbe said there is a kabbalah (tradition) that no image exists of the Baal Shem Tov. | ||
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==== Images Attributed to the Baal Shem Tov ==== | ==== Images Attributed to the Baal Shem Tov ==== | ||
* Is this really a picture of the Baal Shem Tov? • The Rebbe's opinion | * Is this really a picture of the Baal Shem Tov? • The Rebbe's opinion | ||
* This is what we grew up with: Come tour the Beis Midrash of the Besht | * This is what we grew up with: Come tour the Beis Midrash of the Besht | ||
== References == | |||
[[Category:Acharonim]] | |||
[[he:הבעל שם טוב]] | |||