The Baal Shem Tov: Difference between revisions

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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.

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 ====

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.

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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.
-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 ====
-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.