The Baal Shem Tov

Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, also known by the acronym Besht, is considered the founder of Chassidic Judaism, a movement based on spiritual revival and mysticism. Before revealing himself as a mystic leader, the Baal Shem Tov headed a secret group of hidden mystics who studied Torah and practiced the service of G-d with a focus on mysticism.

The Baal Shem Tov was born on August 21 1698 (18 Elul 5458). He passed away on May 21, 1760 (6 Sivan 5520). He is buried in Medzhybizh, in present-day Ukraine.

Biography

Early years

In 1648 (5408), fifty years before the birth of the Baal Shem Tov, the great Khmelnytsky Uprising took place. It was a rebellion of the Cossacks against the ruling class, during which murderous pogroms against Jews destroyed entire communities. These events are known as Gzerot Tach VeTat, an acronym for the Hebrew years [5]408–[5]409.

As a result of the horrible pogroms, the spiritual and material situation of the Jews was in great decline. Chassidic teachings refer to this period as “the fainting,” similar to a man who lost consciousness and fell into a deep sleep. Rabbi Pinchas Koritzer, a Chassidic scholar, said that the Baal Shem Tov’s soul descended into the world to awaken the souls of Israel from their state of unconsciousness.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that in the same way that a person's first name is called to awaken him when he faints because the name comes from the essence of the soul, so too, when the soul's essence awakens, he himself comes to life. Before the Baal Shem Tov was revealed as a leader, the Jewish people were sunk into unconsciousness and the Almighty sent down the soul of the Besht (with the powerful name Israel) to awaken the essence of the soul of the people and rouse them from their sleep.

The Chabad scholar R’ Hillel Paricher testified in the name of his teacher R’ Mordechai of Chernobyl, who heard from his father the Maor Einayim, that on the 18th of Elul the Besht was born in body, spirit and soul. In body—his physical birth. In soul—when his holy teacher and mentor revealed himself to him. And in spirit—when he was revealed to the Jewish people.

Background

The Baal Shem Tov's parents, R' Eliezer and Sarah, were a barren couple who lived in settlement near Okopy, in western Ukraine, and frequently hosted people in fulfillment of the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim.

A guest once arrived close to Shabbat, dirty and dressed in bedraggled clothing. R' Eliezer greeted him joyfully, paying no heed to his attire and hosting him with great care. After Shabbat, the guest revealed that he was Elijah the Prophet, coming to test him in his commitment to hachnasat orchim. The couple passed the test, and in the merit of their hachnasat orchim, Sarah gave birth to their only child, a son.

Education

The Baal Shem Tov was orphaned at the age of 5. Before his death, R' Eliezer told him: "Son, do not fear anyone but G-d Himself, and love every Jew with all your heart no matter who he is and what he does." The Baal Shem Tov internalized the message and lived by it.

The townsfolk took care of the orphan for a few short years, after which he was left to fend for himself.

In his youth, the Baal Shem Tov enjoyed spending time in the forest after cheder', reviewing his studies and enjoying nature. On one occasion, he encountered a hidden tzaddik (righteous man) engaged in devout prayer under a tree. The Baal Shem Tov observed the man and asked him to teach him Torah. After some time, the tzaddik introduced him to Rabbi Meir, the head of a secret group of hidden mystics. The Baal Shem Tov studied with Rabbi Meir for 4 years, gaining knowledge of the inner dimension of the Torah and Kabbalah. In later days, the Baal Shem Tov told his disciples that during those years with Rabbi Meir, he met Elijah the prophet.

Marriage

The Baal Shem Tov moved to Brody, near Podolia, where he worked as a teacher in a cheder. There, he met Rabbi Ephraim of Brody, a city dignitary and father of the well-known Rabbi Gershon of Kitov. Rabbi Ephraim was so impressed by the young man that he offered his daughter Chana as a bride. At their wedding, after the death of Rabbi Ephraim, the Besht showed up dressed as a peasant, wishing to appear as a simple man. After the wedding, R' Israel spent time partaking in hitbodedut (spiritual seclusion) in fields and forests while the couple moved from village to village. Eventually, the Besht became a melamed in a town in Poland, and the couple lived in dire financial straits.