Baal Shem Tov
Founder of Hasidic Judaism, a Jewish mystic from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Chronology: 1698-08-27 – 1760-05-21
Origins & Early Life
Israel ben Eliezer (c. 1700 −1760), known as the Baal Shem Tov (; Hebrew: בעל שם טוב) or BeShT (בעש״ט), was a Jewish mystic and healer regarded as the founder of Hasidic Judaism. A baal shem tov is a "Master of the Good Name". The term has also been used to refer to one able to work miracles using a secret name of God.
Pivotal Works & Achievements
Other sources explain his sobriquet as arising from a reputation of being a saintly, or superior, Baal Shem ('miracle-worker'); hence, he was given the nickname Baal Shem Tov (the "good Baal Shem"). Biographical information about the Baal Shem Tov comes from contemporary documents from the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the legends about his life and behavior collected in the Praise of the Besht (שבחי הבעש״ט, Shivḥei haBesht). A central tenet of the teachings associated with the Baal Shem Tov is devekut, a direct connection with the divine, which is infused in every human activity and every waking hour. Prayer is of supreme importance, along with the mystical significance of Hebrew letters and words. == Biography == === Birth === Israel was born about 1700 to a certain Eliezer.
Enduring Legacy & Impact
According to Shivḥei haBesht,Eliezer lived at the edge of Wallachia. He and his wife were...
Source: Wikipedia