משתמש:י נעוולער/The Baal Shem Tov

Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov, (18 Elul 5458/24 August 1698 - 6 Sivan 5520/21 May 1760), was the leader of the Society of Hidden Tzaddikim, and eventually the founder of the Chassidic movement.i

Biography

Background

The Baal Shem Tov was born 50 years after the infamous pogroms of the Cossack revolution of 5408-5409/1648-1649 (known as "Tach Ve'Tat"), which decimated many Jewish communities. As a result, the spiritual and physical morale of the Jews was at a low point.i

Rabbi Pinchos of Koritz said that the Baal Shem Tov's soul descended into this world to "awaken" the Jewish communities from their "slumber". i

The Rebbe once said that just as one shouts a person's name into his ear when he faints to awaken him because a person's name is connected to the essence of his soul, so the Baal Shem Tov (Yisroel) was sent into the world to awaken the Jews from their slumber-like state.i

Birth

The Baal Shem Tov's parents, Rabbi Eliezer and Sarah had no children for many years. They were well-to-do and often hosted guests.

Once a guest arrived very late on a Friday afternoon wearing weekday clothes, and Rabbi Eliezer invited him into his house and honored him. According to a different version of the story, the guest arrived on Shabbos after the meal, and Rabbi Eliezer hosted him even though it seemed he had violated the Shabbos by traveling beyond the distance permitted by Halacha. The other guests objected, but Rabbi Eliezer continued to honor him.i

On Sunday afternoon Rabbi Eliezer accompanied the mysterious guest for the beginning of his journey. The guest then revealed to him that he was none other than Eliyahu Hanavi (Elijah the Prophet) who had come to test him. Since he had passed the test, he would be blessed with a son. Elyahu then gave him a message that he was to give over to his son at two and a half.i

Shortly afterward, on the 18th of Elul 5458, the couple had a son who they named Yisroel.i

Childhood

The Baal Shem Tov was orphaned from both his parents at age five. When his father passed away, his last words to his only son were: "My son, do not fear anyone besides Hashem. Love every Jew from the depths of your heart, regardless of who he is and what he does". The Baal Shem Tov took that as his father's last will and lived by it.i

After he was orphaned, the residents of his village took care of him for a while; but that arrangement didn't last very long.i

As a child, the Baal Shem Tov would wander off into the forest where, in the pristine nature, he felt at peace. There he would review what he learned, and at times even fall asleep.i

Once, as he was walking around the forest, he found a Hidden Tzaddik deep in prayer near a tree. The Baal Shem Tov asked the man to teach him Torah.i

After learning with the Baal Shem Tov for a while, the Tzaddik gave him over to Rabbi Meir, one of the leaders of the Hidden Tzaddikim. There the Baal Shem Tov lived for four years, and it was there that he amassed his extensive knowledge in Kabbalah and the secrets of the Torah.i

The Baal Shem Tov would later say that during his stay with Rabbi Meir he met Eliyahu Hanavi.i