Baal Shem Tov | |
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Personal | |
Born | Yisroel ben Eliezer c. 1700 Okopy Świętej Trójcy, Kingdom of Poland (now Ukraine) |
Died | 1760 Międzybóż, Kingdom of Poland (now Ukraine) |
Religion | Judaism |
Spouse | Ḥannah (only named in legends) |
Children |
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Parents |
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Jewish leader | |
Successor | Dov Ber of Mezeritch (1704–1772) |
Israel ben Eliezer[a] (c. 1700[1] –1760[2]), known as the Baal Shem Tov (/ˌbɑːl ˈʃɛm ˌtʊv, ˌtʊf/;[3] Hebrew: בעל שם טוב) or BeShT (בעש"ט), was a Jewish mystic and healer who is regarded as the founder of Hasidic Judaism.[4][5] Early in his career he won the reputation of being a saintly, or superior, miracle-worker (see Baal Shem), hence he was given the nickname Baal Shem Tov, that is, the "good Baal Shem").[6][7]
Biographical information about the Baal Shem Tov comes from contemporary Polish documents and from the largely legendary traditions about his life and behavior collected in Shivḥei haBesht.[8]
A central tenet of the teachings associated with the Baal Shem Tov is the direct connection with the divine, "dvekut", 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.[9]
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