The Ba"al Shem Tov

The Ba'al Shem Tov was the founder of the Chassidut which is based on the Kabbalah.

Rabbi Yisrael, The Ba'al Shem Tov was born in 1700 to his elderly parents Eliezer and Sara. During his early years, the Ba'al Shem Tov, who's greatness had not yet been revealed, worked as a children's teacher and as the synagogue's guard. His job at the synagogue allowed him to study and grow in Torah without being observed. None of the Torah scholars could have guessed that the simple guard would pretend to be asleep until the last man left the synagogue when he would get up and delve into the deepest intricacies of the Torah and no one knew that in the morning, right before the first person would arrive in the synagogue he would go right back to the same position and pretend to still be sleeping!

Later on the Ba'al Shem Tov married Chana and for a few years they lived in great poverty trying to make a living by selling clay that the Ba'al Shem Tov used to mine up in the mountains, and later from the earnings of a small inn they owned next to the city of Kitov.

At the age of 36 the great Ba'al Shem Tov was finally revealed. He started to heal people using the Holy Names of God (which is the meaning of "Ba'al Shem"). He wandered between cities and villages helping people through his prayers and his talismen. Not only did he help cure their bodies, but he also offered aid to thier souls by instructing his followers in the ways of life and faith, bringing about the addition of the word "Tov" (good) to his name.

The Ba'al Shem Tov settled in the town of Mezibuz, Ukraine, where he started spreading the teachings of Chassidut, which created a spiritual renaissance of the Jewish nation.

The Chassidut is based on the kabbalah and includes a few main principles which the Ba'al Shem Tov instilled in his followers; The importance of every single Jew, simple folk as well as great scholars; the great value of the use of one's heart in the service of God; serving God with joy and contentment, and the idea that a person should instill the Divine presence in every aspect of his deeds.

The Ba'al Shem Tov passed away on the Jewish holiday of Shavuot 1760 but his followers continue to practice his teachings of Chassidut to this very day.