This is a life, in stories, of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov (1700-1760), the founder of Hasidism. The Baal Shem Tov, or the Besht, as he is commonly called, led a revival in Judaism that put love and joy at the center of religious life and championed the piety of the common folk against the rabbinic establishment. He has been recognized as one of the greatest teachers in Jewish history, and much of what is alive and vibrant in Judaism today, in all denominations, derives from his inspiration. Abraham Joshua Heschel, who was descended from several illustrious Hasidic dynasties, wrote: "The Baal Shem Tov brought heaven to earth. He and his disciples, the Hasidim, banished melancholy from the soul and uncovered the ineffable delight of being a Jew."
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
Remarkable! A Book Full Of Wisdom and Love.:
This is truly a special book. What comes through these pages are not just words and stories, but a real taste of the light and fire of the Baal Shem Tov. As I read it I had the sense that the book was a true vehicle for transmission. I was also touched by the effort of the author as I read the book. It is obvious that putting the book together was for him an act of service, and the author's feeling for the stories and teachings comes through clearly.
A book of profound teachings, drawing us near to the holy Baal Shem Tov:
Beginning with his first book, "Jewish Spiritual Practices," Reb Yitzhak has written books that convey some of the deepest teachings of great Chassidic rebbes -- in this case the founder of Hasidism, the holy Baal Shem Tov himself. Written with loving care, humility and the utmost respect to the Besht, Reb Yitzhak has created not just another collection of stories of this charismatic Jewish leader, but rather a unique text -- somewhat approximating a scripture -- that uses isolated stories about the Besht... more info
A living spiritual portrait of a, once, factual man:
A profound and moving book on many levels. Israel ben Eliezer, the Baal Shem Tov or 'Besht' was the founder of the Hassidic movement among Eastern European Jews in the 1700's, which survives to this day in Israel, the United States and elsewhere. The author says: "...I want it to be a book in which the Besht is alive", and: "the main goal is spiritual understanding." He succeeds in both, through the care in which he presents and orders stories about the Besht's life. One can also see how the spiritual... more info
storied of the Baal Shem Tov:
loved this book. gives you a great understanding of the life of the Baal Shem Tov and what his vision was.
