Ba‘al Shem Tov

Regarded as the founder of Hasidism, Israel ben Eliezer (Yisra’el ben Eli’ezer) (known as the Ba‘al Shem Tov or Besht, “master of the good name”) was likely born in Okopy, Ukraine. Of humble background, he mastered Kabbalah and meditation, and as a healer was skilled at communicating with people from many walks of life, applying kabbalistic principles to everyday affairs. He settled in Mezhbizh (now Medzhybizh, Ukraine), where he led a circle that promoted dedication to God characterized by joy, ecstatic prayer, and levels of emotional communion. Although he did not establish a dynasty, he is considered the role model for later Hasidic teachers. Records of his life and deeds were compiled by Dov Ber of Linits and printed as Shivhei ha-Besht by the Lubavitch Hasid Israel Yoffe.