Ba’al Shem Tov, << bahl shehm tohv >> (1700?-1760), a Jewish teacher, was the leading founder of the religious movement called Hasidism. Hasidism originated in the mid-1700’s and became one of the most powerful movements in modern Jewish history.
Ba’al Shem Tov was born in a part of Poland that is now Ukraine. His original name was Israel ben Eliezer. Ba’al Shem Tov, also known by the abbreviation Besht, traveled widely in eastern Europe. He was the subject of many stories that told of his religious leadership and healing powers. He taught that people must worship God constantly, not just when they prayed or performed other religious deeds. He stressed joy in the worship of God and opposed fasting and other forms of self-denial. He emphasized the ability of the common person to attain heights of perfection in both the worship of God and in relations with other people. Today, Hasidism is practiced by some Jews in Europe, Israel, and the United States.
The Hebrew words ba’al shem tov, which mean master of the good name, indicate he was believed to be a miracle worker. Jews believed a ba’al shem could perform miracles by reciting and writing the names for God. A ba’al shem was thought to be able to heal through the power of the names.
