The Baal Shem Tov 1698 1760 Context and

ב"ה The Baal Shem Tov 1698 -1760 Context and Teachings Dr Tali Loewenthal University College London n. loewenthal@ucl. ac. uk

Context • The Mystical Tradition • The divisions in Jewish Society

BOOK OF CREATION “In thirty two wondrous paths of Wisdom, G-d, L-rd of Hosts, G-d of Israel… engraved. . and created His world. . ”

THE ZOHAR

Moses Nachmanides’ (13 th cent Barcelona) Commentary on the Torah Popularising kabbalistic teachings by including them in a popular commentary on the Torah

“Book of the Pious” Sefer Hasidim – by Rabbi Judah Hasid and mystical pietists of medieval Franco-Germany

THE TSFAT CENTRE IN THE 16 TH CENTURY

R. Moshe Cordovero “The Pomegranate Garden”, Pardes Rimonim a comprehensive anthology of Kabbalah

R. Joseph Karo Maggid Mesharim - A fascinating mystical diary by the author of the Code of Law

R. Isaac Luria (Ari zal) and R. Haim Vital The “Tree of Life” Also author(s) of “Eight Gates”

“It is permitted and a duty to reveal this wisdom…” Rabbi Yitzhak Luria

Popularising the Kabbalah and applying it to daily Jewish Life • Reshit Hokhmah “The Beginning of Wisdom” – R. Elijah di Vidas (16 th cent).

“The Two Tablets of the Covenant” – R. Isaiah Halevi Horovitz (17 Cent)

The Baal Shem Tov (1698 -1760) • “and I asked the Messiah. . When will you come? And he answered: when your fountains burst forth to the outside” The Baal Shem Tov’s spiritual teachings should burst out beyond the enclave mystic circle, to the ‘outside’

Toledot Yakov Yosef by Rabbi Yakov Yosef of Polonoye Printed in Koretz in 1780 This is the first Chassidic book to be published. It includes numerous quotations of sayings of the Baal Shem Tov, generally beginning with the words “as I heard from my Teacher” – but the name of the Baal Shem Tov is never mentioned

Tzava’at Ha. Rivash TESTAMENT OF RABBI ISRAEL BAAL SHEM TOV AND RULES OF UPRIGHT CONDUCT CONSISTING OF INSTRUCTIONS, RULES OF PROPER CONDUCT, GREAT AND WONDROUS COUNSELS FOR THE SERVICE OF THE CREATOR, RELATING TO TORAH, PRAYER AND OTHER TRAITS, HEARD FROM THE HOLY MOUTH OF THE MAN OF G-D, THE HOLY LIGHT, OUR MASTER RABBI ISRAEL BAAL SHEM TOV HIS MEMORY IS FOR A BLESSING, FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD TO COME From the First Edition – 1792 -3

Keter Shem Tov Zolkiev 1794 -5 • This contains teachings of the Baal Shem Tov collected from the books of Rabbi Yakov Yosef. • At the beginning of the book is the famous Iggeret Ha. Kodesh of the Baal Shem Tov describing his Ascent of the Soul – aliyat ha. Neshamah.

The Baal Shem Tov’s view of: • • • Creation Tzimtzum Divine Providence The Individual and G-d The Jewish People

Continuous Creation • This teaching is explained in Tanya, Part 2, Chapter 1. • G-d created the world 5770 years ago. However, G-d continuously keeps the world in existence, through a constant stream of Divine energy.

The Baal Shem Tov’s teaching about the Tzimtzum

The boundless Radiance of the Infinite before Creation

The “Tzimtzum” – ‘contracting’ the Radiance so as to give room for the worlds The realm “after the Tzimtzum” where all levels of world can be created

Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov’s Teaching: the Tzimtzum is part of G-d “like a snail, whose shell is part of itself. . ” In effect, this idea deconstructs the Tzimtzum

Divine Providence Earlier Jewish philosophical concepts of the relationship of G-d with the world: a) Hashgachah Kelalit – General Supervision b) Hashgachah Peratit – Particular Supervision The Baal Shem Tov paskened that Hashgacha Peratit applies in all situations. G-d controls every detail in existence, and, further, that detail is significant for the ultimate purpose of Creation

The Individual and G-d • Feeling continual closeness to the Divine, in every situation

The Jewish People and G-d • The need for unity among the different sectors of Jewish society • The paramount importance of Ahavat Yisrael

Toledot Yakov Yosef (Koretz, 1780) by Rabbi Yakov Yosef of Polonoye First Chassidic Book Published The central social teaching of the Toledot is the awareness of the rift between the scholars (‘men of form’) and the masses (‘men of matter’). Only when this rift is healed and the Jewish people will be unified can it achieve closeness to the Divine. Hence the scholars must turn to the masses and recognize their spiritual worth. This means a fundamental change within the scholar.

Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745 -1812) founder of Habad and author of Tanya (1796) Manuscript of Tanya (Likkutei Amarim) in the British Library Painting by E. K. Tiefenbrun

Tanya and Chabad Chassidism: Communicating the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov • Every Jew has a Divine spark within, which prompts him or her towards observance of Jewish teaching (I: 18) • The essence of the Torah is Ahavat Yisrael, love of one’s fellow (1: 32). • One should love the sinner, perhaps this will help him repent. And if he doesn’t [repent], one has not lost the reward of the command to love one’s fellow. (I: 32) • Through this love, the Jewish people can be unified (I: 32) • This unity will help to bring the Messiah