# Baal Shem Tov

> Polish founder of Hasidic Judaism (1698–1760)

**Wikidata**: [Q319062](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q319062)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal_Shem_Tov)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/baal-shem-tov

## Summary
Baal Shem Tov (1698–1760) was the Polish founder of Hasidic Judaism, serving as a rabbi, healer, and kabbalist within the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Known as the "Besht" or "Master of the Good Name," he is recognized for establishing the religious subgroup of Hasidism and for his role as a Baal Shem who utilized practical Kabbalah for healing, miracles, and blessings.

## Biography
- **Born**: August 27, 1698 (or circa 1700)
- **Nationality**: Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
- **Education**: Not specified in the provided source material
- **Known for**: Founding Hasidic Judaism; serving as a Baal Shem using practical Kabbalah for healing and miracles
- **Employer(s)**: Not specified in the provided source material
- **Field(s)**: Judaism, Kabbalah, healing

## Contributions
- **Founding of Hasidism**: Baal Shem Tov is credited as the founder of Hasidism, a religious subgroup of modern Judaism. The movement is recorded as having an inception date of 1740.
- **Practical Kabbalah and Healing**: As a Baal Shem, he utilized practical Kabbalah to perform healing, miracles, exorcisms, and blessings. He acted as a healer using traditional practices, herbal remedies, and the power of suggestion.
- **Leadership and Teaching**: He served as a rabbi, defined as a teacher of Torah in Judaism, and as a kabbalist, someone who professionally studies the Kabbalah.

## FAQs
**Who was Baal Shem Tov?**
Baal Shem Tov, also known as Yisroel ben Eliezer or the Besht, was a Polish rabbi and the founder of Hasidic Judaism who lived from 1698 to 1760.

**What does the title "Baal Shem" mean?**
The title refers to a rabbi who uses practical Kabbalah for healing, miracles, exorcism, and blessing.

**What is Hasidism?**
Hasidism is a religious subgroup of modern Judaism founded by Baal Shem Tov, with an inception date recorded as 1740.

**Where did Baal Shem Tov live?**
He was a citizen of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, a historical multinational monarchist state in Eastern Europe that existed from 1569 to 1795.

**What were his primary occupations?**
He was a rabbi (teacher of Torah), a healer (using traditional practices), a Baal Shem (using practical Kabbalah), and a kabbalist (professional student of the Kabbalah).

## Why They Matter
Baal Shem Tov is significant for founding Hasidism, a major religious movement within Judaism that emerged in the 18th century. His work as a healer and kabbalist helped define the role of the "Baal Shem" in Jewish history, bridging esoteric study with practical community support through miracles and blessings. His influence extended beyond his lifetime, impacting later Jewish thinkers; for example, Martin Buber is listed among key people related to Baal Shem Tov, situating the Besht within a broader intellectual network of Jewish religious philosophy and existentialism.

## Notable For
- Founding Hasidic Judaism (inception 1740).
- Serving as a Baal Shem, utilizing practical Kabbalah for healing, miracles, exorcism, and blessing.
- Active work period spanning from 1724 to 1760.
- Citizenship in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the years 1698–1760.
- Recognition by various aliases including Yisroel ben Eliezer, Israel ben Eliezer, Besht, Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov, and Master of the Good Name.
- High presence in knowledge bases with a sitelink count of 46.

## Body

### Identity and Names
Baal Shem Tov is identified by several names in the historical record. His Hebrew name is Yisrael ben Eliezer (יִשְׂרָאֵל בֵּן אֱלִיעֶזֶר), and he is also known as Israel ben Eliezer. He is widely referred to by the acronym Besht or by the title Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov. The title "Baal Shem Tov" translates to "Master of the Good Name" (הַבַּעַל שֵׁם טוֹב). These aliases reflect his standing as a central figure in Jewish history.

### Life and Historical Context
Baal Shem Tov was born on August 27, 1698 (with some sources suggesting circa 1700), and died on May 21, 1760. He lived during the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, a historical multinational monarchist state in Eastern Europe formed by the union of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. This state existed from 1569 to 1795, providing the geopolitical backdrop for his life and work. His citizenship is recorded as the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

### Roles and Occupations
The source material defines Baal Shem Tov through four primary occupations:
- **Rabbi**: A teacher of Torah in Judaism.
- **Healer**: An unlicensed person who practiced the art of healing using traditional practices, herbal remedies, and the power of suggestion.
- **Baal Shem**: A specific type of rabbi who uses practical Kabbalah for healing, miracles, exorcism, and blessing.
- **Kabbalist**: Someone who professionally studies the Kabbalah, an esoteric discipline and school of thought associated with Judaism.

His work period is documented as starting in 1724 and ending in 1760.

### Founding of Hasidism
Baal Shem Tov is most notably the founder of Hasidism. Hasidism is described as a religious subgroup of modern Judaism. The movement's inception is recorded as 1740. This establishment marks his most significant contribution to religious history, creating a framework that combined mystical Kabbalah with daily Jewish life.

### Intellectual Legacy and Connections
Baal Shem Tov's influence is recorded in the context of broader intellectual and religious networks. He is listed as a key person and influence in the knowledge profile of Martin Buber, a German Jewish existentialist philosopher and theologian. This connection places Baal Shem Tov within a lineage of Jewish thought that influenced 20th-century philosophy and dialogical ontology. His association with Buber highlights the enduring relevance of his teachings in discussions of Jewish spirituality and existentialism.

### Metadata and Archival Presence
The structured data associated with Baal Shem Tov indicates a significant archival footprint. He has a sitelink count of 46, reflecting widespread documentation across different knowledge repositories. His identifiers include various authority control numbers (such as ISNI, VIAF, and Library of Congress numbers), which facilitate his identification in library catalogs and databases worldwide. His Hebrew name and title are preserved in multiple script formats, ensuring his recognition across linguistic traditions.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Czech National Authority Database
3. International Standard Name Identifier
4. BnF authorities
5. MusicBrainz
6. [Jewish Currents](https://jewishcurrents.org/august-27-the-baal-shem-tov/)
7. [The Jewish Encyclopedia](http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2252-ba-al-shem-tob-israel-b-eliezer)
8. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. [Source](https://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/1265286/jewish/Elul-18-Baal-Shem-Tov-Day.htm)
11. Israeli Music Collection
12. [LIBRIS. 2012](https://libris.kb.se/katalogisering/53hkf1gp58thb74)
13. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands