Features the 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.
"This extraordinary work brings together stories and teachings from Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov (1700-1760), the mystical founder of Hasidism. Those familiar with quotations by this sage will rejoice in the chance to discover more from his deep well of insights into the presence of God in the warp and the woof of our daily lives. Those who know nothing about this storyteller and controversial Jewish leader will savor the deluge of material presented on these pages. Buxbaum has done us all a wonderful moral service by revealing the depth dimensions of a warm heart. Reading this master work, one bows down in praise of the Father of Hasidism whose legacy has not diminished with time, but only grown more expansive and profound." - Spirituality & Health
