Baal Shem Tov

Who was Baal Shem Tov?

Rabbi Yisroel ben Eliezer, often called Baal Shem Tov or Besht, was a Jewish mystical rabbi. He is considered to be the founder of Hasidic Judaism.

The Besht is better known to many religious Jews as “the holy Baal Shem”, or most commonly, the Baal Shem Tov. The title Baal Shem Tov is usually translated into English as “Master of the Good Name,” but at least two other translations are possible:

⁕"Good Master of the Name," taking "Baal Shem" as a unit, meaning one who uses Divine names to cure illnesses and perform miracles. I.e., an effective baal shem.

⁕"One who has a good reputation in the community," since in Hebrew idiom, "Baal" can mean "one characterized by" and "Shem" can mean "reputation," thus "one characterized by a good reputation."

The name Besht — the acronym from the words comprising that name, bet ayin shin tet—is typically used in print rather than speech. The appellation “Baal Shem” was not unique to Rabbi Yisroel ben Eliezer; however, it is Rabbi Yisroel ben Eliezer who is most closely identified as a “Baal Shem”, as he was the founder of the spiritual movement of Hasidic Judaism.