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L 1 CONTENTS L 4 A Note to the Reader L 4 Light and Fire L 4 Dedication L 4 Acknowledgments L 3 Preface L 2 PRAISE, PROMISE, AND PRAYER L 3 Praises L 4 Praise of the Baal Shem Tov L 4 Praise of the Tzaddikim L 4 Praise of the Stories of the Tzaddikim L 4 Praise of the Stories About the Baal Shem Tov L 5 Stories of the Besht Save L 4 What to Believe L 4 Tell of the Baal Shem Tov's Piety L 4 The Power and Preciousness of Baal Shem Tov Tales L 3 The Promise and the Hope L 3 Aim High L 3 T he Author's Prayer L 1 HIS LIFE L 2 THE SETTING Decline and Turmoil in Poland Antisemitism and its Depredations Divisions and Decline in the Jewish Community The False Messiah, Shabtai Tzvi The Pre-Beshtian Hasidim and the Hidden Tzaddikim Baal Shems L 2 BEGINNINGS TO REVELATION Awakening the Jewish People from a Faint The Baal Shem Tov's Soul and the Sin of the Tree of Knowledge The Satan's Accusation The Besht's Parents Tested Sixty Heroes Holy from the Womb His Birth and Infancy His Father's Last Words Kaddish Fulfilling His Father's Words His First Test No Longer an Orphan A Wayward Youth A Blessing of Eyes to See Different from Other Children Israel Goes Away with a Hidden Tzaddik Wandering with Reb Shlomo Zalman In the Home of Rabbi Meir He Joins the Society of Hidden Tzaddikim Elijah's Teaching about Simple Devotion A Turning Point in the Besht's Views Baruch HaShem Elijah Becomes His Master and Teacher A New Program for the Hidden Tzaddikim An Assistant Teacher A Werewolf A Gentile Youth Throws a Stone Shammos of the Beit Midrash He Remains Unmarried The Secret Manuscript of Rabbi Adam Baal Shem Remarriage Spiritual Labor With the Shepherds The Besht Protects a Shepherd Boy The Mountain Moves Protected from a Robber Traveling as a Hidden Tzaddik Helping Body and Soul The Children A Hug, a Touch, a Glance L 5 Arousal by a Glance Visiting Towns and Villages May His Great Name be Blessed! The Sermon in Kolomaya about Love of Israel A New Approach in Love of Israel Hershel Goat Yonah the Tinsmith Rabbi Meir's Blessing God's Livelihood The Father of Orphans The Light of Storytelling The Besht Values the Common People The Tale of the Sigh and the Sneer The Besht Opposes Preachers of Rebuke An Esrog from Elijah His Movements and Encampments L 3 As a Shochet L 5 Inspecting His Knife L 5 Attraction The Besht's Prayer Tested Tlust A Tap on the Window He Learns Holy Eating from a Village Innkeeper He Learns Self-sacrifice for Fellow Jews from a Woodcutter As a Coachman The Besht and His Wife Sarah Run an Inn His Infant Daughter Edel Grasps Her Father's Beard His Wife Sells Her Shterntichel The Helper of the Helpless The Source of the Money His Horse Returned S'micha from Heaven Soul Revelation Self-sacrifice for Hand-washing Loving God without the World-to-Come One Flutter of an Eyelash Ahiyah Becomes His Spiritual Master Ahiyah's Spiritual Lineage The Besht's Teachers Ahiyah Teaches Him Daily The Besht Crosses the River Soul-ascent Two Thrones A Simple Man's Trust The Besht Summons the Satan A Village Tailor's Psalms Save a Settlement Ahiyah Teaches the Besht How to Talk He Sees Godliness Within and Without He Reveals the Levels of His Soul The Besht Finds God in Nature Elevating the Creation The Besht is Chosen as Leader and Perceives the Limitations of the Camp of Israel Ahiyah Tells Him He Must Reveal Himself The Besht Refuses to be Revealed God's Desire that He be a Leader Ahiyah Tells Him of the Previous Incarnation of His Soul Serving the Great Torah Scholars The Besht's Light is Revealed by Rabbi David of Kolomaya Rabbi Gershon Complains About the Besht Rabbi Gershon Harasses the Besht The Besht Exorcizes a Madwoman He is Revealed to the World and Accepted as Master by the Pious of Kitov The Sermon to the Pious of Kitov; the Parable of the Magic Palace Hai Elul Adam Kadmon L 2 A MISSION AS A TEACHER AND BAAL SHEM He Moves to Kitov He Becomes a Baal Shem L 5 Amulets Increasing Fame The Besht Attracts Disciples and Followers L 3 Reading Thoughts L 5 The Shivitti L 5 The Imprint of the Maker in What is Made Continuous D'vekut Rabbi Yaakov Koppel the Shivittinik Rabbi Gershon Becomes a Disciple The Baal Shem Tov's Praying L 3 The Besht's Daughter Edel L 5 A Fiery Daughter L 5 The Sleeping Child L 5 The Gates of Divine Help L 3 The Or HaHayim L 5 A Meeting of Souls L 5 Rabbi Gershon Goes Ahead L 3 To Israel L 5 42 Journeys L 5 Setting Out and Stranded L 5 Passover in Istanbul L 5 A Visit to the Rabbi of Istanbul L 5 Disaster and Return He Moves to Medzibuz The Birth of his Son, Tzvi The Pious Scholars in Medzibuz His Minyan L 3 Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Polnoye L 5 Drawing Him Close L 5 Crying L 5 The Besht's Pipe-smoking L 5 Elevation L 5 His Fasting L 5 A Yossele Like This Rabbi Yosef of Kaminka Rabbi David Leikes and the Besht's Pet Bear Cub Still Hidden Reb Yaakov Shammos Lighting His Pipe with a Candle of Non-kosher Fat Leib Saras Dances Before the Besht When to Visit the Teacher? His Torah Teaching The Melamed's Dream Rabbi David Leikes is Appointed to Lead the Dancing Rabbi David Leikes Reaches into His Pocket His Tear-stained Siddur Even One Moment's Consolation With Joy and with Sadness Serving God with Joy in Song and Dance His Disciples Dance on the New Moon The Besht Dances with the Spiritual Torah There Won't Be Enough Wine! Sarah and Edel The Perfect Groom Edel and the Book of Remedies Shoes in the Garden of Eden Why All This Dancing and Joy? Hearing the Inner Song L 3 Charity L 5 Everything He Took In, Went Out L 5 He Gives More Than a Fifth with Joy L 5 Infinite Charity L 5 He Gives Away Money on the Road L 5 Tzvi and the Silver Objects L 5 A Feast for the Poor L 5 An Open House L 5 No Money Overnight L 5 The Jingle of Charity Coins Turning the Stove to Gold His Wife Builds a New House The Hose-maker The Old Merchant without Sin Heikel the Water-carrier The Sermon in the Field about Love of Israel The Title "Jew" The Pleasure in Heaven from Jewish Worship L 3 The Besht's Love of Simple Jews L 5 The Besht Teaches his Disciples to Appreciate Simple Jews L 5 Hershel the Ditch-digger L 5 Remember the Mah L 5 The Gloomy Tailor L 5 Simple People Reveal God's Simplicity; the Parable of the Fields L 5 Loving Even the Least of the Least L 5 An Expert Eye L 5 Different Paths to the Same Goal L 3 Learning from Simple People L 5 The Importance of Sabbath Guests L 5 The Besht Learns Love of God from a Shepherd L 5 Reciting the Aleph-Bet L 5 The Besht Sends Scholarly Disciples to Learn from Simple People L 2 A MOVEMENT FORMS AND OPPOSITION GROWS The New Movement Forms The Reasons for Opposition Innovations in the Liturgy and Shechitah A Visit to Slutzk Protecting the Besht from Opponents A Disciple Revives the Besht's Spirit Saved When Sick The Besht Stays Aware of His Opponents' Activities Speaking with Women A False Rumor Ya'ale V'Yavo He Admonishes a Preacher Rebuking God's Children Curing a Spiritual Sickness Loving Someone Who Hates or Harms You Rabbi Nachman of Kossov The Penance A Cold House, a Cold Jew! His Disciples Praise the Jewish People Halfheartedly Witness for the Defense Every Action for the Sake of God His Pipe-smoking His Daily Schedule of Divine Service The Baal Shem Tov's Shoes Don't Focus on Stringencies The Hungry Preacher Eating His Fill L 3 Honor and Pride L 5 Escaping Pride L 5 No Mirrors L 5 He Prays to be Disparaged L 5 When Honored, Examine Yourself L 5 Equanimity L 5 The Parable of the King in the Carriage L 5 An Envy for InsultsL 5 L 5 You Can't Tell Who is Righteous or Wicked L 5 The Parable of the Two Princes L 5 The Besht Lodges with a Sinner L 5 Testing a Teacher About Advice for Pride L 5 An Achievement L 5 Glory and Humility Pray with Humility Also No Better Than A Worm; the Parable of the Humble Prince Father! Father! Preparing the Prayer-leader for Yom Kippur Not Keys, But an Axe The Parable of the Sweeper The Prayers of Simple People Strange Movements and Cries While Praying L 3 Annulling Accusations by Prayer L 5 Aren't You Our Father? L 5 Squeeze the Heavens! A Drunkard's Prayer on Yom Kippur The Boy with the Flute Helping Thieves A Tzaddik Saves Sinners from Gehinnom Love Him More Save, Not Destroy The Parable of the King's Treasury Repairing the Damage The Death of a Baby What to Fix A Night Visit Healing by Repentance Taking a Pulse Don't Waste Heaven's Blessings Market Day A Matter of Blindness L 2 A MATURE TEACHER FULL OF WISDOM AND LOVE L 3 Judging Favorably L 5 Judge Not L 5 Your Own Sins L 5 Are You Better Than Him? L 5 The Stolen Harness L 5 Speak Well of Fellow Jews L 5 Like Fish in the Sea L 5 Before and After the Mitzvah L 5 Compassion for the Thief L 5 Arousing an Accusation Above L 5 Riveleh the Tzaddeket L 5 Persecuting the Satan L 5 The Informer According to One's Thoughts Comforting an Isolated Jew L 3 The Seer L 5 The Delayed Home-coming L 5 Torah Enlightens the Eyes Kefitzat Ha-derech A Trip to Lubar The Besht Shows His Disciples Elijah The Besht's Humor Elijah Sent and Recalled The Dancing Bear Avoid Depression How Could I Wait? He Revives a Boy and Receives Fiery Lashes L 3 Anger L 5 The Unclean Spirit of Anger L 5 Pregnant Potential L 5 The Besht Tells a Tale About Uncontrolled Anger L 5 Ripples L 5 The Anger of a Tzaddik The Proofreader and His Wife Divine Providence with a Leaf A Thirsty Disciple Feeding the World A Debate with a Misnagid A Defective Mezuzah His Grandchildren The Day of Judgment Lifting Up the Prayers Word for Word Waiting for a Powerful Prayer The Prayers of Eighty Years He Hears Torah From God Himself but Fears the Pit Having This World and the World-to-Come Trusting in God's Goodness This is Not for Good Trust and Simplicity A Prayer for When Bad Happens The Icicle Why the Besht's Prayers Were Answered: The Parable of the Shepherd Preparation for Receiving Musar Uncovering One's Heart Rejoicing in Your Portion The Katinka The Besht's Book The Besht Cannot Enter a Synagogue I Know I've Not Even Begun: The Parable of the Treasure Remember God When Studying Scrubbing Off the Logic Correcting Their Path Lighting a Candle The Parush and the White Horse The World of Exchanges His Prayer Answers a Torah Problem Three Times Speaking to Each One Seeing Providence Repenting for One Miracle with Another Simple Faith Praying for Faith The Besht's Innovation Without Questions or Doubts A Scholar and a Simple Man Compared Liquor on the Table Hiding Before Scholars Worthy Opponents Dust and Ashes Sincere Piety He Supports the Brody Kloiz The Man Who Murdered the Prophet Zechariah He Takes Torah Away from a Scholar Torah into a Cossack's Pouch The Joy of Torah Study The Antisemitic Student Absolute Unity The Council of the Four Lands L 3 Visions and Visitations L 5 Hallel L 5 Visions While Eating Serving God in All Your Ways To Labor in Prayer The Secret to Elevating Spiritually L 3 The Sabbath L 5 The Day of the Soul L 5 Anticipation L 5 How to Prepare L 5 Like a Coat L 5 A Head Taller L 5 Beyond Conversation L 5 From One World to Another L 5 Answering Questions L 5 The Parable of the King's Letter L 5 Eating with the Rebbe L 5 At the Table Before God L 5 The Tzaddik's Medicine L 5 Where A Person's Mind Is L 5 Rejoicing in the Sabbath Itself L 5 Sabbath Soul-ascents L 5 Elijah L 5 A Meditative Excursion L 2 TOWARD REDEMPTION; THE STING OF PERSECUTION AND HERESY The Besht Appoints Rabbis and Others Servants of the Redemption He's Coming Today! Rabbi Tzvi the Scribe The Cantor The Teaching of the Palm Tree and the Cedar The Parable of the Broom The Preacher's Pride The Importance of Parables and Stories The Tree of Life Witness to a Debate The Ark of the Covenant Knowing His Own Level The Tale of the Wife's Test Ascending by Prayer The Palace of the Bird's Nest It's Time to Put the Angel Michael to the Side Love for the Creation The Besht's Soul and the End His Soul-Ascent to the Messiah Bringing the Messiah His Soul Taken without Speech L 3 Persecution L 5 The First Zaslov Blood Libel (1747)L 5 L 5 The Second Zaslov Blood Libel (1750) L 5 The Conceit of Martyrdom L 5 The Martyrs of Pavlitch L 5 Comforting a Martyr's Mother L 5 If I Don't Succeed L 5 The Killings Will End L 3 Rabbi Dov Ber of Torchin (the Maggid of Mezritch) L 5 He Refuses to Visit the Besht L 5 The First Visit L 6 The First Midnight Session L 6 Love the Stranger L 6 A Cure L 6 Learning How to Eat L 5 Yom Kippur L 6 The Feast Before the Fast L 6 His Tallis L 5 Studying with Spirit L 5 You Too Cry Out! L 5 A Fountain of Torah Teaching Kabbalah in Public Hearing with an Open Ear Redeeming a Melody Good Influence The Besht Gives Medical Advice to a Duke The Impure Bed Rabbi Zev's Prayer Saves the Besht The Besht Visits Rabbi Nachman Kossover in the Other World Fixing Souls He Rebukes Rabbi Gershon The Time and Circumstances Are Not Right The Parable of the Frightening Mask Yenta the Prophetess At His Wife's Death Why Remarry? L 3 Shabtai Tzvi and Yaakov Frank, the False Messiahs L 5 Shabtai Tzvi L 5 Fixing His Soul L 5 Shabtean Books L 5 Yaakov Frank L 5 Shabtean Shochet L 5 The Threefold Cord Unravels L 5 The Decree Against the Talmud L 5 The Debates with the Frankists L 5 Fighting Fire with Fire L 5 The Wailing of the Shechinah Renewed Hostility The Ban The Cause of Death His Spiritual Power Ebbs L 2 TO DEATH AND BEYOND L 3 The Besht's Death L 5 The Koretzer Neglects the Mikvah L 5 He Sends Disciples AwayL 5 L 5 A Sick-Bell for the Servant L 5 Healing with Stories L 5 My Life for Yours! L 5 The Spirit Returns L 5 Fulfilling "To Dust Shalt Thou Return" L 5 The Doctor L 5 The Day of Death L 5 The Final Hours L 5 The Passing L 5 The Funeral L 3 After the Baal Shem Tov's Death L 5 Yankele the Thief L 5 The Besht Tells His Disciples What to Focus On L 5 His Successor L 5 Burning the Polnoyer's Book L 5 The Mezritcher Envies the Besht L 5 Rabbi Tzvi's Dream L 5 A Form of Fire L 5 The Vision of a Great Fire L 5 The Messianic Spark in Our Souls L 5 On the Walls L 4 Cleaving to the Baal Shem Tov L 3 Appendix 1: Baal Shem and Faith Healer L 3 Appendix 2: About Towns and Places L 3 Appendix 3: How This Book was Constructed L 3 Notes L 5 About Source References and Endnotes L 5 Abbreviations for Frequently Cited Sources L 3 Glossary L 3 Bibliography
Library of Congress Subject Headings for this publication:
Ba'al Shem òTov, ca. 1700-1760.
Hasidim -- Ukraine -- Biography.
Rabbis -- Ukraine -- Biography.
Hasidism.