Baal Shem-Tov

or Baal Shem-Tob

[ Ashkenazic Hebrew bahl shem-tohv, -tohv; Sephardic Hebrew bahl shem-tawv, -tawv ]

noun

1. Israel ben EliezerBesht, c1700–60, Ukrainian teacher and religious leader: founder of the Hasidic movement of Judaism.

Baal Shem Tov

/ bɑːl ˈʃɛm tɒv; ˈʃɑːm /

noun

1. Baal Shem Tov?17001760MJewishPolishRELIGION: religious leaderEDUCATION: teacherMEDICINE: healer original name Israel ben Eliezer ?1700–60, Jewish religious leader, teacher, and healer in Poland: founder of modern Hasidism

Example Sentences

Wiesel tells a Chasidic tale whose lesson is vital for us and our age: When the great Rabbi Israel Baal Shem-Tov saw misfortune threatening the Jews, it was his custom to go into a certain part of the forest to meditate.

From Time