Life Stories
Life Stories
This chapter reviews the Shivhei Ha-Besht, which is considered the most prolific, interesting, intriguing, problematic, and most exploited source relating to the Ba’al Shem Tov. The title in Hebrew means, “Praises of the Ba’al Shem Tov.” The book is a collection of more than two hundred hagiographic stories concerning the Besht and some of the people associated with him. The chapter mentions some of the stories, such as the birth of the Besht, the Besht’s marriage, the Besht and the robbers, the Besht as Rabbi Gershon’s coachman, the Besht’s revelation, and the Besht’s prayer. Every writer on the Besht has made use of the Shivhei Ha-Besht in constructing a portrayal. The chapter also analyzes the relationship of the stories in Shivhei Ha-Besht to historical events.
Keywords: Shivhei Ha-Besht, Ba’al Shem Tov, Hebrew, hagiographic stories, Rabbi Gershon
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