Rabbi Israel Ben Eliezer, also known by the acronym the “Basht”, was the founder of the Chassidic movement.

Rabbi Israel was born in Okop, a small village in the Ukraine on the Polish Russian border (Podolia) about 305 years ago, at the age of 62. His parents, Eliezer and Sarah, were quite old when he was born and they passed away when he was a still a very young child. Many legends are told about Eliezer, the father of the Baal Shem Tov. We are told that his last words to his son were "Fear nothing other than God."

The young orphan was cared for by the community and presumably received the same education most children received. Nevertheless, he was different from most children. He would wander in the fields and forests surrounding his home and seclude himself, pouring out his heart to God. Young Israel had an unusually strong emotional relationship with God. This relationship was perhaps the defining characteristic of the religious approach he would ultimately develop and which came to be known as Chassidut.

It is told that because both his parents died when he was a kid. When he entered his teens the community's responsibility to support him ended and he was given a job as a teacher's assistant (bahelfer). One of his tasks was to escort the children to and from school, a task which he performed in his own unique way, leading the children in song and praise to God.

According to legend, during this period Israel developed a relationship with other hidden Tzadikim (righteous men). The story is told as follows: after his studies, he would run to the forest for a day or two and then returns as nothing happened. No one knew what he used to do in the forest. When he was 7 years old, he went to the forest and saw from afar an old jewish man covered with a Talit and praying. Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer was drawn to his determination of prayer, as he never saw someone praying with so much intention. When the man was done praying he took out a plate of water, washed his hands and prayed some more. When he was done je took his bag and went on his way. Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer came out and introduced himself to the man. The man asked him why he walks alone in the woods, and explained it is not safe. Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer answered that his late father told him that he does not need to fear of anything but god. The man knew immediately who is the boy’s father.

The man asked Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer if he would like to join him and Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer answered: “I shell go where you go”. The man supported Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer for years.

One day the man asked Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer if he would like to go meet the manager of the “Hidden Tzadikim”, and Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer agreed. Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer met the manager named Rabbi Meir and studied with him for 4 years. He became well respected in the community of the “hidden Tzadikim” and they considered his opinion since he was 14 years old.

He also apparently married during this period, but his wife passed away. It is told that Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer married at the age of 20 to the sister of Rabbi Avraham Gershon of Kitob. At some point after the death of his first wife he moved to a town near Brody where he was hired as a teacher for young children. He became acquainted with Rabbi Ephraim of Brody, who somehow discovered that Israel was not the simple fellow he appeared to be. He was so impressed with Israel that he offered his daughter, Leah Rachel, to Israel for a wife. However, Rabbi Ephraim passed away a short time later, so when Israel went to Brody to marry his wife, he met the bride's brother, Rabbi Gershon Kitover, also a major scholar. When IsraelIsrael was dressed in the manner of an ignorant peasant. However, Israel produced a letter of engagement and Rabbi Gershon begrudgingly agreed. Leah Rachel however, was apparently more perceptive and saw that there was more to Israel than appeared on the surface. After their marriage, Rabbi Israel and his wife moved to a small town in the Carpathian Mountains. Supported by his wife, he spent this period in study and worship. presented himself as the groom, Rabbi Gershon was shocked, since

Finally, when he was thirty-six years old in the year 1734, Rabbi Israel revealed himself to the world. He settled in Talust and rapidly gained a reputation as a holy man. He became known as the Baal Shem Tov, Master of the Good Name. (The title Baal Shem (Master of the Name) was used for holy men who were known as miracle workers since they used the power of the Name of God to work miracles.) He was also known by the acronym of "“basht”." Later he moved to Medzeboz in Western Ukraine, where he lived for the rest of his life.

The Baal Shem Tov did not write down his teachings, and today we only know them through the writings of his disciples. Much of what we know is from the writings of the Baal Shem Tov's foremost disciple, Rabbi Yakov Yosef of Polonoye, the author of the first Chassidic work ever published, Toldos Yakov Yosef. He also published Ben Poras Yosef, Tzafnas Paneach, and Kesones Pasim. Together these works contain literally hundreds of direct quotes from the Baal Shem Tov.

The Baal Shem Tov passed away on the second day of Shavuout, in the year 5520 (1760). He left behind a son and daughter and a movement which continues to be significant force in the Jewish world today. He was succeeded as leader of the Chassidic movement by Rabbi Dov Baer, the Maggid of Mezritch.