[Avodah] The Besht

[Prof. Levine]

Recently I purchased the new book Hasidism, A New History out of 
curiosity.  See

https://goo.gl/vKij3H

I have only read 51 pages of this large volume,  but I have to say 
that what I have read is to me simply beyond my understanding of Judaism.

The book quotes from the writings of the Besht where he describes 
the  ascents of his soul into heaven.  Below is s short quote that 
summarizes these ascents.

"According to these accounts, the Besht was a welcome guest in 
heaven, interacting with important personages from the past like the 
biblical Ahiah the Shilonite. The heavenly hosts affirmed his special 
spiritual status and his unique role as intermediary between God and 
the world. He spoke personally with Satan and the Messiah-in-waiting. 
This supernatural communication was not only a means for the Besht to 
represent the needs of the Jewish people before the heavenly power 
but also gave him insight into God's plan, especially for the Jews."

Do Hasidim today believe that the Besht spoke to Satan and the 
Messiah-in-waiting?

Also,  RSRH writes that Am Yisroel needs no intermediary between it 
and HaShem,  so how is one to reconcile this with the claim that the 
Besht was such an intermediary?

YL


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