[Avodah] The Besht

Saul Guberman saulguberman at mail.gmail.com
Mon Feb 19 09:21:18 PST 2018


On Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at 5:15 AM, Prof. Levine wrote:
> Recently I purchased the new book Hasidism, A New History out of
> curiosity.  See
> https://goo.gl/vKij3H
...
> The book quotes from the writings of the Besht where he describes the
> ascents of his soul into heaven....

> "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?
...

Why wouldn't hasidim and others thing that the BESHT could not ascend to
the heavens.  There are stories in the gemorah like this.  There are
stories of the ARI doing this and Rav Caro talking with angels.  Yahadus is
more than 3,000 years old.  RSRH is not the only commentator and expounder
on the religion.  There is no reason to square this with his thoughts.  He
was not a tanah, amorah, Gaon or Rishon.


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