Who Was Hillel Baal Shem? Jewish Biography as History Dr. Henry Abramson

A mysterious figure of the early 18th century whose work, recently discovered by Dr. Yohanan Petrovsky-Stern, sheds light on the world of popular culture from which Hasidism emerged.
Support our Students!
The Friends of Jewish History: www.crowdrise....
Follow us!
Facebook: / jewishhistoryatj
Twitter: / hmabramson

[@jancomestor4820]

I very much enjoyed this. Fascinating lecture.

[@davidsavage6324]

thank you so much for spotlighting the shamanic nature of Judaism. As a person with bipolar with pronounced social dysfunction (schizophrenia/split mind) since the age of ten (not to mention possible mild developmental disorder, but I prefer that Jungian term puer aegis or w.e. is Latin for eternal boy) I found tremendous comfort as a teenager when I found Joseph Campbell's Myth To Live By CH. 10 Schizophrenia the inward journey which discusses the ancient term for what we call schizophrenia is shaman's illness which wasn't seen as permanent and after having gone thru ones own extreme emotional, mental and spiritual crisis (which Jung called nekyia or night sea voyage into the unconscious mythopoeic realm of archetypes) one was seen as more equipped to guide others thru minor and major psychological crises. so I see my shamans illness as a (latent, at first) birthright anointing me in suffering thru which the first created muse of ha Shem the Spirit of Wisdom/ Chochmah speaks. coupled with my Jewish birthright as a Levi and a first born no less, I am so grateful for the alchemical power of the ideas of Judaism and other moral expressions of spirituality to move the mind toward redemptive harmony. oh enthusiastic gratitude is so sweet! And even the suffering God imposes (Isaiah 45:7) is a sacrament which continues to shine light and understanding after it has passed. how exciting Jewish studies are! how overwhelming is my awe of Jewish civilization. how enchanting it is to guard these spiritual suns which invigorate our souls. why would even the deepest doubter of theism ever trample these wonderful beauties even if they didn't have a literal interpretation of them?

[@elkay381]

Thank you. As always, a very interesting and informative lecture on a relatively obscure subject. I'm looking forward to the next one!

[@arielyaari4548]

Great Lecture! When will there be new ones?

[@richsenyor6641]

Can you do a lecture on Rav Kaduri? I think he used amulets as well.

[@aloysiusglaswep3182]

I think it might be worthy to do a lecture on "A Bintel Brief"

[@iaminbetweendays]

Thank you.

[@mklik4]

Thanks for sending back to the dictionary every so often..

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

My family keeps one handy by the dining room table for mealtime challenges.

[@naftalicamiel9433]

black "