The Enigma of the Baal Shem Tov's Passing
Although it is agreed that the Baal Shem Tov passed on Shavuot, the exact day remains a topic of debate.
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The Passing of the Baal Shem Tov on Shavuot
The Year: 1760. Location: Medzhybizh, Ukraine.
In the presence of his devoted students, the sacred Baal Shem Tov, may his memory be a blessing, departed from this world. It happened on Shavuot, a day when the heavenly realms rejoiced as the soul of a pure and righteous man joined them.
Despite detailed accounts of the sequence of events and who was present, there is still confusion. For years, the question persisted: did he pass on the first day of Shavuot or the second?
When Exactly Did the Baal Shem Tov Pass Away?
In the book 'Shivhei HaBesht', it is clearly stated that his passing occurred on the first day, which was also the understanding in the community of Medzhybizh. Additional support for this claim comes from several sources. They tell of Rabbi Baruch of Medzhybizh, the Baal Shem Tov's grandson, who would enter his study hall in the middle of reciting the 'Tikkun Leil Shavuot' every year. Whenever the kaddish was required, the grandson would recite it in honor of his grandfather's memory.
However, the confusion persisted for years, as other sources argue for the second day as the day of his passing. This debate was further clarified by Chassidic researcher Dr. Yitzchak Alfasi, who discovered an explicit reference in the prayer book of Rabbi Avraham Shimshon of Rashkov, a student of the Baal Shem Tov. Inside, he wrote: 'My teacher, Rabbi Yisrael, the Baal Shem, passed, due to our many sins, on the first day of Shavuot, the fourth day of the week, in 1760.'
'No One Knows His Burial Place'
Regarding the mystery of the exact day, it's said in the name of the holy Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin, who expounded it as akin to what is said of Moses, 'and no one knows his burial place.' A mystery indeed.
Watch: Who Was the Baal Shem Tov? A Fascinating Short Clip
Further Reading on the Baal Shem Tov:
Where Was the Baal Shem Tov Born?
For more on the Baal Shem Tov's approach to outreach, click here.
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