Collections: Rabbi Weinberger: Toras Baal Shem Tov

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Packet from Rav Mottel Zilber, page 13. Right before the birth of the Baal Shem Tov the Jewish people were in utter despair. The Chmielnicki Massacre and Shabbtai Zvi y"s devastated most Jews in the region. The light of the Besht was revealed at this moment, and in the blink of an eye the state changed. Simple Jews became engulfed in a fire to serve God. Where as before it was specific individuals who reached these exalted levels, now the masses were able to feel close to God. The Besht raised the standard expectation for the regular Jew. Jews now expected to feel close to God, expected to experience Shabbos, etc. The same thing that happened in spirituality was also happening in the physical world. This light continues its influence today.