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Tsava'at Harivash: Testament of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov

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The father of Hassidism the saintly Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov along with his foremost student Rabbi Dovber of Mezhirech present in this book, a clear concise manual containing basic guidelines for the service of The Divine.

Discussions of prayer and communion with G-d and how to reach greater levels in these areas and the steps to take in order to deal with the many disturbances and obstacles preventing their attainment are frequent in the text. The book also portrays a deep and penetrating understanding of the human condition in respect to its draw towards evil and provides practical advice through which it may be overcome and channeled for more productive and positive living . Being rendered in non-sophisticated terms makes this book very readable. Annotated by a foremost Torah scholar and Professor of Philosophy Rabbi Jacob Immanuael Schochet makes comprehension of the material richer and more simple for the average reader. The importance of such an accurate guide to the fulfillment of G-d's will is beyond measure. And thus every Synagogue, Jewish Library and Jewish home will benefit greatly from this masterpiece of Jewish literature.

Tzava'at Harivash: The Testament Of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov is expertly translated and informatively annotated by Jacob Immanuel Schochet, an acknowledged authority on Jewish philosophy and mysticism. One of the earliest Chassidic texts, Tzava'at Harivash is the first complete English rendition of a classic work that has formerly had only individual pieces and excerpts translated. Emphasizing the path to achieving joy and equanimity while keeping oneself free from the deadly barbs of pride, vanity, and other facets of evil that impede one's service to G-d, Tzava'at Harivash explores means to achieve transformation of the Jewish soul, thought, and experience through a spiritual search for the meaning of existence. As profound and inspirational today as it was three hundred years ago.

The first edition of this book appeared in the 1790s, only a generation after the Baal Shem Tov's death. So if it does not in fact reflect his thought, it certainly reflects the thought of some of his disciples.

One common stereotype of Hasidim is that of unlearned, hard-drinking, simple, pious Jews. But this book reflects another side of Hasidism- scholarly, mystical and ascetic. Here's an example: "Never look intently at mundane matters, nor pay any attention to them, so that you may be separated from the physical. Intent viewing of the mundane brings crudity upon oneself ... Think that you belong to the Supernal World and all the people dwelling in this world should not be important to you. For the whole of this world is but a granule in relation to the Supernal world." As far as how spiritually enlightening one finds this sort of thing, it is of course a matter of taste.