The figure of a miracle man is attested going back to the 9th century in Jewish communities north of the Alps, commonly referred to in modern popularizations as a miracle-working rabbi. Because of his esoteric knowledge, especially concerning the meaning and power of the divine name, this Baʿal Shem (Hebr.; “Master of the Name”) was credited with miraculous and healing powers. In Hasidism, the mystic movement that emerged in Eastern Europe i…
Baʿal Shem(2,403 words)
Cite this page
Karl Erich Grözinger, Potsdam, “Baʿal Shem”, in: Encyclopedia of Jewish History and Culture Online, Original German Language Edition: Enzyklopädie Jüdischer Geschichte und Kultur. Im Auftrag der Sächsischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Leipzig herausgegeben von Dan Diner. © J.B. Metzler, Stuttgart/Springer-Verlag GmbH Deutschland 2011–2017. Consulted online on 21 September 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2468-8894_ejhc_COM_01118>
First published online: 2017
First print edition: 20170409
▲ Back to top ▲