Editing Dov Ber of Mezeritch (section)

==Visit to Baal Shem Tov==
Dov Ber was originally a student of the [[Jacob Joshua Falk|Pnei Yehoshua]] later became an admirer of [[Isaac Luria]]'s system of ''[[Kabbalah]]'', which was becoming popular at that time, and was aware of [[Moshe Chaim Luzzatto]], whose writings, then only in manuscript, were well known among the Polish mystics of the period.{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}} Dov Ber followed the Lurian school, living the life of an [[Asceticism in Judaism|ascetic]], [[Fasting in religion#Judaism|fasting]] a great deal, praying intensely, and living in poverty. He is reported{{where|date=March 2013}} to have become a cripple as a result of poor nourishment.{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}}

One account has it that on account of his poor health he was persuaded to seek out the ''Baal Shem Tov'' for a cure.
He arrived at the ''Baal Shem Tov's'' house, expecting to hear expositions of profound mysteries, but instead was told stories of the latter's everyday life. Hearing only similar stories at each subsequent visit,  Dov Ber decided to return home. Just as he was about to leave, he was summoned again to the ''Baal Shem Tov's'' house. The ''Baal Shem Tov'' opened an ''"Eitz Chaim"'' of Rabbi [[Chaim Vital]] (Rabbi Isaac Luria's chief disciple), and asked him to explain a certain passage. Dov Ber did so to the best of his ability, but the ''Baal Shem Tov'' declared that he had not understood the real meaning of the passage. Dov Ber  reviewed it once more and insisted that his interpretation was correct. The Baal Shem Tov then proceeded to explain the passage himself. Legend has it that, as he spoke, the darkness suddenly gave way to light, and angels appeared and listened to the ''Baal Shem Tov's'' words. "Your explanations," he said to Dov Ber, "were correct, but your deductions were thoughts without any soul in them."<ref name=JE/> This experience persuaded Dov Ber to stay with the ''Baal Shem Tov''.<ref>Martin Buber, Die Erzählungen der Chassidim, 12. Auflage, Zürich: Manesse Verlag, 1992, {{ISBN|3-7175-1062-2}}, p. 194</ref><ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/this-day-in-jewish-history/.premium-1.561625 This Day in Jewish History 1772: The Maggid, Untrained Successor to Baal Shem Tov, Dies], [[Haaretz]]</ref>

Dov Ber is reported to have learned from the ''Baal Shem Tov'' to value everyday things and events, and to emphasize the proper attitude with which to [[Torah study|study Torah]]. The mystical philosophy of the Baal Shem Tov rejected the emphasis on mortification of the body in [[musar literature|Musar]] and [[Kabbalah|Kabbalistic]] traditions, seeing the greater spiritual advantage in transforming the material into a vehicle for holiness, rather than breaking it. This could be achieved by the perception of the omnipresent [[Divine immanence]] in all things, from understanding the inner mystical Torah teachings of [[Hasidic thought]]. Under the guidance of the ''Baal Shem Tov'', Dov Ber abandoned his ascetic lifestyle, and recovered his health, though his left foot remained lame. The Baal Shem Tov said that "before Dov Ber came to me, he was already a pure golden menorah (candelebrum). All I needed to do was ignite it."<ref name="ReferenceA">''The Great Maggid'' by [[Jacob Immanuel Schochet]], Kehot Publication Society</ref> Regarding his holiness, the Baal Shem Tov also reputedly{{By whom|date=March 2013}} said that if Dov Ber had not been lame, and had been able to ritually immerse in the [[mikvah]], then he could have been able to bring the [[Mashiach]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}}