A Fire in the Forest: The Life and Legacy of the Ba'al Shem Tov

  • Genre: Documentary
  • Run time: 58 min
  • Premiere: 2012. July 26.

Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer (1698-1760), known as the Ba'al Shem Tov ("Master of the Good Name"), is one of the most beloved and celebrated, yet elusive, figures in Jewish history. Today, Jews worldwide – and even non-Jews – revere him as the founder of the Hasidic movement, a 18th-century offshoot of Judaism that promotes a mystical interpretation of the Bible, and as a model of piety and spirituality. The documentary A FIRE IN THE FOREST explores the life and legacy of the Ba'al Shem Tov through interviews with religious leaders and scholars, and on-location footage. The title derives from a tale about rabbis finding a hidden fire in the forest where they could appeal to God for help and have their prayers answered.

Discover

Marc Soloway

Self - Host / Narrator (voice)

Camera

Charles W. Murphy

Camera Operator

Antony Cooper

Camera Operator

Crew

Reb Zalman

Thanks

Directing

Chuck Davis

Director

Editing

Chuck Davis

Editor