שתי איגרות לתולדות הבעש"ט

This article focuses on two letters concerning the life and activities of the Ba'al Shem Tov (1700―1760), the renowned founder of Hasidism. The letters relate to an event in which he was asked to use his magical skills to cure an ill child. The first letter is a reply sent by the Ba'al Shem Tov to Moses the Rabbi of Kutów (d. 1738), a mystic with some connection to the Ba'al Shem Tov and his circle. In the letter the Ba'al Shem Tov gives detailed instructions on how to help cure Moses' nephew, the son of Hayyim of Horodenka. The second letter was sent by Hayyim to his brother, asking him to request help from the Ba'al Shem Tov after the child had died and the family was in great need of consolation. The information given about the Ba'al Shem Tov in these two letters coincides with his image as presented by contemporary researchers, and confirms his reputation as a man of fame and a healer. Manuscripts of these two letters were recently rediscovered and copies of them displayed at the National Library in Jerusalem during an exhibition dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the death of the Ba'al Shem Tov. Since the history of early Hasidism lacks documentation, any newly revealed sources are highly significant. This article traces the story of these manuscripts, and examines their presumed authenticity. Although the first letter, at least, is fully credible, there remain concerns about whether the manuscripts are the originals. Uncertainty arises in light of the legendary discovery of a treasure during World War I in Kherson, containing many unknown documents supposedly written by the first generations of Hasidic leadership. This collection was recognized by scholars as a forgery, but since it had been accepted as authentic by some Hasidic groups, it has become a difficult task to prove the validity of any findings from this era.