Jacob Joseph of Polonne

Rabbi Jacob Joseph of Polonne, (1710–1784) (in Hebrew יעקב יוסף הכהן) or Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Pollonye, was one of the first and best known of the disciples of the founder of Hasidic Judaism, the Baal Shem Tov.

Biography

Yaakov Yosef (sometimes spelled Yacov Yoseph) had been a fervent adherent to the school of Lurianic Kabbalah.[1] He was already an accomplished scholar when he attached himself to the Besht (Baal Shem Tov), and his becoming a disciple engendered much controversy, and indeed some persecution. At that time, he was the rabbi of the city of Shargorod for several years, and he was expelled from his position on a Friday afternoon in 1748. In several of his responsa, which he wrote in Rashkov, where he took up residence after his banishment from Sharogrod, he reveals the suffering which he had undergone.[2] Later, he was appointed rabbi in Nemirov, a center of Hasidism, where he practiced daily fasting for five years, until the Besht came upon him.

His book, Toldos Yaacov Yosef, (published in 1780), was the first chassidic work ever published. In it repeats the phrase, "I have heard from my teacher", 249 times. He is one of the foremost sources for teachings from the Baal Shem Tov. Reb Yaacov Yosef was also somewhat known for his abrupt temperament, yet his teachings on the Zaddik, the saint-mystic and holy leader, provide an example of attainment of the highest degree of spiritual solitude, while also exemplifying the piety of a respected leader at the center of the community.

Family

Rabbi Jacob Joseph's son was Rabbi Samson of Raszkow.

Teachings

Rabbi Jacob Joseph addresses the question regarding the dual requirement in Judaism to both love and fear God. Rabbi Jacob Joseph resolves this matter by asserting that when one reaches a high level of inwardness (of the soul), both fear and love of God coalesce into one, becoming indistinguishable from one another, eliminating the need to give priority to one over the other.[3]

Works

Rabbi Jacob Josef authored four books:[4]

  • Toledot Yaakov Yosef (1780)
  • Ben Porat Yosef (1781)
  • Tzafnat Paneach (1782)
  • Ketonet Pasim published posthumously

The titles of these four works are all biblical allusions to Rabbi Jacob Joseph's name, in particular the figure of Joseph.[5]

References
  1. Dresner, Samuel H. (Rabbi). The Zaddik - The Doctrine of the Zaddik according to the writings of Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Polnoy, Shocken Books, 1974 (reissue of the Abelard-Schuman ed., London, 1960) ISBN 0-8052-0437-7; p. 50.
  2. Dresner Zaddik; p. 57
  3. Sherwin, Byron L. "Fear of God." 20th Century Jewish Religious Thought: Original Essays on Critical Concepts, Movements, and Beliefs. Arthur Allen Cohen, Paul Mendes-Flohr eds. Jewish Publication Society. 2009. Page 252.
  4. Bloch, Joshua. "A Legendary Edition of the" Toledot Yaakob Yosef" by Jacob Joseph ha-Kohen of Polonnoye." The Jewish Quarterly Review 31, no. 3 (1941): 245-257.
  5. Rosman, Moshe, and Murray Jay Rosman. Founder of Hasidism: A Quest for the Historical Ba'al Shem Tov. University of California Press. 1996. Page 138.
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