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107 4 A Knowledge of Fire: Adel Ashkenazi, the Daughter of the Ba’al Shem Tov AS WE BEGIN TO MOVE INTO THE NEXT generation of Hasidism, looking at the successors of the Ba’al Shem Tov, we would like to include someone whose place as a true heir of the Ba’al Shem Tov has long been overlooked .1 Of course, we are talking about his daughter, Adel Ashkenazi (ca. 1720–ca. 1787). Often much is made of how the Ba’al Shem Tov’s son, Tzvi Hirsh,2 was unable to carry his mantle after his death, while little is said of Adel (pronounced Uh-dl), who was his close companion and confidante for many years as well as someone for whom he seems to have had a great love and respect. For the most part, Adel is honored in the Hasidic tradition as the mother of the great tzaddikim Moshe Hayyim Efraim of Sudilkov (1748–1800) and Barukh of Mezhbizh (1753–1811) as well as for being the grandmother of Nahman of Bratzlav (1772–1810). This is a traditionally honored role and truly worthy of respect, but from the small hints and tangential references to her that remain in the sources, we feel that there is a person of greater complexity and significance yet to be revealed—someone who perhaps carried an alternate, some might say “feminine” lineage of the Ba’al Shem Tov. For while the “shamanic” dimension of the Ba’al Shem Tov’s teaching becomes less and less emphasized by many of his male heirs from generation to generation (in favor of more acceptable textual learning), this lineage is very clearly passed on to Adel. Moreover, who among the tzaddikim inherited his role 108 A HEART AFIRE as a healer and herbalist? We don’t hear of the Maggid of Mezritch dispensing herbs or dealing with kamayot (amulets), as the Ba’al Shem Tov did. But we do hear these things of Adel. So perhaps it is time to take a fresh look at Adel Ashkenazi, to revive what we can of the stories and teachings around her life, and to honor her as a true tzaddeket. BRINGING HIM DOWN TO EARTH When a daughter was born to the Ba’al Shem Tov and his wife, Hannah, around the year 1720, he named her Adel, claiming the verse Aish Da’at Lamo (a fiery knowledge unto them) (Deut. 33:2)3 as his inspiration. It was a verse that spoke both of her character and her destiny as an important heir of her father, Yisra’el ben Eliezer, the Ba’al Shem Tov and keeper of the family traditions of holiness and healing. The Ba’al Shem Tov was approximately 22 years old at the time of Adel’s birth and was still living near the Carpathian Mountains. As we have already seen, these were years of intense spiritual practice for the Ba’al Shem Tov, years spent in study and meditation with his heavenly master, Ahiyah haShiloni . And it is very much in this contemplative mood that we find him in the following gentle story. DURING HIS HIDDEN years, it was the custom of the Ba’al Shem Tov to dwell in the solitude of the forest during the days of the week and to spend most of his time at home on Shabbat. Often, he fasted during these weekdays. It was not that he wished to discipline his body with ascetic exercises; but, being so absorbed in his prayers and meditations, he simply forgot to eat! Soon Hannah, his wife, noticed that he was looking rather pale and thin and realized what must be happening. She urged him to remember to eat, but what more could she do? When he was in the forest, either he would eat or he wouldn’t. But on Shabbat it was a different story. After Hannah became aware of the fact that her husband was not eating during the week, she knew she would have to make certain that he ate on Shabbat. But, as often happened, when the Ba’al Shem Tov sat down at the table for his Shabbat meal, he was in such an awesome state of deveikut (adhering to the Divine) that after taking just one bite of the h.allah his mind soared to the upper worlds! Hannah called to him, trying to draw his mind back down to the table but could not reach him. Then she had an idea...

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