Jacob Joseph of Polonnoye. Toldoth Ya’akov Yoseph [homilies to the Pentateuch, etc.]

Second edition of the first printed book of Chassidic philosophy R. Jacob Joseph Hakohen of Polonnoye (d. circa 1782) was the amanuensis of R. Ba’al Shem Tov (1698-1760), the founder of Chassidism. The many pieces in the “Toldoth” introduced with the phrase “Shamati mi-mori” [I heard from my teacher] refer to teachings received directly from the Ba’al Shem. Opposition to the work was so considerable that upon publication many copies were publicly burnt. See Carmilly-Weinberger, pp.127-30; S.H. Dresner, The Zaddik (1960), pp. 245-54; EJ, Vol. IX, cols. 1228-1230; Y. Alfasi, Entziklopedia la-Chassiduth, Vol. II (2000), cols. 274-278