Baal Shem Tov, R. Israel

I was reading up about Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidic movement. It seems there were other rabbis called “Baal Shem.” But he was the only one called “Baal Shem Tov.” What is the distinction, and what does it even mean? Reply Let’...

Yes, it is true that Rosh Hashanah is a very serious day. But is it meant to be frightening? Certainly, this kind of relationship with G-d, with Torah and with Rosh Hashanah is not what G-d ever meant . . .

All other Jewish holidays have something happy and beautiful about them. Rosh Hashanah only frightens me.