God with faith and belief in the efficacy of prayer." (Jewish Encyclopedia). By his universal appeal and insistence on simple religion, he made Judaism a democratic faith, a religion of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Besht spent most of his life in the Podolian town of Miedzyboz. Unfortunately, he did not write a book dealing with his teachings. He usually expressed his doctrine in sayings and parables which were developed by his disciples into a formal system. Two main ideas characterized the Chasidic creed. (I) Religious Pantheism or the belief in the Divine Omnipresence. (II). The Idea of Communion between God and man. Prayer is the best form of communion. These are the chief ideas, but other principles were expressed which surely have the modern tone. Serve God with a cheerful and happy mind. Sadness and sorrow darken the soul. Hence, the harm of asceticism is inferred. By constant communion, one may acquire the gift of Prophecy, and become a Zadik. This word varies with the word Chasid and is derived from the Hebrew word, which means "A Righteous Man." In the Chasidic sense, the Zadik is a mediator between God and his people.

By the usual law of historic progress, the original doctrine of the founder of Chasidism became developed into a further system -- Zaddikism. This was the work of the two chief disciples of Besht, Rabbi Baer of Meseritz and Jacob Jcseph Cohen of Kovno. From both places went forth many young men trained in the Chasidic cult. Meanwhile, countless Chasidic