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THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA

turned his democratic ideal. He recognizes only the supplication of the perfectly pious, the Zaddik, who is capable of absolutely withdrawing The Zaddik all his thought from earthly things, as the and concentrating it upon God. The Exception. Zaddik, as the favorite of heaven, is the instrument by means of which God bestows His mercies upon the world. Because of his union with God he is the connecting link between God and creation, and thus the channel of blessing and mercy. The love men hear the Zaddik is therefore the means to win the grace of God. The duty of the ordinary mortal is thus to love the Zaddik, and to be entirely subservient to him. In this conception of Hasidism lies Baer's significance he destroys the idealism which lay at the foundation of the Hasidic movement, originating thus a tendency which could not but result in crass superstition and addled doctrines. Baer indeed sought hereby to establish the authority of the best, as he conceived the Zaddik to be, in opposition to the Rabbis, who relied upon their learning for their authority. However, he insisted upon the precepts promulgated by Besht, such as unselfishness, industry in doing good, peaceableness, charity in judgment of others, temperance without total abstinence, courage without pride and insolence. The success of Hasidism under Baer was due in great part to the ideal conceptions

and

sacrifices of its early converts,

who

resembled

enthusiasts among the first Judffio-Christians. But all of this did not prevent the appearance, soon after the inculcation by Baer of such lofty conceptions, of less noble The characters who impressed upon ZadDegenerate dikism some most pernicious features. Zaddik. Not all of Baer's disciples accepted Zaddikism, at least not in its entirety. There came to be two distinct tendencies among Baer's followers; the philosopho-mystic, prevalent in Lithuania, and the practical Zaddikist, at home in Poland and Galicia (see Cabala and Hasidism). in

their actions the

Bibliography Dubnow, Voshhod, Ix. Nos. 9-11 Gratz, Gesch. der Juden, xi. 98 et seq. and note 22 Kohan, in HaShahar, v. 63M39; Ruderman, ib. vi. 93 et seq.; Lobel, in





Svldmith,

HaBad,

ii.

315;

Rodkinsohn,

'Ammude

Toledot

ha-

1876, pp. 7-23.

L. G.

k.

BAER

NAPHTALI HA-KOHEN.

B.

See

ASHKENAZI, BaKII.MANK.

BAER PINSK

(DOB)

BEN NATHAN NATA OF

Russian rabbi of the first half of the eightHe was a descendant of Rabbi eenth century. Nathan Nata Shapiraof Cracow (who was the author Baer is the author of of "Megalleh 'Amukim"). "Neta' Sha'ashuim," a commentary on some parts of

the Talmud, Zolkiev, 1748.

Bibliography



Fuenn, Keneset Yisrael,

p. 186,

Warsaw, 1886. II. R.

Baer of Meseritz Baer, Selig-mau

century had so intimate an acquaintance with

all the Masorah as had Baer and it was largely that the study of this branch of Hebrew philology was brought to the notice of Biblical critics. His friendship

details of the

due

to



him

with Franz Delitzsch, sponsor for his work,

who stood much of aided

him

in

making

known to the world the results of his studies.

He never occupied an academic position, but was contented with the office of

Hebrew

teacher to the Jewish community of Biebrich. In recognition of his services to the

'

Commission for the History of the Jews in Germany, the honorary Seligman Baer. degree of doctor of philosophy was conferred upon him by the University of Leipsic. In conjunction with Delitzsch he published in 1861 an edition of the Psalms (Leipsic, Doerfling und Franke). A second edition was published a few years later (Leipsic, Brockhaus). In the mean time, in connection with Delitzsch, Baer had conceived the plan of editing anew the books of the Old Testament in Hebrew, following strictly the Masoretic tradition. The volumes, with a Latin preface by Delitzsch, appeared (Leipsic, Tauchnitz) in the following order: Genesis, 1869; Minor ProphPsalms (together with a "Elementa Accentuationis

Isaiah, 1872; Job, 1875;

Collaborates with

treatise

Franz

Metrical

Delitzsch.

ets,

with

1878;

"

"),

1880



Proverbs (together

De Primorum Vocabulorum

Dagessatione

1880;

"),

Daniel, Ezra,

and Nehemiah (together with "Chaldaismi Biblici Adumbratio " and a treatise by Friedrich Delitzsch on the Babylonian proper names in these books), were published in 1882; Ezekiel (with "Specimen Glossarii Ezechielico-Babylonici " by Friedrich Delitzsch), appeared in 1884; followed by the five Megillot, 1886; the book of Chronicles, 1888; Jeremiah, 1890; Joshua and Judges, 1891; and finally Kings, 1895. The last two were edited by Baer Death prealone, Delitzsch having died in 1890. vented Baer from finishing the series. Attached to each volume were a number of Masoretic notes taken from the best editions and manuscripts, variant readings between the Occidentals and Orientals, between Ben Ashcr and Ben Naphtali, and various other Masoretic lists and enumerations. In general, Baer's text has been accepted as representing the Masoretic tradition even though exception may be taken to his view on individual points or to his too extensive generalization from insufficient Christian Ginsburg, in his manuscript evidence. introduction to his Masoretic Bible (London, 1897),

BAER, SELIGMAN (SEKEL)

Writer on the Masorah, and editor of the Hebrew Bible born at Mosbach (Baden), Sept. 18, 1830 died at Biebrich:





on-the-Rhine, May, 1897. As early as 1844, Baer

commenced

his Masoretic

He

belonged to the school of Wolf Heidenheim, some of whose original manuscripts were studies.

in his possession.

TT— 28

Few

scholars in the nineteenth

has criticized a number of these faults with some severity.

He

points out,

among

other things, that

Baer has indicated the open and closed sections in the Prophets and the Hagiographa, a thing not usually