Jacob Joseph of Polonne

Senior disciple of the founder of Chassidut, the Baal Shem Tov, Jacob Joseph was one of the chief disseminators of his master's teachings through his published works. Born into a prominent rabbinical family, he was serving as rabbi in Sharograd, Western Ukraine, and was initially opposed to the fledgling Chasidic movement, but changed course after an inspirational meeting with the Baal Shem Tov. His embrace of Chasidism caused him to forfeit his position in Sharograd, whereupon he took up rabbinic posts in Rashkov (1748-1752), and then Nemirov (1752-1770), before finally settling in Polonne (1770-1782). His works, the titles of which all contain allusions to the author's name, are: "Toldot Yaakov Yosef", which was the first book of Chassidic teachings ever published; "Ben Porat Yosef"; "Tzofnat Paneach"; and "Ketonet Pasim". The Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezeritch are frequently mentioned throughout Jacob Joseph's books, which are considered to be a prime source of their teachings.