Elijah Ba'al Shem of Chelm

Elijah Ba'al Shem Of Chelm

Elijah Ba'al Shem (born 1550- died 1583) was a Polish rabbi who studied under Rabbi Solomon Luria and later became the Chief Rabbi of Chełm. He was a co-signer of the Agunah laws and, according to legend, used the powers of Kabbalah to create a Golem creature. Many legends surround his life in regards to this creation. Because of his mastery over the names of God, he was the first Rabbi to be given the Baal Shem title. He was the grandfather of Rabbi Tzvi Ashkenazi and the great grandfather of Jacob Emden.