A Fire in the Forest: The Life and Legacy of the Ba'al Shem Tov (2012)
Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer (1698-1760), known as the Ba'al Shem Tov ("Master of the Good Name"), is one of the most beloved and celebrated, yet elusive, figures in Jewish history. Today, Jews worldwide – and even non-Jews – revere him as the founder of the Hasidic movement, a 18th-century offshoot of Judaism that promotes a mystical interpretation of the Bible, and as a model of piety and spirituality. The documentary A FIRE IN THE FOREST explores the life and legacy of the Ba'al Shem Tov through interviews with religious leaders and scholars, and on-location footage. The title derives from a tale about rabbis finding a hidden fire in the forest where they could appeal to God for help and have their prayers answered.
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Best movie of this year hands down!
It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.
it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.
Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.