A title meaning 'master of the name' in Hebrew, historically referring to a Jewish mystic or hasidic rabbi with spiritual powers.
From Hebrew בַּעַל שֵׁם (ba'al shem), combining 'ba'al' (master) and 'shem' (name). The most famous bearer was Israel ben Eliezer (1700-1760), known as the Baal Shem Tov, who founded Hasidic Judaism.
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