Emphasis Preaching Journal

There have always been spiritual leaders around who were willing to offer help. Paul stands in the tradition of the Jewish rabbi or teacher. The main difference, however, is that Paul had accepted Jesus as the Messiah.

Years later, in the eighteenth century, as a result of Kabbalistic excesses upon esotericism, there would arise another Jewish lineage of teachers known as Zaddiks. The first Zaddik was Rabbi Israel ben Ehiezer, also known as Baal Shem Toy, the master of the good name of God.