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Hasidic Judaism, a prominent Jewish religious movement, traces its origins back to the teachings and spiritual leadership of Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, popularly known as the Baal Shem Tov. Often regarded as the founder of Hasidism, the Baal Shem Tov emphasized direct communion with God through prayer, meditation, and joyful observance of religious traditions, transforming the spiritual landscape of Eastern Europe in the 18th century.