יעקב יוסף כ"ץ

Rabbi Yaakov Yosef HaKohen of Polnoye (d. 24 Tishrei 5542/1781), known as the Toldot Yaakov Yosef after his sefer, was the earliest of the great talmidim of the Baal Shem Tov and the first to give the Torah of chassidut written form. A descendant of Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropoli and of the Tosafot Yom Tov, he first served as rav of Sharigrad, conducting himself with ascetic separation in the derech of the mekubalim — until, drawn close to the Baal Shem Tov through the Mochiach (preacher) of Polnoye, he joined the new movement, at the cost of his position. He afterward served as rav of Rashkov and Nemirov, and from 1770 as rav of Polnoye, succeeding the Mashgiach.

His Toldot Yaakov Yosef (1780), sermons arranged by the weekly parsha, was the first chassidic sefer ever printed — and it remains the primary source for the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, whose words he brings firsthand in passages headed “words I heard from my master.” Three further sefarim followed, their titles all alluding to Yosef: Ben Porat Yosef (1781), Tzafnat Paneiach (1782), and Ketonet Pasim, printed from manuscript long after his passing.

After the passing of the Baal Shem Tov he stood with the Maggid of Mezritch at the head of the young movement — the Maggid as its leader, and the Toldot as its teacher in writing. In his sefarim he developed the foundational chassidic teaching of the tzaddik and his community: the tzaddik stands as a bridge, raising the ordinary Jew toward the avodah he cannot yet reach himself. He rests in Polnoye beside his teacher the Mashgiach.