Akademik

Jacob Joseph of Polonnoye
(d. 1782)
   Ukrainian Hasidic scholar. He was a rabbi at Sharagrod, but left his position after he became a follower of the Baal Shem Tov. Later he served as a rabbi at Rashkov, Nemirov and Polonnoye. His Toledot Yaakov Yoseph is a primary source for the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov; it led the Vilna Gaon, Elijah ben Soloman Zalmon, to issue a ban against the Hasidim. His other works include the biblical commentaries Ben Porat Yoseph, Tzaphenat Paneah, and Ketonet Passim.

Dictionary of Jewish Biography. .