Dov Ber of Mezhirich (Ber (Maggid) of Mezhirich)

(c. 1710-72)

   Russian Hasidic teacher. Originally a folk preacher (maggid), he became a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, after whose death he became leader of the Hasidim. He transferred the movement from Medzhibozh to Mezhirich and under his leadership it spread into the Ukraine, Lithuania and central Poland. Many of his homilies are included in works written by his disciples. He provided Hasidism with a speculative-mystical system based on the kabbalah.