Storytelling & Spirituality In
'The purpose of this book is to elevate stories and storytelling in people's esteem, so they will understand their holiness and appreciate them at their full worth. There are those who enjoy stories and storytelling but in the back of their minds think, 'After all, they're only stories.' But in the same way that the Western Wall of the Temple is not just a wall, a mere pile of stones, neither are the stories of the Torah or of the tzaddikim 'just stories.' Holy stories are the light of the...
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In explanation and by example, the author conveys the integral role of storytelling in the transmission of tradition, particularly the Hassidic lore. Buxbaum discusses the traditional opposition to storytelling in the non-Hassidic world, but the major part of the book extols the magic of the Hassidic tale. Booknews Shows how storytelling has always been an important part of Judaism and how Hasidism has revived it in recent centuries so that it is now regarded as a holy activity equal to Torah study and prayer. The stories, many about hasidic saints, are mystical as well as inspirational. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Dedication and AcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Storytelling and SpiritualityPt. IStorytelling in Hasidism1What Made Hasidic Storytelling Different?52Hasidic Praise of Stories and Storytelling93The First Hasidic Storyteller: The Baal Shem Tov174The Besht's Stories235The Besht's Use of Secular Tales276The Besht's Storyteller Disciple337Storytelling in Hasidic Life418An Established Place in Hasidism: The Mitzvah of Storytelling499Drawing People to God through Storytelling5910Traditional Opposition to Storytelling: Stories versus Teaching6711Scriptural Support for Storytelling7512Storytelling among the Misnagdim and Non-hasidim83Pt. IIHasidic Teaching about the Methods and Practices of Storytelling13Deriving Lessons from Stories9514How to Tell, How to Listen10915Hearing the Hints in Stories11716Miracle Stories: What to Believe12517Different Story Versions: Issues of Truth and Falsehood13718How Rebbes Use Stories14519An Exceptional Case: Rabbi Nahman of Bratzlav157Pt. IIIHasidic Teaching about the Benefits of Storytelling20Stories Save17321Stories Save - Continued18722Messiah203Afterword: Applications for Today209Notes213Glossary233Bibliography237Credits243Stories and Parables Index245General Index247
\ Canadian Jewish NewsIn recent years there has been a revival of Jewish storytelling in North America and this book is the first and only work on the subject. The author increases our appreciation of how hasidic tales can awaken the religious spirit and how even the average person can become a valuable storyteller.\ \ \ \ \ Sylvia FriedmanStorytelling is an integral feature of hasidic culture. "Mayses" about rebbes, their lives, teaching, and philosophies are a rich source of Jewish values and Buxbaum has taken the disparate strands and woven a colorful textile. He has made accessible material generally not available in English, and explicates it for those not acquainted with much of the esoteric lore. This scholarly book is not just stories. What mainly interested me was the importance storytelling played in the lives of hasidic masters and how we can use these stories in this day and age.\ \ \ BooknewsShows how storytelling has always been an important part of Judaism and how Hasidism has revived it in recent centuries so that it is now regarded as a holy activity equal to Torah study and prayer. The stories, many about hasidic saints, are mystical as well as inspirational. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)\ \
