The Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov

by Yitzhak Buxbaum

Overview

This is a life, in stories, of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov (1700-1760), the founder of Hasidism. The Baal Shem Tov, or the Besht, as he is commonly called, led a revival in Judaism that put love and joy at the center of religious life and championed the piety of the common folk against the rabbinic establishment. He has been recognized as one of the greatest teachers in Jewish history, and much of what is alive and vibrant in Judaism today, in all denominations, derives from his inspiration. Abraham Joshua Heschel, who was descended from several illustrious Hasidic dynasties, wrote: "The Baal Shem Tov brought heaven to earth. He and his disciples, the Hasidim, banished melancholy from the soul and uncovered the ineffable delight of being a Jew."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826418883
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/09/2006
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	448
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.91(d)

About the Author

Yitzhak Buxbaum is a maggid, a traditional Jewish Storyteller. He is the author of nine books, including Jewish Spiritual Practice, Jewish Tales of Mystic Joy, Jewish Tales of Holy Women and Storytelling and Spirituality in Judaism.

Editorial Reviews

'Yitzhak Buxbaum's "The Light and Fire of the Ba'al Shem Tov" is a beautifully put together, easily accessible treasury if these tales. Its uniqueness lies in his efforts to place the tales, as best as her can, in chronological order and so paint for us a sophisticated biography if the Ba'al Shem Tov....This fine work is user-friendly with useful endnotes, a glossary of Jewish terms and a bibliography to aid further study.'Jewish Chronicle, Rabbi Demant, 8th September 2006
Spirituality and Health

"A fabulous tome for the old and the young, for those who are liberal or those who are traditional. Buxbaum's compilation is enjoyable for bedtime reading for adults and children, as well as an outstanding source for scholars and rabbis." -Shamash Book of the Month, July 2006
Parabola

"A wonderfully, enchanting compilation of stories from the Baal Shem Tov that captures the essence and Yiddishkeit of chassidut. A fabulous tome for the old and young, for those who are liberal or those who are traditional. Buxbaum's compilation is enjoyable for bedtime reading for adults and children, as well as an outstanding source for scholars and rabbis."- Shamash, February 22, 2006
Blurb from reviewer

From the Publisher