Speaking Torah Vol 1

Description

The most powerful Hasidic teachings made accessible—from some of the world's preeminent authorities on Jewish thought and spirituality.

"The teachings of Torah, from beginning to end, are read here as a path toward liberation, a way of uplifting your soul and allowing it to journey homeward, back to its Source in the oneness of all being. Or, even better, to discover that oneness right here, in a loving but transformative embrace of both world and self."
—from "To the Reader"

While Hasidic tales have become widely known to modern audiences, the profound spiritual teachings that stand at the very heart of Hasidism have remained a closed book for all except scholars. This fascinating selection—presented in two volumes following the weekly Torah reading and the holiday cycle, and featured in English and Hebrew—makes the teachings accessible in an extraordinary way.

Volume 1 covers Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus, and includes a history of early Hasidism and a summary of central religious teachings of the Maggid's school. Volume 2 covers Numbers and Deuteronomy and the holiday cycle, and includes brief biographies of the Hasidic figures. Each teaching is presented with a fresh translation and contemporary commentary that builds a bridge between the eighteenth and twenty-first centuries. And each teaching concludes with a dynamic round-table discussion between distinguished Jewish scholar Arthur Green and his closest students—the editors of this volume. They highlight the wisdom that is most meaningful for them, thus serving as a contemporary circle's reflections on the original mystical circle of master and disciples who created these teachings.

Volume 1 of a 2-volume set

Volume 1
To the Reader xiii
Introduction: Hasidism: The First Three Generations (1740–1815) 1
What Is Hasidism? 1
Setting the Stage: Ashkenazic Piety before Hasidism 4
Personalities and Historical Events: 1740–1762 9
Around the Maggid's Table: Dramatis Personae 21
The Path to God: Key Teachings, Ideas, and Practices 28
The Tsaddik as Holy Man and Hasidic Leader 37
Controversy and Religious Innovation 44
The Emerging Movement and its Struggles: 1772–1795 50
The Wellsprings Spread Forth: 1796–1815 63

Sefer Bereshit—The Book of Genesis 75
Bereshit 77
Noah 86
Lekh Lekha 93
Va-Yera 103
Hayyey Sarah 109
Toledot 116
Va-Yetse 123
Va-Yishlah 130
Va-Yeshev 136
Mi-Kets 145
Va-Yiggash 152
Va-Yehi 160

Sefer Shemot—The Book of Exodus 167
Shemot 169
Va-Era 176
Bo 182
Be-Shalah 189
Yitro 196
Mishpatim 206
Terumah 214
Tetsaveh 222
Ki Tissa 228
Va-Yakhel 235
Pekudey 241

Sefer Va-Yikra—The Book of Leviticus 247
Va-Yikra 249
Tsav 257
Shemini 266
Tazri'a 272
Metsora' 280
Aharey Mot 285
Kedoshim 292
Emor 299
Be-Har 305
Be-Hukkotay 310
Hebrew Texts 488

Sujets

• Religion
• Judaism
• Jewish philosophy
• List of Jewish prayers and blessings
• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 23 juillet 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781580237802
• Langue: English

Extrait

PRAISE FOR SPEAKING TORAH: SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS FROM AROUND THE MAGGID S TABLE
Insightful ... puts in dialogue the thought of the most original and formative group of Hasidic masters, demonstrating the nature of their spiritual aspirations and the dynamics of the laboratory that produced the leadership of Hasidism as a movement. A fresh and inspired project that brings to life the spirituality of an unprecedented constellation of religious geniuses.
- Moshe Idel , Max Cooper Professor of Jewish Thought, Hebrew University, Jerusalem
Sparkling translations, judicious selections, wise-framing comments, comprehensive scope, with an authoritative historical introduction that masterfully summarizes a lifetime of scholarship: Rabbi Arthur Green and his students have produced the most insightful, valuable and accessible presentation of early Hasidism available in the English language, an indispensable resource for study and devotional work.
- Nehemia Polen , professor of Jewish thought, Hebrew College
As heaven and earth met in creation, so too does scholarship and true passion of the love of the Hasidic masters meet in this monumental work of devotion and wisdom. If you were to commit to learning one book, this should be it!
- Reb Mimi Feigelson , Mashpia Ruchanit
In a world which too often feels fractured and dark, these precious teachings come along to lend clarity, light and hope. This extraordinary work stirs the mind, uplifts the spirit and makes age-old wisdom accessible in a way which liberates us from our most narrow places.
- Matthew D. Gewirtz , senior rabbi, Congregation B nai Jeshurun, Short Hills, New Jersey
Magnificent ... a treasure for all who seek to understand the rich variety of spiritual worldviews and religious experiences of the people who created the Hasidic movement. The world of those sitting around their master s table comes alive in this book. The multiple levels of interpretations offered in their teachings allow us to encounter these incredible personalities in their own world and to then explore the vitality of their teaching for our contemporary Jewish life.
- Melila Hellner-Eshed , research fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute



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BEIT RABBI (PAGE 130)
It is told that the rabbi from Wolpe [his name is lost to us] was the greatest among the disciples of the great Maggid. In the early days, they would all go to hear him review the words of the Maggid, for he could repeat the teachings precisely and explain them well. But over time the disciples saw that he was being consumed from within and he could not stay there. He fell into drunkenness, may the merciful One save us. And he became a wanderer going from place to place with only his staff and pack....
R. Barukh Mordechai of Bobroysk once ran into him at an inn and recognized him by his behavior. When the Wolper went outside, R. Barukh searched his pack, hoping to find texts of the teachings. But the Wolper came back and caught him and said, Why are you going through my things? Have I stolen from you? and R. Barukh said that he was hoping to find written teachings. The Wolper said to him, With you people the hasidim are one thing and the teacher and the teachings are another. That is why you need written texts. We, our teacher, and the teachings were all truly one. We had no need for written texts. He took his staff and pack and left.
SIFTEY TSADDIKIM (FROM VA-YAKHEL )
They said in the name of the holy tsaddik R. Leib Sarah s that he used to protest against people saying Torah.
What is this saying Torah ? he would ask. A person should rather see to it that all his deeds be Torah. The person himself should be Torah. This means behaving according to Torah in all you do, until people can learn from your behavior. It is your behavior itself that is Torah.
Contents
Volume 1
To the Reader
Introduction: Hasidism: The First Three Generations (1740-1815)
What Is Hasidism?
Setting the Stage: Ashkenazic Piety before Hasidism
Personalities and Historical Events: 1740-1762
Around the Maggid s Table: Dramatis Personae
The Path to God: Key Teachings, Ideas, and Practices
The Tsaddik as Holy Man and Hasidic Leader
Controversy and Religious Innovation
The Emerging Movement and its Struggles: 1772-1795
The Wellsprings Spread Forth: 1796-1815
Sefer Bereshit -The Book of Genesis
Bereshit
Noah
Lekh Lekha
Va-Yera
Hayyey Sarah
Toledot
Va-Yetse
Va-Yishlah
Va-Yeshev
Mi-Kets
Va-Yiggash
Va-Yehi
Sefer Shemot -The Book of Exodus
Shemot
Va-Era
Bo
Be-Shalah
Yitro
Mishpatim
Terumah
Tetsaveh
Ki Tissa
Va-Yakhel
Pekudey
Sefer Va-Yikra -The Book of Leviticus
Va-Yikra
Tsav
Shemini
Tazri a
Metsora
Aharey Mot
Kedoshim
Emor
Be-Har
Be-Hukkotay
Hebrew Texts
About the Authors
Copyright
Also Available
About Jewish Lights
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Volume 2
Sefer Be-Midbar -The Book of Numbers
Be-Midbar
Naso
Be-Ha alotekha
Shelah Lekha
Korah
Hukkat
Balak
Pinhas
Mattot
Massa ey
Sefer Devarim -The Book of Deuteronomy
Devarim
Va-Ethanan
Ekev
Re eh
Shoftim
Ki Tetse
Ki Tavo
Nitsavim
Va-Yelekh
Ha azinu
Ve-Zot ha-Berakhah
Shabbat and Holidays
Shabbat
Rosh Hodesh
Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur
Sukkot
Shemini Atseret-Simhat Torah
Hanukkah
Shabbat Zakhor
Purim
Pesah
Shavu ot
Tish ah be-Av
Sources and Authors
Afterword
To the Reader
What is this book that you have just opened? Think of it as a self-help book in the most profound sense. It offers a way of reading the entire Torah as a guide to helping you find your way out of Egypt. Egypt in this sentence means your own enslavement, whatever it may be. The teachings of Torah, from beginning to end, are read here as a path toward liberation, a way of uplifting your soul and allowing it to journey homeward, back to its Source in the oneness of all being. Or, even better, to discover that oneness right here, in a loving but transformative embrace of both world and self.
Written more than two hundred years ago by a circle of Hasidic masters, these teachings have been selected and updated for your use by a small circle of contemporary interpreters. We have selected and translated the sources and have then offered our own attempts to connect the teachings to contemporary readers. But the real work-the true self-help of applying these teachings to your own life-can be done by you alone.
Speaking Torah - zogn toyreh , in Yiddish-is the unique Hasidic term for the event that underlies the teachings you are about to encounter. The Hasidic master, or rebbe , speaks Torah with his disciples gathered around his table. This is a linguistic expression of Hasidism s most essential spiritual claim: the rebbe s speech is a continuation of the great font of revelation that opened up at Mount Sinai, a great voice that has not ceased.
The book before you is a selection of spiritual teachings by R. Dov Baer of Mezritch (Miedzyrzec, 1704-1772) and his disciples, founders of the Hasidic movement, following the weekly Torah reading cycle and the Jewish festival calendar. These teachings, originally spoken and then written in Poland more than two hundred years ago, are presented to you, the contemporary reader, in the hope that they will still be found fresh, relevant, and spiritually exciting. While much careful scholarship has gone into the making of this book, it is intended above all to be a work of inspiration to individuals and groups who will study it and use it as a tool of personal spiritual growth and challenge.
Speaking Torah is meant for study and contemplation rather than for casual reading. Each of the four to six teachings offered for a weekly Torah portion or festival is built around an original and often surprising reading of a biblical text. To engage with the Hasidic commentary, always ask yourself two questions: First, How is the author rereading the passage before him? Try to see the specific problem or opening he finds in the verse, often based on wordplay. Then look carefully at the suggestion offered. Often the punch in these teachings lies in the new reading of a familiar verse. Make sure you get it, consulting the Hebrew if you are able, before moving on. Then ask, What is he trying to teach? What is the spiritual or moral message being drawn from this reading of the verse? If your interest is in part historical, you might ask further, Why is he saying this? Who constituted the audience for such a message? But if your interest is, as we hope, at least partly personal, you will see yourself/selves as that audience and ask, W