The Tales of the Hasidic Masters Can Become
a Companion
for Your Own Spiritual Journey.
for Your Own Spiritual Journey.
"The wisdom of the Hasidim is earthy,
realistic, rooted in the simplicity of the heart. It is alive
with the awareness of the holiness of Creation and the
boundlessness of God’s mercy, and is utterly honest about
the necessity of living such awareness in loving service to all
beings. It is a wisdom that fuses the highest mystical
initiations with the most down-home celebration of life and a
rugged commitment to social and political justice in all its
forms. In other words, it is a wisdom that is never, as my old
prep school headmaster would put it, "too divine to be of
any earthly use."
—from the Foreword by Andrew Harvey
Martin Buber, author of Tales of Hasidim,
was the first to bring the Hasidic tales to life for modern
readers in the middle of the twentieth century. His
groundbreaking work was the first time that most readers had
ever encountered the lives and teachings of these profound and
enigmatic spiritual masters from Eastern Europe.
In Hasidic
Tales: Annotated & Explained, Rabbi
Rami Shapiro breathes new life into these classic stories of
people who so marvelously combined the mystical and the
ordinary. Each demonstrates the spiritual power of unabashed
joy, offers lessons for leading a holy life, and reminds you
that the Divine can be found in the everyday. Without an expert
guide, the allegorical quality of Hasidic Tales can be
perplexing. But Shapiro presents them as stories rather than
parables, making them accessible and meaningful. Now you can
experience the wisdom of Hasidism firsthand even if you have no
previous knowledge of Jewish spirituality. This SkyLight
Illuminations edition offers insightful yet unobtrusive
commentary that explains theological concepts, introduces major
characters, offers clarifying references unfamiliar to most
readers, and reveals how you can use the Hasidic tales to
further your own spiritual awakening.
SkyLight Illuminations
Offers today's spiritual seeker an
enjoyable entry into the great classic texts of the world's
spiritual traditions. Each classic is presented in an
accessible translation, with facing pages of guided commentary
from experts, giving readers the keys they need to understand
the history, context, and meaning of the text. This series
enables readers of all backgrounds to experience and understand
classic spiritual texts directly, and to make them a part of
their lives.
"An excellent introduction and anthology of exemplary tales from the Hasidic tradition.... Highly recommended."
—Library Journal
"Like an seasoned Hasid from the
emerging future paradigm, Rami tells the stories from the
heart. His insightful comments help the contemporary
intellect to realize what the soul intuitively knows."
—Rabbi
Zalman M. Schachter-Shalomi, author
of Wrapped in a Holy Flame and First Steps to
a New Jewish Spirit
"Rami Shapiro has given us two gifts,
an illuminating contemporary rendering of this timeless
spiritual classic, along with commentary of everyday, personal
stories that reveal the joy-filled wisdom. I loved
it!"
—Sylvia
Boorstein, author of That’s Funny,You Don’t Look Buddhist
"Brings alive the holy sparks of
spirituality in modern Judaism, offering practical, clear
exercises designed to reawaken and nurture one’s soul.
This is an essential guide for anyone who wishes to tap the
wellsprings of the heart of Jewish practice."
—Rabbi
David A. Cooper, author of Silence, Simplicity & Solitude
