Description
The Power of Hasidic Stories: Their Meaning For Our Time is the kind of book you want to have easy access to for a frequent dose of Hasidic wisdom.
Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins analyzes 62 stories, cleverly and often humorously written by the Hasidic Masters. He draws out what we should learn from each story to understand its meaning for our time, emphasizing what he sees as the core lesson of the story.
The foundation for each story is based on the wisdom of Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer, popularly known as the Baal Shem Tov, (1700-1760) and by the acronym, the Besht. The Besht found ways to enliven, brighten, and invigorate many aspects of Jewish life. In addition to story-telling, he introduced wordless melodies, which became a central part of Hasidic prayer, and Hasidic dancing, giving worship a cheerful tone.
- Author : Dov Peretz Elkins
This author knows how to tell a story about some of the world’s great stories. Dov Peretz Elkiins weaves the threads of Hasidic stories into a tapestry of Jewish — and human — values. There are all kinds of stories in this world. Dr. Elkins judiciously chooses stories that are based on love, patience, compassion and gentleness. Those themes are often evident in the stories. Such stories are straightforward, beautiful and compelling. But sometimes the stories are zen-like, paradoxical. In those instances it is the genius of Dr. Elkins that he ties together the disconnected threads and shows the reader just how beautiful the Hasidic tapestry is.