Ahron's Heart: The Prayers, Teachings and Letters of Ahrele Roth, a Hasidic Reformer [Paperback]

Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (Author), Yair Hillel Goelman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2009

For the first time, the writings of one of the 20th century's most important Hasidic thinkers are made available to a non-Hasidic English audience. Rabbi Ahron "Ahrele" Roth (1894-1944) was born into the ultra-Orthodox world and wrote exclusively for a very small community of Hasidim that he founded and which continues to this day. His work is little known outside of this insular community of Yiddish-speaking followers in Israel and New York. Reb Ahrele has a great deal to say to sincere spiritual seekers far beyond his own community. This volume includes an intense, representative selection of the large body of work Reb Ahrele produced in his relatively short life. Reb Ahrele taught his followers how they could reconnect with their true, simple, spiritual selves by providing them with clear, practical instructions in the realm of spiritual consciousness, discipline and practice. He worked persistently to communicate specific steps in order to arouse his followers' deepest spiritual intentions. "A fierce work still connected to the cloister of Meah Shearim" -The Forward

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Ben Yehuda Press (August 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934730181
• ISBN-13: 978-1934730188
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,767,514 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Challenging Chassidus, April 10, 2011

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This review is from: Ahron's Heart: The Prayers, Teachings and Letters of Ahrele Roth, a Hasidic Reformer (Paperback)

Skillfully translated and edited by R. Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and R. Yair Hillel Goelman, this volume makes R. Ahrele Roth's writings accessible to those of us who do not read Hebrew and Yiddish. R. Roth was a chasidic rabbi of the early 20th century (1894 - 1944 or 1947) who founded ultra-Orthodox communities in Hungary and Israel.

R. Arhele Roth is discussed in a brief chapter in R. Schachter-Shalomi's book Wrapped in a Holy Flame: Teachings and Tales of The Hasidic Masters. This volume provides a very welcome and much fuller treatment of R. Roth's writings. And what a powerful voice is revealed here!

R. Roth emphasizes prayer and the observation of 32 mitzvot, "meditations of the heart", that can be performed as acts of consciousness. That is, doing such mitzvot such as affirming "I love You." and "I will make a holy space for You to dwell within me." requires no overt behavior, just an act of mindfulness.

This is not an easy practice as R. Roth sets a high bar for a demanding and committed way of life. He has a very traditional chasidic world view that is quite fierce. For those used to the more gentle approach of modern rabbis, this book is eye-opening and a great introduction to a more demanding Jewish path.