Tradition and Fantasy in the Tales of Reb Nahman of Bratslav (SUNY Series in Judaica) (Suny Series in Judaica, Hermeneutics, Mysticism and Religion) [Paperback]

Ora Wiskind-Elper (Author)

Book Description

Series: Suny Series in Judaica, Hermeneutics, Mysticism and Religion | Publication Date: July 10, 1998

Considers the tales of Reb Nahman of Bratslav within a broad cultural milieu, including the romanticism of Reb Nahman's time, contemporary feminist hermeneutics, and the fantastic in various contexts.

One of the most radically innovative of Hasidic masters, Reb Nahman of Bratslav transformed images and concepts basic to Jewish thought into new and compelling forms. Tradition and Fantasy in the Tales of Reb Nahman of Bratslav uses comparative literary criticism, a range of Hasidic commentary, and original exegesis of the source texts to bring the complex artistry of Reb Nahman's thought to light, making it accessible to a wider audience.

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About the Author

Ora Wiskind-Elper teaches at Michlalah Jerusalem College and at Matan-Women's Institute for Torah Studies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 324 pages
• Publisher: State University of New York Press (July 10, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791438147
• ISBN-13: 978-0791438145
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 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: #2,322,627 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Milestone in Bratzlav Studies, February 16, 2008

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This review is from: Tradition and Fantasy in the Tales of Reb Nahman of Bratslav (S U N Y Series in Judaica) (Hardcover)

I have been studying the writings of Reb Nachman for decades, beginning with my first encounter via Martin Buber's version of the stories in the early 1970s, followed by R. Aryeh Kaplan's translation / commentary, and continuing through the original primary and secondary sources. Yet Ora Wiskind-Elper's work -- based on literary analysis coupled with more traditional understandings -- is the most profound and insightful treatment of the stories I have seen, aside from the works of R. Noson (Likkutei Halakhot) and R. Avraham b'Reb Nachman Chazan (Chokhmah U-Tevunah). Nothing in the academic world comes close. She seems to have an uncanny grasp of what the real issues are and what Reb Nachman not only says, but means to say. It is also refreshing to see that she writes with humility and respect about this towering and often misunderstood Hasidic mystic, and encounters the material on its own terms. This book is a must for any serious student of Bratzlav Hasidism with training in the areas of literary analysis that are Ms. Wiskind-Elper's forte.