Wrapped in a Holy Flame : Teachings and Tales of the Hasidic Masters

Early in the eighteenth century the legendary holy man and teacher Rabbi Israel Ba'al Shem Tov launched a spiritual movement in Eastern Europe known as Hasidism. The Hasidic movement thrived on parables and stories promulgating joy, the potential for personal transformation, aspirations of the Divine, and the infusion of daily life with music, dancing, and loving exultation- and there is no Jewish institution today that has not been affected by Hasidism. Since the time of the Ba'al Shem Tov, generations of disciples, holy men, gurus, rabbis, and teachers have spread the Hasidic movement throughout the world. Now this book presents in one volume a collection of profound insights from the greatest Hasidic masters. Wrapped in a Holy Flame offers rare stories, new translations, and an innovative introduction to the meaning and value of these classic tales and teachings. It features the work of Hasidic masters of legendary fame and influence, including the Maggid of Mezritch, Reb Pinchas of Koretz, Shneur Zalman of Liadi, Reb Nachman of Bratzlav, all the way to the twentieth century Rebbe and artist Reb Shlomo Carlebach. The author has studied and taught Hasidic stories and teachings for over fifty years. This book contains a lifetime of experience and will stand for years to come as the basic, definitive work in the field.

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, better known as Reb Zalman, was born in Poland, raised in Vienna, and ordained as a rabbi in New York. He is the pioneering father of the Jewish Renewal movement, founder of the Spiritual Eldering Institute, and an active and original teacher of Jewish mysticism. Reb Zalman taught at the University of Manitoba, Canada, from 1956 to 1975, and was professor of Jewish mysticism and psychology of religion at Temple University until his retirement in 1987, when he was named professor emeritus. In 1995 he accepted the World Wisdom Chair at Naropa University, where he is currently professor in the department of religion. The Editor Nataniel Miles-Yepez studied history of religions at Michigan State University and contemplative religion at Naropa University. He is an ordained teacher in the Sufi tradition.