The Legend of the Baal-Shem (Paperback, 2nd edition)

These 20 stories about the founder of the Hasidic faith, Israel ben Eliezer, called the Baal-Shem or Master of God's Name, provide an account of the genesis of Hasidism, still Judaism's most important religious movement. Prefaced by an explanation of the life and principles of the Hasidim, tales such as "The Werewolf", and "The Heavenly Journey" tell of the Baal-Shem's life in early 18th-century Podolia and Wolhynia, and of the birth of his revelatory faith, founded on active love, joy and private longing for God. Initially scorned by the Rabbinical establishment, the Baal-Shem's intense piety and fierce spiritual honesty ultimately made him a figure of devotion amongst commoners, peasants and visionaries. As a delicate and moving portrayal not only of the power of the Baal-Shem's mystical faith, but also of Eastern European Jewish daily life, "The Legend of the Baal-Shem" is a useful introduction to Hasidic religious thought, and to Martin Buber's own influential philosophy of love and mutual human understanding.