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A translation of and commentary on selected passages from one of the great Hasidic texts, spiritual homilies based on the Mosaic books.
Letters of Light' is a translation of over ninety passages from a well-known Hasidic text, 'Ma'or va-shemesh', consisting of homilies of Kalonymus Kalman Epstein of Kraków, together with a running commentary and analysis by Aryeh Wineman. With remarkable creativity, the Kraków preacher recast biblical episodes and texts through the prism both of the pietistic values of Hasidism, with its accent on the inner life and the Divine innerness of all existence, and of his ongoing wrestling with questions of the primacy of the individual vis-à-vis of the community. The commentary traces the route leading from the Torah text itself through various later sources to the Kraków preacher's own reading of the biblical text, one that often transforms the very tenor of the text he was expounding. Though composed almost two centuries ago, 'Ma'or va-shemesh' comprises an impressive spiritual statement, many aspects of which can speak to our own time and its spiritual strivings.
Letters of Light' is a translation of over ninety passages from a well-known Hasidic text, 'Ma'or va-shemesh', consisting of homilies of Kalonymus Kalman Epstein of Kraków, together with a running commentary and analysis by Aryeh Wineman. With remarkable creativity, the Kraków preacher recast biblical episodes and texts through the prism both of the pietistic values of Hasidism, with its accent on the inner life and the Divine innerness of all existence, and of his ongoing wrestling with questions of the primacy of the individual vis-à-vis of the community. The commentary traces the route leading from the Torah text itself through various later sources to the Kraków preacher's own reading of the biblical text, one that often transforms the very tenor of the text he was expounding. Though composed almost two centuries ago, 'Ma'or va-shemesh' comprises an impressive spiritual statement, many aspects of which can speak to our own time and its spiritual strivings.
Price: $36.95
Pages: 280
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Inc.
Imprint: James Clarke
Publication Date:
27 August 2015
Trim Size: 9.02 X 6.02 in
ISBN: 9780227175378
Format: Paperback
BISACs:
RELIGION / Spirituality, Spirituality and religious experience
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
1) On the First Book of the Torah (B'rei'shit / Genesis)
B'rei'shit
The need to go beyond the literal sense of the Torah
The Hidden Light
The surface meaning of the Torah and the Torah's innerness
A longing permeating all existence
Two modes of Torah-study
The function of Shabbat
Humility and the world's sustainability
When one person judges another
No'ah
Noah repaired the animals
Lekh-l'kha
Go forth! - 'Go to you!'
Purity and impurity of motivation
As the stars that shine by their own light
Vayera
The pearl of healing
The element of physical desire in intercourse
The poles of mercy and justice
Hayyei Sarah
A person's coming to the tzaddik (holy man)
Tol'dot
The lure and cooling of appetite
Vayetzei
Jacob's dream-episode
The letters within all that exists
Vayishlah
Angels
The tzaddik: solitude and community
Vayeishev
The two poles that one must avoid
Miketz
The tzaddik is oblivious to fame
Vayiggash
Submission
Vay'hi
Jacob's final testament and failure
2) On the Second Book of the Torah (Sh'mot / Exodus)
Sh'mot
Torah and time
True worship requires joy
The descent of the Divine
Moses' fear of losing his humility
The bush aflame
The infinite Names of God
Va'era
The basis of Moses' hesitation
Bo
Humility renewed
The meaning of matza (unleavened bread)
B'shallah
The miracle at the Sea
Miriam and the dance at the Sea
The meaning of manna
Yitro
Why did Yitro journey to Moses?
A portrait of Moses as a judge
The status of the Sinaitic event in context
The gate of humility and its recurrence
Mishpatim
Justice and worship
T'rumah
Moses as a model of the Tabernacle
From each only according to his ability
Repentance before and after study
T'tzavveh
Fellowship and mutuality
Kitissa
The Seventh Day as a day of renewed existential connection
For each soul to know its initial location
The veil over Moses' radiant face
Vayakhel
Exploring the parallel between Creation and the Tabernacle
The joy of giving
Bezalel and humility
P'kudei
An accountant of the spirit
3) On the Third Book of the Torah (Vayikra / Leviticus)
Vayikra
The implications of humankind's uniqueness
Every person is as the First Man
Tzav
The fire to be kept burning upon the altar
Sh'mini
The inner experience at the core of a cultic act
Tazri'a
On laws of purity and impurity
The affliction of pride and false piety
The danger caused by deception
M'tzora
The sadness that leads to joy and healing
Ahare mot
Concerning those with whom we share a higher soul-root
K'doshim
The paradoxical relationship between solitude and community
'Emor
The inner meaning of the calendar
B'har
Satiety
B'hukkotai
The world's benefit from Torah-learning
4) On the Fourth Book of the Torah (B'midbar / Numbers)
B'midbar
The need for both Torah-study and prayer
Naso
Blessing requires love
B'ha'alotkha
Sadness and the craving for food
Sh'lah l'kha
God's mercy overrides His anger
Korah
Aaron, as high priest, maintains his humility
Hukkat
To each his own: the uniqueness of each person
The significance of song
Balak
The danger in one's imitating another's path
Pinhas
The longing for the sublime Light that can be fulfilled only with death
Mattot
Defining one's motivation
Mas'ei
Cities of Refuge as Cities of Repentance
5) On the Fifth Book of the Torah (D'varim / Deuteronomy)
D'varim
As the stars of the heavens
Va'ethannan
The background of Moses' death
Prayer in community and solitude
'Eikev
The nature of manna
R'eih
Fellowship as the path to God
The need to overcome, and sometimes to strengthen, a sense of self
The call to unseat pride within the self
Shoftim
To judge oneself: internal judges
Altars of pride and routine
Ki tetzei
The beginning of the year: Rosh ha-shanah
Amalek
Ki tavo
The bringing of the first-fruits: thanksgiving must precede fulfillment of appetite
Nitzavim
What comprises a community in its entirety?
The paradox of religious expression
Vayeilekh
The limits of relying upon one's leader
Ha'azinu
Fallen, unripe fruit of a tree
Zot ha-b'rakhah and Rimze Simhat Torah
Our Torah is copied from a supernal Torah
Continuity transcending death
Glossary of terms
Bibliography
Introduction
1) On the First Book of the Torah (B'rei'shit / Genesis)
B'rei'shit
The need to go beyond the literal sense of the Torah
The Hidden Light
The surface meaning of the Torah and the Torah's innerness
A longing permeating all existence
Two modes of Torah-study
The function of Shabbat
Humility and the world's sustainability
When one person judges another
No'ah
Noah repaired the animals
Lekh-l'kha
Go forth! - 'Go to you!'
Purity and impurity of motivation
As the stars that shine by their own light
Vayera
The pearl of healing
The element of physical desire in intercourse
The poles of mercy and justice
Hayyei Sarah
A person's coming to the tzaddik (holy man)
Tol'dot
The lure and cooling of appetite
Vayetzei
Jacob's dream-episode
The letters within all that exists
Vayishlah
Angels
The tzaddik: solitude and community
Vayeishev
The two poles that one must avoid
Miketz
The tzaddik is oblivious to fame
Vayiggash
Submission
Vay'hi
Jacob's final testament and failure
2) On the Second Book of the Torah (Sh'mot / Exodus)
Sh'mot
Torah and time
True worship requires joy
The descent of the Divine
Moses' fear of losing his humility
The bush aflame
The infinite Names of God
Va'era
The basis of Moses' hesitation
Bo
Humility renewed
The meaning of matza (unleavened bread)
B'shallah
The miracle at the Sea
Miriam and the dance at the Sea
The meaning of manna
Yitro
Why did Yitro journey to Moses?
A portrait of Moses as a judge
The status of the Sinaitic event in context
The gate of humility and its recurrence
Mishpatim
Justice and worship
T'rumah
Moses as a model of the Tabernacle
From each only according to his ability
Repentance before and after study
T'tzavveh
Fellowship and mutuality
Kitissa
The Seventh Day as a day of renewed existential connection
For each soul to know its initial location
The veil over Moses' radiant face
Vayakhel
Exploring the parallel between Creation and the Tabernacle
The joy of giving
Bezalel and humility
P'kudei
An accountant of the spirit
3) On the Third Book of the Torah (Vayikra / Leviticus)
Vayikra
The implications of humankind's uniqueness
Every person is as the First Man
Tzav
The fire to be kept burning upon the altar
Sh'mini
The inner experience at the core of a cultic act
Tazri'a
On laws of purity and impurity
The affliction of pride and false piety
The danger caused by deception
M'tzora
The sadness that leads to joy and healing
Ahare mot
Concerning those with whom we share a higher soul-root
K'doshim
The paradoxical relationship between solitude and community
'Emor
The inner meaning of the calendar
B'har
Satiety
B'hukkotai
The world's benefit from Torah-learning
4) On the Fourth Book of the Torah (B'midbar / Numbers)
B'midbar
The need for both Torah-study and prayer
Naso
Blessing requires love
B'ha'alotkha
Sadness and the craving for food
Sh'lah l'kha
God's mercy overrides His anger
Korah
Aaron, as high priest, maintains his humility
Hukkat
To each his own: the uniqueness of each person
The significance of song
Balak
The danger in one's imitating another's path
Pinhas
The longing for the sublime Light that can be fulfilled only with death
Mattot
Defining one's motivation
Mas'ei
Cities of Refuge as Cities of Repentance
5) On the Fifth Book of the Torah (D'varim / Deuteronomy)
D'varim
As the stars of the heavens
Va'ethannan
The background of Moses' death
Prayer in community and solitude
'Eikev
The nature of manna
R'eih
Fellowship as the path to God
The need to overcome, and sometimes to strengthen, a sense of self
The call to unseat pride within the self
Shoftim
To judge oneself: internal judges
Altars of pride and routine
Ki tetzei
The beginning of the year: Rosh ha-shanah
Amalek
Ki tavo
The bringing of the first-fruits: thanksgiving must precede fulfillment of appetite
Nitzavim
What comprises a community in its entirety?
The paradox of religious expression
Vayeilekh
The limits of relying upon one's leader
Ha'azinu
Fallen, unripe fruit of a tree
Zot ha-b'rakhah and Rimze Simhat Torah
Our Torah is copied from a supernal Torah
Continuity transcending death
Glossary of terms
Bibliography