A major contribution to the understanding of Hasidic Wisdom and thought it brings the reader closer to Hasidisms greatest teller of tales.Elie Wiesel The search for spiritual meaning drives great leaders in all religions. This classic work explores the personality and religious quest of Nahman of Bratslav 17721810 one of Hasidisms major figures. It unlocks the great themes of spiritual searching that make him a figure of universal religious importance. In this major biography Dr. Arthur Greenteacher scholar and spiritual seekerexplores the great personal conflicts and inner torments that lay at the source of Nahmans teachings. He reveals Nahman to have been marked at an early age by an exaggerated sense of sin and morbidity that later characterized his life and thought. While subject to rapid mood swings and even paranoia Nahman is a model of spiritual and personal struggle who speaks to all generations. Greens analysis of this troubled personality provides an important key to Nahmans famous tales making his teachings accessible for people of all faiths all backgrounds. If there is any single feature about Nahmans tales and indeed about Nahmans life as well that makes them unique in the history of Judaism it is just this their essential motif is one of quest. Nahman both as teller and as hero of these tales is Nahman the seeker. He has already told us outside the tales of his refusal ever to stand on any one rung of his call for constant growth of his need to open himself up to evernew and more demanding challenges to his faith. The tales now affirm this endless quest...from Excursus II. The Tales show more