Description
Book SynopsisFrom Tiberias, With Love is a journey to rediscovering the magic and mystery, the intimacy and depth of a lost moment in the history of a remarkably relevant conscious community in the Galilee that still has much to teach us. In the year 1777, a group of spiritual seekers from Eastern Europe set sail in search of a promised land, far away from the internal and external conflicts plaguing those souls seeking the infinite within this finite world. Some who set sail identified with the burgeoning Jewish spiritual renewal movement of hasidism, while others seem to have just come along for the ride. Weathering challenges both socio-economic and geographic, this emigrating group sought to establish a center for a burgeoning hasidic
ethos that would radiate to the Diaspora from its renewed center in the Holy Land in Palestine. Tiberian Hasidism provides a model of an intensive contemplative life that is particularly appealing to contemporary spiritual seekers for many reasons, including: its deep focus on mystical theology; devotional practice; and the ecstasy of deep friendship rather than allegiance to an institutionalized religion. This volume focuses on the teachings of R. Abraham haCohen of Kalisk ripe for excavation, offering an authentic roadmap to future contemplative pathways ripe for our age.
Trade Review“Tiberian versions of Hasidic teaching outside of Eastern Europe serve as a road map to future contemplative pathways for an age yearning for spiritual authenticity to rediscover the magic, mystery, and enigmatic expanded consciousness of the mystically informed contemplative life that brings glory and delight to the divine light of Hashem… The audience/readership will not only include Jewish studies academics, historians of religion, but also spiritual seekers drawn to mysticism. This carefully and clearly written important book containing scholarly essays along with translations of sefer Chesed le-Avraham accompanied by the original Hebrew, is highly recommended for all libraries.”
—David B Levy, Lander College for Women, NYC,
AJL ReviewsTable of Contents
- Acknowledgements
- A. Introduction
- A Spiritual Portrait of R. Abraham Alexander ha-Kohen of Kalisk, Gershon D. Hundert
- B. Teaching Stories II
- R. Abraham of Kalisk along the Journey to the Promised Land
- C. Reader's Guide
- 1. R. Abraham Kalisker's Concept of Communion with God and Man, Joseph George Weiss
- 2. From Mythos to Ethos: Contours of a Portrait of R. Abraham of Kalisk, Ze'ev Gries
- 3. Moving Mezrich: The Legacy of the Maggid and the Hasidic Community in the Land of Israel, Ariel Evan Mayse
- 4. Theology, Succession, and Social Structure in the Dispute between R. Abraham Kalisker and R. Shne'ur Zalman, Nehemia Polen and David Maayan
- 5. R. Abraham Kalisker's Critique of Tanya Haviva Pedaya
- 6. The Doctrine of R. Abraham Kalisker: The Path to Communion as the Legacy of the Bnei 'Aliyah Ra'aya Haran
- 7. Genotextual Performance between Tzaddiqim in Tiberias: Grains of the Voice Transforming R. Abraham of Kalisk and Reb Nachman of Breslov, Aubrey L. Glazer
- D. Chesed le-Abraham (Selected Homilies)
- Translators' Introduction, Aubrey Glazer and Nehemia Polen
- Genesis: [1.1–1.4]. Parshat Lekh Lekha Genesis 12:1–17:27) [2.1–2.4]. Parshat Chayyei Sarah Genesis 23:1–25: 18)
- Exodus: [3.1–3.4]. Parshat Mishpatim Exodus 21:1–24:18) [4.1–4.4]. Parshat Ki Tissa Exodus 30:11–34:35)
- Numbers: [5.1–5.4]. Parshat Pinechas Numbers 25:10 –30:1
- Deuteronomy: [6.1–6.4]. Parshat Vaetchanan Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11 [7.1–7.4]. Haftarat Shoftim Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9 [8.1–8.4]. Haftarat Ki Teitzei Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19 [9.1–9.4]. Haftarat Ki Tavo' Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8 [10.1–10.4]. Shabbat Shuva/Ro'sh ha-Shannah Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8
- Glossary
- Hebrew Critical Edition
