The Tales of Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav [BOOK REVIEW]

Title: The Tales of Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav, Selections with Commentary

Author: Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz
Edited by: Jonathan Omer-Man
Published by: The Shefa Foundation/MAGGID & Koren Publishers Jerusalem
Manufactured: United States of America
Language: English
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 186

ISBN: 9781592643004
Official Website: http://www.korenpub.com

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz is a teacher, philosopher, social critic and prolific author who have been hailed by Time Magazine as a “once-in-a-millennium.” MAGGID is a division of Koren Publishers Jerusalem, they sent this new book and we can say that this one will do a revolution in the Understanding of the Rebbe Nachman’s teachings!

This beautiful book begins with a long introduction telling us about the life of Rabbi Nachman, reporting the most important points of his early life until his death, as well as about the stories, its students, kabbalistic sources, folk sources, Biblical and Talmudic sources, dreams.

Rabbi Nachman began to relate the tales in1806. Nachman’s stories include highly compressed and clearly defined Torah teachings; therefore, anyone can access and achieve enrichment and enlightenment from it. One can enjoy the literal meaning of the stories, but the concept enigmatic reaches higher spiritual levels, understands each person according to their level spiritual and intellectual.

Adin Steinsaltz’s commentary describes the meaning of the expressions, allusion and kabbalistic symbolism. For example, “The king (or emperor) sympholizes God.” Adin Steinsaltz mentioned what main theme is about every story, in “The Losing of the King’s Daughter” is about the redemption, and the most heavily allegorical story of Rabbi Nachman “The Merchant and the Pauper” is based on the personality of the Messiah.

The deeper understanding of the stories allows strengthening the mitzvoth‘s observance, often revealing how emulate the Tzaddik and away from evil. The hidden message (to be revealed) to the reader leads to have a renewal in serving God with fear and love.

Finally, the book ends with "Nine questions toward a better understanding of Rabbi Nachman." It has 7 pages describing the sacred works of Rebbe Nachman, if you have never heard about the Tzaddik, the magnificent Sage "Nachman", read and enjoy most original and outstanding spiritual master from the Hasidic world.

Reviewed by: Gilson Rodrigues de Arruda.