The Tales of Rabbi Nachman

by Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz

Rabbi Nachman’s Tales are considered the peak of his creative life for their form, content, and profound, underlying ideas. Transcribed by Rabbi Natan (Sternharz) of Bratslav, Rabbi Nachman’s chief disciple, they are a mixture of intellectual and poetic imagination, fairy tales rooted in Kabbalistic symbolism and Biblical and Talmudic sources. The Tales of Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav features select pieces from the original work together with Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz’s elucidating commentary to help the reader discover layer upon layer of meaning in this classic work.

Genres: Judaism, Judaica, Religion

195 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz (Hebrew: עדין שטיינזלץ) or Adin Even Yisrael (Hebrew: עדין אבן ישראל) is internationally regarded as one of the leading rabbis of this century. The author of many books, he is best known for his monumental translation of and commentary on the Talmud. Rabbi Steinsaltz founded the Israel Institute for Talmudic Publications. Under its aegis, he has published to date 58 books on the Talmud, Jewish mysticism, religious thought, sociology, historical biography, and philosophy. He teaches at Mayanot in Jerusalem. In 1988, he was awarded the Israel Prize, Israel's highest honor. He has received honorary Ph.D. degrees from Yeshiva University, Bar Ilan University, and Ben Gurion University.

Reviews

[David]

I have been meaning to read this for a few years. I have heard a few of Reb Nachman's stories and they are marvelous tales with fantastical elements that abstractly and allegorically offer a guide to being a Jew on many different levels.

The cool thing about Reb Nachman is that he does not slam you over the head with theology. Instead he weaves it into folk tales with great imagery. This prevents my doubtful thoughts to gain any fodder for argument since there is nothing explicitly frustrating in regards to the very traditional Jewish approach.

Rabbi Stensaltz enrichingly illuminates and describes some of the symbols and theology. However, I hope to read through Nachman's tales again without the immediate explanation so that I can ruminate independently.

[Linda]

This was a really great compilation and explanation of Rabbi Nachman's stories. Each one is full of kabbalistic and biblical allegory, which made the explanation by Adin Steinsaltz even more interesting than the fairy-tale-like story itself.

[Ari]

I am a fan both of Rebbe Nachman and of Rabbi Steinsaltz, and so the combination of the two was too much to pass up. The reader of this book should be prepared for Kabbalistic and philosophical unpacking of a number of Rebbe Nachman's parables, but don't get your hopes up for sociological or literary criticism. In other words, exactly what you might expect of this book due to who the writer is, you'll get. Plus side: easily readable for anyone with a basic understanding of Rebbe Nachman's style and some understanding of Kabbalistic principles. Minus side: R. Steinsaltz misses the chance to really address the ramifications of the missing seventh beggar (in 'The Seven Beggars'), and glosses over it in a few paragraphs. Overall, worth the read, and recommended for rabbinical students or anyone in Jewish education who will come across these parables on a regular (or even fleeting) basis.

[Esther Kozakevich]

This is a must read!!! The “Man of Prayer” tale and the “simple man and clever man” tale are just 🤯