Abstract
This book is a study of the nature of Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav's book of sermons as an extraordinary spiritual work and as a unique literary phenomenon, which served as a source of inspiration for the ideas embodied in the sermons as well as for their literary character. The book also brings new revelations about the connection between Rabbi Nahman's world of visions and his secret composition The Burning Book, using the few remains of this composition.
The narrative layers and the linguistic style that characterize the book Likkutei Moharan are revealed as related to his visionary background and fitting his goal of enhancing the place of imagination in human consciousness. Strengthening the imagination is part of the preparation for the return to the Land of Israel, in which imagination and prophecy are supposed to play a central role.
At the heart of the book is a detailed analysis of "Tisha Tikunin", one of the longest and most important sermons in Likkutei Moharan. The sermon is based on a very impressive vision, tasking Rabbi Nahman with renewing a redemptive Torah with the power to pave the way for the return of the people of Israel to their land. As part of this sermon, Rabbi Nahman called on everyone who truly wants to be Jewish to travel to the Land of Israel, and even drew outlines for practical activity on the political level that would initiate a process of returning to the Land with the help of the empires that rule it and the roads to it. As part of the exposition of the historical background to the sermon, Rabbi Nahman's involvement in the execution case of an informer who damaged the transfer of funds to the Land of Israel and endangered the existence of the Hasidic community in the land is revealed.
This book opens up new horizons for reading the book Likuttei Moharan, by focusing on the narrative and pictorial aspects, on the language of poetry and music , thereby enabling a different nature of contact with the composition. On studying the works of Rabbi Nahman without paying attention to these layers, the author lamented and said "The world has not tasted me yet."
The narrative layers and the linguistic style that characterize the book Likkutei Moharan are revealed as related to his visionary background and fitting his goal of enhancing the place of imagination in human consciousness. Strengthening the imagination is part of the preparation for the return to the Land of Israel, in which imagination and prophecy are supposed to play a central role.
At the heart of the book is a detailed analysis of "Tisha Tikunin", one of the longest and most important sermons in Likkutei Moharan. The sermon is based on a very impressive vision, tasking Rabbi Nahman with renewing a redemptive Torah with the power to pave the way for the return of the people of Israel to their land. As part of this sermon, Rabbi Nahman called on everyone who truly wants to be Jewish to travel to the Land of Israel, and even drew outlines for practical activity on the political level that would initiate a process of returning to the Land with the help of the empires that rule it and the roads to it. As part of the exposition of the historical background to the sermon, Rabbi Nahman's involvement in the execution case of an informer who damaged the transfer of funds to the Land of Israel and endangered the existence of the Hasidic community in the land is revealed.
This book opens up new horizons for reading the book Likuttei Moharan, by focusing on the narrative and pictorial aspects, on the language of poetry and music , thereby enabling a different nature of contact with the composition. On studying the works of Rabbi Nahman without paying attention to these layers, the author lamented and said "The world has not tasted me yet."
| Translated title of the contribution | Secrets of heaven and secrets of man : visionary and literary layers in 'Likkutei Moharan' by R. Nachman of Bratslav as connected to redemption and to the land of Israel |
|---|---|
| Original language | Hebrew |
| Place of Publication | Ramat-Gan |
| Number of pages | 354 |
| State | Published - Jul 2024 |