The Legend of the Baal-Shem

These twenty captivating stories about the founder of the Hasidic faith Israel ben Eliezer called the Baal-Shem or Master of God''s Name, provide a profound and charming account of the genesis of Hasidism, still Judaism''s most important religious movement. As a delicate and moving portrayal not only of the power of the Baal-Shem''s mystical faith, but also of Eastern European Jewish daily life, The Legend of the Baal-Shem is an ideal introduction to Hasidic religious thought, and to Martin Buber''s own influential philosophy of love and mutual human understanding.