"And Now We Need Tell It For Our Times" Between 'Tales From Ancient Times' To 'Sipurey Maasiot' by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov: a re-examination. (Hebrew)

• In Event: Song, Tale, and Prayer in Hasidic Devotion

Abstract

For over a century, the 'Sippurei Maasiot' have earned significant interest. The tales were published in 1815, five years after Rabbi Nachman's passing, by Rabbi Nathan, who fulfilled his mentor's explicit request to publish his tales in a bilingual edition. Many endeavors have sought to delineate the distinctive qualities of these tales, and understand what sets them apart from numerous other stories Rabbi Nachman told. This inquiry often intersects with another question: whether the stories in the book are "Stories of Ancient Times"? a concept coined by Rabbi Nachman shortly before telling them.

Arthur Green posited several defining characteristics of ‘Sippurei Maasiot’, such as narratives told by a 'Tzadik' but not about a 'Tzadik', characters without particular Jewish identity, mythic quality, and a deliberate avoidance of realistic representation. Others, like Weiss and Piekarz, saw the concealment of biographical elements or messianic hopes as the distinguishing factor of the tales. Elstien, suggested that these tales are differentiated by their originality and reorganization compared to the use of existing folk motifs. However, as Zvi Mark aptly summarized, any endeavor to categorize or define them encounters obstacles and instances that defy classification.

One of the tales that defies these theories, is the eighth tale in the collection, titled "Tale of Rabbi and Only Son". Unlike the longer narratives which have mythical or Kabbalistic symbolism, this tale is short and simple, seemingly the most realistic story in the book, so that it can easily be read as a classic Hasidic tale.

As part of my current research, I seek to demonstrate the necessity of a literary reading to reveal the subversive theology in the story. Following this, I will argue against the assumption that it is a realistic story portraying Hasidic life in that era, and therefore, an exception to the classification of the collection as "Stories of Ancient Times". On the contrary, my reading shows this tale to be a profound example of a "Story of Ancient Times." By exploring how old stories can resurface with new meanings that engage with modernity, we can understand the poetics of Rabbi Nachman's literary approach.

Author

• Dael Rodrigues Garcia, Ben Gurion University of the Negev