STORIES OF REBBE NACHMAN

Jew and Gentile alike enjoy and profit from the mystical tales of Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav (1772-1810), a beloved teacher of Hasidism, a still powerful movement within Orthodox Judaism. Akin to fairy tales in style and to Zen in theme, his wonderful yarns explore various aspects of the soul's pilgrimage. Even though the tales are meant to be transmitted orally, newcomers to the tradition will need some forbearance to appreciate these tapes. In an unhurried near-falsetto, Rabbi Zeller speaks with childlike fervor that will ingratiate some and grate on others. For a general audience, he has more success with the beautiful melodies, or nigunim, with which he bridges the tales. His producers should have helped him by applying some editing to his interminable pauses and some sound-processing to his erratic volume. Y.R. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: NOV/DEC 97]