Until The Mashiach The Life of Rabbi Nachman By Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov is a figure of enigma and mystery. It may therefore come as a surprise to find how much detailed information has survived about his life. Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan s biography is the fruit of meticulous research into all the surviving source material, including the oral tradition of the Breslover Chassidim themselves. The work is accompanied by a rich array of supplementary material covering Rabbi Nachman s family and leading followers, other key personages in his life and period, contemporary historical trends, and the towns and cities which figure in his career. With a leader of Rabbi Nachman s stature a biographical approach of interpretation and evaluation is likely to be more misleading than illuminating. Rabbi Nachman s Torah, his teachings and his spiritual exploits were his life: to attempt to explain them from an extraneous perspective is to miss the point. Until the Mashiach presents the facts, leaving the reader free to reach his own conclusions about Rabbi Nachman's significance. What emerges is a picture of a leader who, while passionately concerned about the currents of his time, rose way above to become a torch to all the ensuing generations. His challenge to us is to free ourselves and prepare to greet the Mashiach. For my fire will burn until the Mashiach will come." Features an extensive historical overview, detailed maps, and full appendices listing significant towns and cities, biographical data, and anecdotes about Rebbe Nachman's family, followers and other contemporary figures, with full source references throughout. An essential reference work for every student of Breslov.