--Zalman Schacter-Shalomi was the founder of the Jewish Renewal Movement and one of the foremost authorities on Kabbalah and Hasidism. Professor emeritus of the psychology of religion and Jewish mysticism at Temple University and the World Wisdom Chair holder at Naropa -- Netanel Miles-Ypez is an artist and religious scholar. Born into a Mexican-American family, in his late teens, Miles-Ypez discovered his family's hidden Jewish roots and began to explore Judaism and other religions seriously. He teaches in the Department of Religious Studies at Naropa . --Arthur Green is an American scholar of Jewish mysticism and Neo-Hasidism. He is a professor in the non-denominational rabbinical program at Hebrew College in Boston. He was president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 19871993.
An engrossing and soulful reflection . . . will delight readers of all backgrounds who are searching for a spirited and spiritual perspective on Hasidic evolution and lore. -Publishers Weekly In A Heart Afire, Reb Zalman shares with us the mother lode of his teaching and example. We are all ever in his debt. -Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, Kabbalah: A Love Story ... a tour-de-force that will take its place beside the efforts of Buber and Wiesel to bring the deep spiritual practices, stories, and perspective of Hasidic tradition to life for contemporary readers of all persuasions ... this combination of historical perspective ... and inspiring translations brings a broader range of Hasidic masters to the reader's attention than has ever before been available ... Savor the spiritual and ethical gems. -Rabbi Goldie Milgram, editor of Seeking and Soaring A brilliant anthology of early Hasidic teaching, but . . . much more. The teachings are embedded in Reb Zalman's profoundly felt, life-long practice of Jewish renewal and his universalistic outlook, which encompasses teachings from Sufism, Buddhism, and depth psychology. -Rodger Kamenetz, author of The Jew in the Lotus Reb Zalman ... and his disciple, Netanel Miles-Yepez, retell the tales not only with grace and style but with an unfailing ear to the question, Who are our readers and what do they need to hear? ... he and Netanel offer a deep reading of key teachings of Hasidism, translating and offering unique commentary on them. -Rabbi Arthur Green, co-author of Speaking Torah and Your Word is Fire