Download 00 Guide to Week 07_F16

Guide to Week 07, Fall 16
Question for Reflection: Probe the nature of Nahman’s emphasis on Music and
Dance as sacred modalities. What is it that sacred dance and chanting, e.g., offer? In
what ways do these modalities align with (work with, augment, complement) prayer,
hitbodedut, and Torah learning for Nahman?
How do music and sacred dance facilitate devequt (mystical co/mmunion with the
divine)? From a more anthropological/psychological/performative viewpoint, how do
these modalities affect/transform awareness?
Week 7: February 19. The Ups and Downs of Devotional Life: Joy, Sadness, Meditative
Practices
Tales: Sage and Simple Man (required) ; the Burgher and the Pauper (recommended)
Articles: (1) Michael Fishbane, “The Mystery of Dance According to Nahman of Bratslav”; and
(2) Chani Haran Smith, “New Time, New Song”
Passages on Hitbodedut and Nahman’s Meditative Path from (3) Mark Verman’s book, History &
Variety of Jewish Meditational Practices <esp. pp. 36, 56-60, 96, 142-144> Cultural detail on
Breslovian hitbodedut and its influence: (4) R. Kamenetz, Stalking Elijah: 233- 244 (“Calling Out”)
In class, new texts: LM 1:179, 2;23, 2:24; and cf. 1:141 1:169 (Sacred Dance); possibly, the text
on the Good Point (Nequddah Tovah).
In class film clip: from Ushpizin
Recommended:
for deeper digging (Optional)
Articles, M. Fishbane, “Joy and Jewish Spirituality”; Arthur Green, “Hasidism: Discovery and
Retreat” in P. Berger, The Other Side of God, pp. 104-130
Explore Music (on Canvas): (1) Niggunei simchah and riqqud (songs of joy, dance melodies):
including Mitzvah gedollah, and Shabbat medley from Breslov Azamer Bishvochin/ Simply Tsfat;
(2) Nahman’s contemplative niggun devequt (compare Breslov in B’nei Heicholo; David Zeller, in
Let Go; Alon Michael <Goshen-Gottstein> in Meditations of the Heart, vol. 2, Richard Kaplan in
Life of the Worlds; instrumental versions: Simply Tsfat, in New Beginning, and Andy Statman in
Between Heaven and Earth: Music of the Jewish Mystics); music from the Ensemble “The Heart
and the Spring” on http://www.piyut.org.il/
Also: UM’s Paul Schoenfield, “The Merchant and the Pauper”: excerpts from Act 2 (Naxos
Records)