Martin Buber has not fared well in the world of
religious Judaism. He took on the mantle of
existentialism after the Second World War, with his classic book I and Thou, which made its mark, but
appeared to repudiate his commitment to Judaism as a set of precepts, or
mitzvoth, to be followed.
In this collection of essays, Hasidism and Modern
Man, Buber tries to strengthen his record on the mitzvoth in the
introduction. The book then meanders
among a series of essays which frame Hasidic life, or portions of it, with the
predicament of modern “man.”
Generally, as in most of his book, a careful reading
is in order, and even then, much will escape even the greatest of care. Buber’s main problem is he tries to present a
mainly anti-intellectual religious movement or trend in an intellectual
framework. This works to a degree, but
much is missing.
To find out about Hasidism, it is best to go to the
original written sources. Or go find a
good, genuine Hasid and watch him (or her!) in action.
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