Somewhere a Master: Hasidic Portraits and Legends

by Elie Wiesel

The compassion of Reb Moshe-Leib, the vision of the Seer of Lublin, the wisdom of Reb Pinhas, the warmth of the Ba’al Shem Tov, the humor of Reb Naphtali–to their followers these sages appeared as kings, judges, and prophets. They communicated joy and wonder and fervor to the men and women who came to them in the depths of despair. They brought love and compassion to the persecuted Jews of Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania. For Jews who felt abandoned and forsaken by God, these Hasidic masters incarnated an irresistible call to help and salvation. The Rebbe combats sorrow with exuberance. He defeats resignation by exalting belief. He creates happiness so as not to yield to the sadness around him. He tells stories to escape the temptations of irreducible silence.

It is Elie Wiesel’s unique gift to make the lives and tales of these great teachers as compelling now as they were in a different time and place. In the tradition of Hasidism itself, he leaves others to struggle with questions of justice, mercy, and vengeance, providing us instead with eternal truths and unshakable faith.

Genres: Judaism, Religion, History, Nonfiction, Jewish

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Eliezer "Elie" Wiesel was a Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor. He authored 57 books, written mostly in French and English, including Night, a work based on his experiences as a Jewish prisoner in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps.
In his political activities Wiesel became a regular speaker on the subject of the Holocaust and remained a strong defender of human rights during his lifetime. He also advocated for many other causes like the state of Israel and against Hamas and victims of oppression including Soviet and Ethiopian Jews, the apartheid in South Africa, the Bosnian genocide, Sudan, the Kurds and the Armenian genocide, Argentina's Desaparecidos or Nicaragua's Miskito people.
He was a professor of the humanities at Boston University, which created the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies in his honor. He was involved with Jewish causes and human rights causes and helped establish the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
Wiesel was awarded various prestigious awards including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. He was a founding board member of the New York Human Rights Foundation and remained active in it throughout his life.

Reviews

[Paul H. Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

What a living book. Each master is a discovery for the unlearned. Makes life,suffering and joy well worth living amen

[Sarah Balyeat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book, it has rekindled some of my own fire for my Jewish practice. A must-read!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating collection of stories of the Hasidic sages, concerning their friendships, disciples, and rivalries, and the lessons they have to teach all of us even today. Somewhere A Master touched me deeply in its discussion of the Hasid's need to counter the tragedy and sadness in the world with love and light and devotion. These learned men were the leaders of their communities, who did what they could to improve the lives of their followers in what was a very dark time for Jews.

Could we make this world a better place, here and now, if all of us committed to spread a little more joy, a little more light, in our own corner of it? The masters invite us to take up the challenge.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read. Some people have asked about the different types of orthodox Jews, and this book definitely provides an insightful look at Hasidic Judaism. Don't get me wrong, it's not a history of Hasidism. It is portraits of Hasidic rebbes, who each had a particular strength in their character. Like Judaism in general, Hasidism emphasizes various themes depending on who is talking. The opposites and contradictions are what make it interesting.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started reading this and then gave up on it. I just couldn't get into it. It's like a who's who of VIP rabbis for the last 300 years.

[Ross Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hasidism exists at the poles of Judaism - there is dancing and laughter, but also weeping and silence. Wiesel writes well about joy and sorrow and Hasidism.