Yitzhak Buxbaum Explained

Yitzhak Buxbaum was an American author and maggid (preacher/storyteller). He died on 23 December 2020.

Published work

Most of Buxbaum's books and articles relate to Hasidism, especially its storytelling tradition, and Neo-Hasidism. He has authored the following books.

• Jewish Spiritual Practices Jason Aronson, 1991
• Storytelling and Spirituality in Judaism Jason Aronson, 1994
• Real Davvening: Jewish Prayer as a Spiritual Practice and a Form of Meditation for Beginning and Experienced Davveners |Jewish Spirit Booklet Series, 1996
• An Open Heart: The Mystic Path of Loving People. Jewish Spirit Booklet Series, 1997
• A Tu BeShvat Seder: The Feast of Fruits from the Tree of Life Jewish Spirit Booklet Series, 1998
• The Life and Teachings of Hillel 376 pp. Jason Aronson, 2000 According to WorldCat, the book is held in 168 libraries^[1]
• A Person is Like a Tree: A Sourcebook for Tu BeShvat Jason Aronson, 2000
• Storytelling and Spirituality in Judaism Jason Aronson, 2001
• Jewish Tales of Mystic Joy Jossey-Bass, 2002
• Jewish Tales of Holy Women Jossey-Bass, 2002
• The Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov Continuum, 2005
• Serach at the Seder: A Haggadah Supplement, illustrations by Shoshannah Brombacher Jewish Spirit, 2012

Reviews of Buxbaum's work have appeared in Jewish publications with a variety of perspectives,^[2] including The Algemeiner Journal,^[3] Hadassah Magazine,^[4] The Jewish Chronicle,^[5] and Tikkun.^[6] His books have been reviewed for broader audiences in the journal Parabola^[7] and the website Spirituality and Practice.^{[8] [9]}

Manuscripts and drafts of The Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov are archived at Cornell University Library.

Storytelling

Buxbaum told stories "in Jewish and non-Jewish settings to Jewish and non-Jewish audiences", with a focus on "the spiritual nature of storytelling."^{[10] [11]} He was grouped among "the most active tellers in the Jewish world."^[12]

Maggid training program

Building on his ordination as a maggid by Shlomo Carlebach,^[13] Buxbaum established a program to train women and men as maggidim (plural of maggid).^{[14] [15]} Graduates include Shoshana Litman, described as Canada's first ordained female Jewish storyteller,^[16] and Tamir Zaltsman, who states that he is the first ordained Russian-speaking maggid.^[17] Some graduates are themselves training maggidim.^[18]

Background and personal life

Buxbaum graduated from Cornell University (class of 1964).^[19]

He told interviewers that as a young man, he identified as an atheist and felt disconnected from his Jewish roots. But a time of intense soul-searching, and encounters with Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, led him to devote his life to Jewish spirituality.^[20]

In 2007, Buxbaum was one of six spiritual leaders from different faiths who opened the memorial celebration for Sri Chinmoy at the United Nations.^[21]

Buxbaum lived in Brooklyn. He was married to actor and storyteller Carole Forman.^[22]

External links

• Yitzhak Buxbaum website

Article by Yitzhak Buxbaum: Real Davening: Chasidic Answers to the Crisis in Prayer. The Jewish Review: A Journal of Torah, Judaism, Philosophy, Life and Culture 4:3 (March 1991 / Adar 5751)

• Articles by Yitzhak Buxbaum at chabad.org
• Publisher's website on The Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov

Notes and References

1. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/28549607 WorldCat book entry
2. On The Bookshelf (column). July 11, 1996. The art of davvening is meaningfully taught in new booklet by Jewish Spirit. Sentinel: The Voice of Chicago Jewry.
3. Kurzweil. Arthur. Light and Fire. The Algemeiner Journal. December 15, 2006.
4. Web site: Serach at the Seder: A Haggadah Supplement. Shluker. Zelda. 2013-03-27. Hadassah Magazine. 2016-05-20.
5. Web site: The Jewish Chronicle - Getting to the heart of Chasidism. Demant. Jason. 7 September 2006. website.thejc.com. 2016-05-20.
6. Frankel. Estelle. Stories That Heal the Soul. Tikkun. May/June 2006. 73.
7. Kurzweil. Arthur. Fall 2004. The Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov, Yitzhak Buxbaum (book review). Parabola. 31:3.
8. Web site: The Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov, 2005 S & P Award Winner Book Reviews Books Spirituality & Practice. Brussat. Frederic and Mary Ann. www.spiritualityandpractice.com. 2016-05-24.
9. Web site: Jewish Tales of Mystic Joy Book Reviews Books Spirituality & Practice. Brussat. Frederic and Mary Ann. www.spiritualityandpractice.com. 2016-05-24.
10. Horowitz, Rosemary, ed. Elie Wiesel and the Art of Storytelling (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2006), 5.
11. Web site: The Best of the Besht: Brooklyn man is master of thousands of tales. static.record-eagle.com. 2016-04-17.
12. Book: Schram, Peninnah. Chosen Tales: Stories Told by Jewish Storytellers. Jason Aronson. 1995. 1-56821-352-2. Northvale, New Jersey. xxxvi.
13. Web site: Tale of the maggid: Jewish storytelling enters a new era j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California. silvers. emma. www.jweekly.com. 2016-04-17.
14. Web site: Tales of a Maggid: Sacred Hints for Davening and Dance.. The Jewish Week Connecting The World To Jewish News, Culture & Opinion. 2016-04-17.
15. Web site: The Ancient Art Of Jewish Storytelling Gets A Reboot, In Podcasts And Classes. Solomon. Daniel J.. May 28, 2017. The Forward. en-US. 2019-11-17.
16. Web site: Maggidah is a Canadian First. Lee. Jan. Times Colonist. 2016-04-17.
17. Web site: First Ever Russian-Speaking Maggid Graduation Party. February 5, 2012.
18. Web site: Transformational Storytelling Program led by Maggid Jim Brule.
19. Web site: ArchiveGrid : Yitzhak Buxbaum papers, 1991-2005.. beta.worldcat.org. 2016-05-27.
20. Web site: Radical Mystic - Tablet Magazine – Jewish News and Politics, Jewish Arts and Culture, Jewish Life and Religion. Tablet Magazine. 2016-04-17.
21. Web site: Celebration of the Life of Sri Chinmoy at the United Nations – Sri Chinmoy Centre News. www.srichinmoybio.co.uk. 2016-05-26.
22. Web site: Meet Carole Forman Storytelling and Acting. caroleforman.com. 2016-04-25.