Tuning the Soul : Music As a Spiritual Process in the Teachings of Rabbi Naḥman of Bratzlav

Rabbi Nah man of Bratzlav is one of the most celebrated hasidic masters. This book presents his key ideas about the role of music in transforming the soul, its place in religious leadership and its potential for messianic redemption. The Doctrine Of The 'good Points' And Its Kabbalistic Sources. Background ; The Doctrine Of The 'good Points' In Lm 1, 282 ; The Concept Of 'points' In The Kabbalistic Sources ; 'points' As Sefirot ; 'point' As Beginning ; 'point' As Centre ; Vowel Points And Cantillation Accents ; The Animating Quality Of Cantillation Accents And Vowel Points ; 'points' As Musical Notes ; 'points' In Naḥman's Teaching ; 'point' As Beginning ; 'point' As Centre ; 'the Innermost Point' As The Centre Of One's Spiritual Life ; 'points Of Ḥesed' : Loving-kindess, Longing And Soul ; 'good Points' And 'evil Points' ; Concluding Remarks -- Music As A Spiritual Process. Berur--extraction Of 'good Points' From Evil ; The Imagination ; Music As Metaphor ; Tuning The Soul By Means Of Music ; David The Skilled Musician And His Lyre ; North Wind, Darkness, Concealment And Creativity ; The Aspect Of 'hands' ; The Music Of The Cosmos ; 'holy Sparks' And 'good Points' ; The Origin And Destination Of Sparks ; Concluding Remarks -- The Dual Personality Of The Tzadrq : Moses And Joseph. The Tzadiq As Intermediary Between Worlds In Hasidic Thought ; The Dual Aspect Of The Tzadiq In Naḥman's Thought ; Two Worlds ; Two Spirits (ruḥot) ; Two Tzadiqim ; The Identity Of The Two Tzadiqim ; Moses--the Worldly Leader ; Moses--music Out Of Silence ; Moses--present In Every Generation, In Every Tzadiq ; Joseph--the 'true Tzadiq' : The Tzadiq In The Divine Realm ; Joseph's Beauty, Glory, And Grace ; Tzadiq/yesod And Ḥesed ; Yesod And Malkhut--the Tzadiq And His Congregation ; Transcendence And Immanence : Two Aspects Of The Tzadiq ; The Language Of The Tzadiq ; Encompassing 'root', Encompassing 'point' ; The Tzadiq As Cantor ; The Tzadiq In The Tale Of 'the Seven Beggars ; Introduction To The Tale ; The Tzadiq As Beggar ; The Heart And The Spring ; Two Aspects Of The Tzadiq In 'the Heart And The Spring' ; Concluding Remarks -- New Time, New Song. Time And Music ; Transcending Time ; Adherence To God (devequt) As Transcendence Of Time ; Cosmic And Personal Renewal (ḥidush) ; Renewal By Means Of Original Torah Insights ; Prayer, Music And Renewal ; Renewal Through Loving-kindness (ḥesed) : 'new Song' ; The New Song : Leaping And Skipping ; Three Modes Of Music ; David ; Moses ; Joseph ; Three In One ; Conclusion. [chani Haran Smith]. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [201]-214) And Index. This book is an in-depth study of the function of music in religious experience according to Rabbi Naḥman of Bratzlav. It provides new insights on his unique doctrine of the "Good Points", which represent the core of loving kindness and holiness in the human soul, and the musical context in which they become both a means and a metaphor for spiritual transformation. Drawing on midrashic and kabbalistic sources, the book explores Naḥman's perception of different types of "tzadiqim" (religious leaders), including himself, and the special role music plays in their leadership. It highlights the importance of creativity and renewal in the messianic process that involves both music and loving kindness