PAGE

Foreword

ix

The Baal Shem Tov

1

   BEFORE HE WAS BORN

3

   ISRAEL AND THE ENEMY

10

   THE BOOK OF MYSTERIES

17

   THE SECRET MARRIAGE

27

   THE BRIDE IN HER GRAVE

45

   RABBI ISRAEL AND THE SORCERER

58

   TWO SOULS

71

   THE STANDING SHEEP

85

   THE MAD DANCERS

86

   RABBI ISRAEL AND THE HORSE

87

   THE BURNING TREE

92

   THE WATER-SPIRIT

93

   THE RICH MAN

101

   THE TRIAL OF RABBI GERSHON

109

   RABBI ISRAEL'S DAUGHTER

113

   PRAYER

114

   THRICE HE LAUGHED

115

   THE BURNING OF THE TORAH

125

   THE BOY'S SONG

132

   THE WANDERING IN HEAVEN

135

   THE PROPHECY OF THE NEW YEAR

138

   THE FALSE MESSIAH

146

   THE HOLY LAND

153

   HIS TORAH

163

   AFTER THE DEATH

165

   THE BOOK OF MYSTERIES

177

p. vi

PAGE

Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlaw

179

   THE DYNASTY

181

   THE LOST PRINCESS

190

   THE BROKEN BETROTHAL

198

   THE CRIPPLE

213

   THE BULL AND THE RAM

228

   THE PRINCE

240

   THE SPIDER AND THE FLY

248

   THE RABBI'S SON

257

   THE SAGE AND THE SIMPLETON

266

   THE KING'S SON AND THE SERVANT'S SON

290

   THE WIND THAT OVERTURNED THE WORLD

309

   THE SEVEN BEGGARS

333