Introduction

There are many Jewish tales that vividly show the joy, bliss, and ecstasy of holy people, particularly the tzaddikim, the Hasidic movement's charismatic leaders, and the Hasidim, their devoted followers. This book contains a selection of these tales that portray the mystic joy that comes from a passionate love for God.

The Jewish mystics say that the ultimate human aim is to attain the bliss that God intends for us. For that reason, we need to read and hear tales about mystic joy, to see the happiness that awaits us if we strive for holiness. The Hasidic stories draw us into the world of the tales and allow us to taste the mystic joy the tales describe. I hope that reading these enchanting sacred stories gives you holy pleasure and that their sweetness inspires you to seek mystic happiness and joy for yourself.

MYSTIC JOY

To fully appreciate the tales, we must understand the teachings of the Rabbis about mystic joy, about ecstasy and bliss.

According to Jewish mystic teaching, God's presence, the Shechinah ("Indwelling"), is everywhere, and there is no place where God is not present. One of the main goals of Jewish mystics is to go beyond mere belief and observance to attain spiritual experience, acting and meditating so as to achieve d'vekut, a constant loving awareness of the Divine Presence. That is the essence of mysticism-directly knowing God.

D'vekut, say the mystics, brings with it intense spiritual delight, for, since God's nature is bliss, the essence of God-awareness is bliss. They often quote the Torah verse "There is strength and gladness in His place"-saying

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