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A Parable of Barriers

JL;DR SUMMARY The tale by Akiva Weisinger retells a Hasidic parable by the Baal Shem Tov, exploring themes of illusion and divine presence, particularly during Rosh Hashanah. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Rosh HashanahBaal Shem TovTheologyPhilosophyHasidismDivine PresenceParableIllusionSeparation And Unity

Places mentioned

Poland
"Somewhere in a small village in the old country of Eastern Europe, in a time before our own, the Baal Shem Tov rises from his seat to face the assembled crowd, who have come to him to celebrate Rosh Hashanah in his presence."

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