Audience Program For House Concerts

The Soul of Hope

An epic tale of the Baal Shem Tov
by Doug Lipman

Place:
Date:
Time:
There will be one 10-minute intermission

Act I (70 minutes)

Samael and the trials of Eliezer
The boy Israel
Rabbi Adam's son
The prayer of Shimon bar Yochai
The yud, the hay, the vov, and the hay
Bringing the Maschiach

Act II (50 minutes)

Death of the Baal Shem Tov
The Maggid of Mezeritch
Elimelekh of Lizensk
Israel of Rizhin
Menachem-Mendl of Kotzk (the Kotzker rebbe)

"Why do I love this tale? for me, it provides a mythic framework for the contemporary issues of spirituality, leadership, and daring to try to change the world."--Doug Lipman

Hasidism is a mystical movement within Judaism. Its beliefs and teachings are, of course, not always the same as those of mainstream Judaism. In addition, Doug views this story as literature, not dogma. As a result, he has re-interpreted many of the Hasidic concepts embodied in this story in a way that would seem foreign to many Hasidim.

Act I is Doug's invention, woven from his adaptations of various traditional Hasidic legends.

Doug first heard much of Act II told by Harold Rabinowitz at the Sharing the Fire conference, Cambridge, MA, in 1983. Harold heard it from an elderly Hasid in a barber shop in Miami beach. Harold has graciously given Doug permission to adapt and perform the story.

The two-part melody heard in this story is adapted from a traditional Hasidic melody, known as "Nigun Besht"--"melody of the Baal Shem Tov." Doug found it in the excellent collection by Velvel Pasternak, Songs of the Hasidim, Volume I (Tara Publications, Cedarhurst, NY. 1968).

It is customary to use titles when refering to Hasidic rebbes: e.g., "The holy Baal Shem Tov or "Rabbi Elimelekh." To streamline the narrative and to emphasize the human struggles of these holy men, Doug has frequently omitted such honorifics. No disrespect is intended.

A bibliography of Hasidism accompanies Doug's audiocassette The Forgotten Story: Tales of Wise Jewish Men.

For information about performances, workshops, or publications, please contact:

Doug Lipman
P.O. Box 521165, Tulsa, OK 74152
918-712-7336. Toll free: (888) 446-4738
email: soul@storydynamics.com
web page: http://soulofhope.net

Doug wishes to extend special thanks to:

• Harold Rabinowitz...for letting me tell it
• Linda Palmstrom...for being a hero
• Janice Faye Molnar...for helping this show happen
• Jay O'Callahan, Ron Zoglin, Debbie Zaslow, Gail Rosen, Derek Burrows, Lynne Burns, Katie Green, Jane Winans, and many others...for helping me with the story

Doug Lipman has been telling stories professionally since 1976. He is nationally known as a performer and coach. Doug's eleven recordings include:

• The Soul of Hope
• The Forgotten Story: Tales of Wise Jewish Men,
• Folktales of Strong Women and
• the Parents' Choice Award-winning cassette for children, Tell It With Me.

• Coaching Storytellers: a Demonstration Workshop for All Who Use Oral Communication,

• Improving Your Storytelling and
• The Storytelling Coach: How to Listen, Praise, and Bring Out People's Best.

The Soul of Hope

Call for a free packet
about bringing the Soul of Hope
to your organization
--or to your home!

Doug Lipman

P.O. Box 521165, Tulsa, OK 74152
918-712-7336. Toll free: (888) 446-4738
email: soul@storydynamics.com
Web site: http://soulofhope.net

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Doug Lipman
Phone: (781) 837-1940
Toll free: 1-888-LIPMAN-1 (1-888-547-6261)
Fax: (781) 837-0508
P.O. Box 946, Marshfield, MA 02050 U.S.A.
soul@storydynamics.com
http://www.soulofhope.com

This page was last updated on October 12, 2004
Copyright©2002-2011 Doug Lipman