Yitzhak Buxbaum
Yitzhak Buxbaum was an American author and "maggid" (preacher/storyteller). He died on 23 December 2020. Published work. Most of Buxbaum's books and articles relate to Hasidism, especially its storytelling tradition, and Neo-Hasidism. He has authored the following books. Reviews of Buxbaum's work have appeared in Jewish publications with a variety of perspectives, including The Algemeiner Journal, Hadassah Magazine, The Jewish Chronicle, and Tikkun. His books have been reviewed for broader audiences in the journal Parabola and the website Spirituality and Practice. Manuscripts and drafts of "The Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov  are archived at Cornell University Library. Storytelling. Buxbaum told stories in Jewish and non-Jewish settings to Jewish and non-Jewish audiences", with a focus on "the spiritual nature of storytelling." He was grouped among "the most active tellers in the Jewish world." Maggid training program. Building on his ordination as a maggid by Shlomo Carlebach, Buxbaum established a program to train women and men as maggidim (plural of maggid). Graduates include Shoshana Litman, described as Canada's first ordained female Jewish storyteller, and Tamir Zaltsman, who states that he is the first ordained Russian-speaking maggid. Some graduates are  themselves training maggidim. Background and personal life. Buxbaum graduated from Cornell University (class of 1964). He told interviewers that as a young man, he identified as an atheist and felt disconnected from his Jewish roots. But a time of intense soul-searching, and encounters with Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, led him to devote his life to Jewish spirituality. In 2007, Buxbaum was one of six spiritual leaders from different faiths who opened the memorial celebration for Sri Chinmoy at the United Nations. Buxbaum lived in Brooklyn. He was married to actor and storyteller Carole Forman. External links. Article by Yitzhak Buxbaum : Real Davening: Chasidic Answers to the Crisis in Prayer. "The Jewish Review: A Journal of Torah, Judaism, Philosophy, Life and Culture" 4:3 (March 1991 / Adar 5751)