‘Beyond the Letters’: Orality and the Limits of Language in the Sermons of R. Dov Baer of Mezritch

• In Event: The Oral and Written Word in the Early Spread of Hasidism

Abstract

The derashot of R. Dov Baer Friedman, known as the "Maggid of Mezritch" (d. 1772), inspired an entire generation of Hasidic leaders. His teachings were published by disciples starting in 1781, and one such volume (Magid Devarav le-Ya'akov) was the second Hasidic book ever printed. Drawing upon this work in addition to several collections of his homilies printed later, my paper will examine three core aspects of his dereshot. First, we will explore the Maggid's conception of language and belief in the capacity of words to convey spiritual truths to his listeners. His understanding of the delicate mystical qualities of language, both its potential and its limitations, is the foundation of the entire enterprise of the derashot. Second, we will investigate the relationship between written and oral language as portrayed in R. Dov Baer's thought. Early Hasidism was an oral culture that privileged the spoken word over its written counterpart, and his derashot were originally performative speech acts framed by the powerful experience of hearing them delivered. Yet the Maggid was the first Hasidic master to endorse the transcription of his teachings, a turning point in the history of Hasidic literature. Third, we will discuss the Maggid's prolific usage of parables, arguing that understanding the role of parables and metaphors in his teachings is necessary to unpack the theology they articulate. We will conclude by briefly reflecting upon the place of these derashot within the emergence of written Hasidic texts.

author

• Ariel Mayse, Harvard University