האמנם מיטב הסיפור כזבו? מקום ספרות השבחים בתולדות החסידות

Hasidic Hagiography was hardly taken seriously in research as a major source for the history of Hasidism. The history of its publication, distribution, and all the agents of culture involved in it, points to its important role among the Hasidim, first as an oral literature and second in print. Following Buber's path in the study of Hasidism this article claims that Hasidic Hagiography, which included in the nineteenth century stories about Zaddikim and stories told by them, is the main record for the spiritual life of the Hasidim and for their and their leaders: the Zaddikim, self reflection.