Audio interview of Herb Basser, born 1942, by Dr. Justin Jaron Lewis via Skype from the interviewee's home in Toronto to the interviewer's office. 00:00 Interview begins with an introduction of the interviewer and interviewee, as well as location information; 00:21 Herb talks about the first time he met Zalman. He was interviewing for the Hillel director position in 1972 or 1973. Herb talks about the instant bonding he felt when he first met Zalman; 09:30 Herb tells a story about Zalman taking him to a Trappist monastery. They went to the top of the dome where a choir was signing. Herb mentions the voices were so captivating and spiritual; 20:00 Herb talks about how Zalman enjoyed performing; 21:13 Herb says he has a friend in Israel working on a biography about Zalman. His friend reminded him of other stories about Zalman that opened his mind. 35:57 Herb tells a story about him and Zalman going to Minneapolis. This is where Herb discovered Zalman’s ability to lead meditation groups. He continues to talk about Zalman’s capacity for caring about other people; 56:20 Justin asks Herb to expand on the drugs Zalman took. Herb mentions that Zalman went to a conservative R.A. assembly and talked to Herb about how contradictory he thought the assembly was. Zalman also talked to Herb about Timothy Leary and expanded consciousness; 01:06:00 Herb comments he only saw Zalman in a suit and tie once. He usually wore t-shirts; 01:13:00 Herb talks about the poem he once wrote to Zalman; 01:22:00 Herb comments that there are probably a lot of recordings, videos, and excerpts of Zalman teaching or performing and someone will have to comb through all of it and come up with something that really sums up who Zalman was. He also talks about Zalman’s book “The First Step” and Herb said he was disappointed with the book because he felt like it didn’t capture the grandeur of Zalman; 01:40:56 Justin asks if Herb recalls any of the texts he was learning with Zalman; 01:43:50 Herb talks about Zalman’s ability to break barriers; 01:52:00 Herb talks about Zalman’s opinions about the conservative movement and how he failed to introduce his beliefs into the conservative movement; 02:08:00 Herb talks about the Reconstructionist prayer book and Zalman’s opinion of it; 02:13:50 Justin and Herb talk about the oral history project and other interviews Justin is doing; 02:40:00 Justin ends the interview as Herb and Justin continue to talk about Manitoba and Justin’s sabbatical.
description
Audio interview of Herb Basser, born 1942, by Dr. Justin Jaron Lewis via Skype from the interviewee's home in Toronto to the interviewer's office. 00:00 Interview begins with an introduction of the interviewer and interviewee, as well as location information; 00:21 Herb talks about the first time he met Zalman. He was interviewing for the Hillel director position in 1972 or 1973. Herb talks about the instant bonding he felt when he first met Zalman; 09:30 Herb tells a story about Zalman taking him to a Trappist monastery. They went to the top of the dome where a choir was signing. Herb mentions the voices were so captivating and spiritual; 20:00 Herb talks about how Zalman enjoyed performing; 21:13 Herb says he has a friend in Israel working on a biography about Zalman. His friend reminded him of other stories about Zalman that opened his mind. 35:57 Herb tells a story about him and Zalman going to Minneapolis. This is where Herb discovered Zalman’s ability to lead meditation groups. He continues to talk about Zalman’s capacity for caring about other people; 56:20 Justin asks Herb to expand on the drugs Zalman took. Herb mentions that Zalman went to a conservative R.A. assembly and talked to Herb about how contradictory he thought the assembly was. Zalman also talked to Herb about Timothy Leary and expanded consciousness; 01:06:00 Herb comments he only saw Zalman in a suit and tie once. He usually wore t-shirts; 01:13:00 Herb talks about the poem he once wrote to Zalman; 01:22:00 Herb comments that there are probably a lot of recordings, videos, and excerpts of Zalman teaching or performing and someone will have to comb through all of it and come up with something that really sums up who Zalman was. He also talks about Zalman’s book “The First Step” and Herb said he was disappointed with the book because he felt like it didn’t capture the grandeur of Zalman; 01:40:56 Justin asks if Herb recalls any of the texts he was learning with Zalman; 01:43:50 Herb talks about Zalman’s ability to break barriers; 01:52:00 Herb talks about Zalman’s opinions about the conservative movement and how he failed to introduce his beliefs into the conservative movement; 02:08:00 Herb talks about the Reconstructionist prayer book and Zalman’s opinion of it; 02:13:50 Justin and Herb talk about the oral history project and other interviews Justin is doing; 02:40:00 Justin ends the interview as Herb and Justin continue to talk about Manitoba and Justin’s sabbatical.
Description
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