The narrator describes a broad view of the world, seen “through Yente’s eyes” (812) as a caravan of merchants travels from Constantinople to Poland. Yente sees a merchant named Nahman Samuel ben Levi of Busk. He seems “frail and hobbled” (810) but feels that he occupies a unique moment in history. His traveling companion, Jacob, inspires Nahman; in secret, he writes religious accounts of Jacob’s life and teachings. Nahman writes that he is a “born messenger” (808) and he begins his book about Jacob with a biography of his own life. Many of his memories recall the persecution he and his family faced as Jews in Busk and other places, “wishful for some salvation to come” (805). The Jewish community was convinced that a Messiah would emerge among them to alleviate their suffering. Many people chose to believe that a mystic and Rabbi named Sabbatai Tzvi was that Messianic figure.

At 16, Nahman realized that he wanted to “be in the service of some great cause” (803). He studied the Jewish religion under the tutelage of the Baal Shem Tov. Along with his close friend Leybko, he was impressed by the Baal Shem Tov’s wisdom.