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Nachman of Breslov

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Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1 Nissan 5532 (1772) – 18 Tishrei 5571 (1810)), founder of Breslov Chassidus, was a great-grandson of the holy Baal Shem Tov and a grandson of Rabbi Nachman of Horodenka.

Biography

He was born on 1 Nissan 5532 (1772) in the town of Mezhibuzh in Ukraine, to Rabbi Simcha and Freiga, daughter of Rebbetzin Adel, daughter of the Baal Shem Tov. He was named after his paternal grandfather, Rabbi Nachman of Horodenka, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov.

Already in his youth he stood out for his exceptional gifts and extraordinary holiness, devoting long hours to hisbodedus (secluded personal prayer and meditation), fasting, prayer, and Torah study. On the day of his bar mitzvah he married Rebbetzin Sashia, daughter of R' Ephraim, a land-lease holder from the poritz (nobleman) of Husyatin in the Kiev district. After the wedding he moved into his father-in-law's home, and began drawing to himself the many disciples who would form the nucleus of Breslov Chassidus.

After his father-in-law's passing he relocated to Medvedevka in the Kiev district, where he lived until 5558 (1798).

In 5558 (1798) he resolved to travel to the Land of Israel to accomplish great things on behalf of the Jewish people. He spent some time in Constantinople, then arrived by ship in Haifa on the eve of Rosh Hashanah of 5559 (1798), where he spent the holiday. He then traveled to Tiberias, already a center for disciples of the Baal Shem Tov. The leading Torah figures of the Holy Land wrote urging him to stay with them, among them Rabbi Zev Wolf of Charny-Ostrog and Rabbi Avraham of Kalisk, with whom he discussed the dispute then ongoing with the Alter Rebbe and how to make peace between them.

In 5560 (1800) he moved to Zlatopolia, where he began to lead openly as a Rebbe. As his distinctive path became known, the Sabba of Shpola came out in opposition to him, and the resulting dispute forced Rabbi Nachman to move again. In 5562 (1802), with the blessing of his uncle Rabbi Boruch of Mezhibuzh, he settled in Breslov — a name that has been carried by the Chassidus ever since.

After a great fire in Breslov, he moved in 5570 (1810) with his Chassidim to Uman. He passed away there on 18 Tishrei 5571 (1810).

His Connection with the Alter Rebbe

When the holy Rabbi Nosson Sternhartz — Rabbi Nachman's foremost disciple — first drew close to him, Rabbi Nachman told him three stories, the second of which concerned the Alter Rebbe: "A story of the Rabbi R' Schneur Zalman of Liadi, of blessed memory, who had a disciple[1] who expounded a single Torah teaching of the Rebbe's for eight years — and by this he immediately hinted at Moharanat [our master Rabbi Nosson], of blessed memory, who would greatly multiply innovations within his holy Torah."[2]

In one of those years, Rabbi Nachman told his disciples on Rosh Hashanah that one should not study works of philosophical inquiry, only those grounded in the words of the Sages — Gemara, Midrashim, the Zohar, the writings of the Arizal, and the books composed in the spirit of the Baal Shem Tov: namely the works of Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Polnoye, and the Likkutei Amarim.[3] The Beis Rebbi[4] cites in the name of "one of the Rebbe's grandsons"[5] that Rabbi Nachman's reference to Likkutei Amarim was the Tanya — not another work collecting the teachings of the Maggid that bore the same name.

The Alter Rebbe held Rabbi Nachman in high regard and marveled at his fear of Heaven.[6]

When the dispute broke out between Rabbi Nachman and the Sabba of Shpola, the Alter Rebbe declared: "Whoever harms him, it is as if he has harmed me."[7]

Rabbi Nachman was a mechutan (in-law) of the Alter Rebbe: the holy Rabbi Aharon of Kremenchug, son of Rebbetzin Freida, daughter of the Alter Rebbe, married Rabbi Nachman's daughter Chaya — after she had been widowed from her first husband.[8] In Kremenchug there lived grandchildren who were simultaneously grandchildren of the Alter Rebbe and grandchildren of the holy Rabbi of Breslov Chassidus. Rabbi Aharon of Kremenchug was also a son-in-law of the Mitteler Rebbe, though the sequence of his marriages is not known.

There are those who heard from the Rebbe during the visit of President Shazar that he is a descendant of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.[9]

His Meetings with the Alter Rebbe

During his visit to the Land of Israel, he met several times with R' Avraham of Kalisk regarding the dispute that had arisen between R' Avraham and the Alter Rebbe over charity funds for the Jews of the Holy Land. At one of those meetings he promised R' Avraham that upon his return he would go speak with the Alter Rebbe.

True to his word, after leaving the Holy Land he went straight to the Alter Rebbe without stopping at home. At their meeting the Alter Rebbe asked Rabbi Nachman to share a Torah teaching, but he declined. The Alter Rebbe then delivered a Chassidic discourse that lasted eight hours, concluding with the words: Template:Quotation[10] Rabbi Nachman said that the Alter Rebbe had hit the mark perfectly[11] — and he repeated this teaching of the Alter Rebbe's many times before his disciples.[12]

After the Tishrei holidays of 5570 (1809), the Alter Rebbe undertook a lengthy journey of many months through all of Ukraine (the "Berdichev Journey"), serving multiple purposes: collecting charity for the Jews of the Land of Israel, and — centrally — speaking with R' Boruch of Mezhibuzh in an effort to resolve a dispute that had flared between them. En route to Rabbi Boruch's seat in Tulchin, the Alter Rebbe stopped in nearby Breslov to visit Rabbi Nachman.

Rabbi Nachman went out to receive the Alter Rebbe accompanied by many of his people, declaring: "Give honor to the commander of thousands."[13] When they entered Rabbi Nachman's home, he turned to the wealthy Moshe Hinkes, one of his people, and said: "Give charity to a true Torah scholar" — and would not let him go until he placed on the table an enormous sum of ten gold coins.[14]

Rabbi Nachman then asked the Alter Rebbe whether it was true that he had eighty thousand Chassidim. Various versions of the Alter Rebbe's answer exist,[15] but all agree on the essence: that the Chassidim who served as melamdim (teachers of young children) placed the Alter Rebbe's charity boxes in their satchels and collected money on his behalf from students and local Jews — thereby connecting those communities to the Rebbe and making them, in a certain sense, his Chassidim.[16][17]

Some say that at this meeting Rabbi Nachman hinted to the Alter Rebbe that their descendants would one day be joined by marriage — something that indeed came to pass several years later.[18]

After the meeting concluded, the two tzaddikim rode together in the Alter Rebbe's carriage, escorted by the Breslov community as the Alter Rebbe departed the city.

In Chabad Teaching

His work Likkutei Moharan is cited in a number of Chabad texts, primarily as a source for various teachings of Rabbi Nachman's grandfather, the Baal Shem Tov[19]:

  • "Write this as a memorial in the book and place it in the ears of Joshua" — it is not enough for a disciple to read his Rebbe's Torah; he must also hear it directly from him.[20]
  • "A person is punished whether he knows it or not" — at times a person is led to witness someone else repeating the very act he himself committed, and after he passes judgment on his fellow, the same is exacted from him.[21] In response to Rabbi Alter Moshe Raginskiy regarding this saying, the Rebbe wrote: "I recall having cited the source as Likkutei Moharan in the name of the Baal Shem Tov. Later I found it in Zera Yitzchak on Avos, beginning of chapter 3."[22]

His Works and Collections of His Teachings

  • Sefer HaMidos — half written in his youth, half in his later years
  • Likkutei Moharan — recorded by Rabbi Nosson; the first part was published during Rabbi Nachman's lifetime
  • Sipurei Maasiyos (Tales of Ancient Times)
  • Sichos HaRan — a collection of 308 talks and sayings delivered on various occasions, most of them brief, forming a complement to the main body of his teaching in Likkutei Moharan. The version in our possession was written and edited by his disciple Rabbi Nosson of Nemirov.

Two additional works were written by Rabbi Nachman: the Sefer HaNisraf (the Burned Book), which Rabbi Nachman himself ordered burned, and the Sefer HaGanuz (the Hidden Book). Rabbi Nachman also instituted the recitation of the Tikkun HaKlali.

Further works were compiled from his teachings or written about him. The most notable include:

  • Chayei Moharan
  • Shivchei HaRan — written by Rabbi Nosson, containing praises of Rabbi Nachman and an account of his journey to the Land of Israel during the Napoleonic Wars
  • Likkutei Eitzos

Among His Disciples

  • His brother Rabbi Yechiel
  • Rabbi Nosson of Breslov, author of Likkutei Halachos
  • Rabbi Naftali of Nemirov
  • Rabbi Yudel of Dashiv
  • Rabbi Shmuel Aizik of Dashiv
  • Rabbi the Maggid of Tcharhovitz — from whom the Alter Rebbe obtained an approbation for his Siddur
  • Rabbi Aharon, rabbi and av beis din of Breslov
  • Rabbi Yitzchak Leib of Teplik
  • Rabbi Yitzchak Aizik, who had originally been among the Chassidim of the Maggid of Tcharhovitz
  • Rabbi Shimon of Kremenshchuk (whose holy gravesite lies close to that of the holy Arizal)
  • Rabbi Dov Atkaptshik
  • Rabbi Yitzchak Segal, son-in-law of the Maggid of Tcharhovitz
  • Rabbi Chaim Sara's
  • Rabbi Mordechai the Judge of Teplik
  • Rabbi Chaikel the Cantor

See Also

External Links

Notes

  1. ↑ It is understood that this refers to Rabbi Aharon of Staroselye.
  2. ↑ Kochvei Or, Avneiha Barzel, letter 6.
  3. ↑ Chayei Moharan II, p. 38 (Jerusalem, 5725).
  4. ↑ P. 66.
  5. ↑ Rabbi Shlomo Schneur Zalman Schneersohn, who served as Rebbe in Kapust. "The book is generally known by this name."
  6. ↑ Nesi'ei Chabad U'vnei Doram, from the mouth of the Rammal Shapira.
  7. ↑ Written by a Chassid who was in the home of the Rebbe Rashab and heard the Rebbe Rashab's mother relate the story to her son (Shivcho shel Tzaddik, p. 115, citing Rabbi Azriel Zelig Slonim and Rebbetzin Rivka, wife of the Rebbe Maharash).
  8. ↑ Yemei Maharanat II, letter 51; Gidulei HaNachal; Siach Sarfei Kodesh IV, letter 714.
  9. ↑ Mevaser Tov, by Rashdab Volpa. See also the talk page here.
  10. ↑ In the original Yiddish: Template:Quotation
  11. ↑ In a similar vein the Alter Rebbe writes in Iggeres HaTeshuvah, chapter 7: "And he shall return to G‑d and He will have mercy upon him" — meaning, to arouse compassion over the influence of the Divine Name that has descended into the palaces of the impure forces to give them life.
  12. ↑ Kochvei Or (by Rabbi Avraham b.r. Nachman Chazan), Sason VeSimcha, Prayer 7, note 9.
  13. ↑ Kochvei Or Breslov (by Rabbi Avraham b.r. Nachman Chazan), B.B. 5721. Note that this expression appears in Tanach in reference to King David — I Samuel 18:13.
  14. ↑ Siach Sarfei Kodesh II, pp. 42–43.
  15. ↑ Letter of R' Nachman Sternhartz (grandson of Rabbi Nosson, Rabbi Nachman's foremost disciple); Siach Sarfei Kodesh (Breslov) II, p. 213; Machanayim; Avneiha Barzel.
  16. ↑ In some versions: for the charity of the Land of Israel.
  17. ↑ In some versions the Alter Rebbe added: "In this way, when they grow up they will not dispute me."
  18. ↑ Article on this topic at COL.
  19. ↑ At the same time, when the Rebbe cited Rabbi Nachman of Breslov's statement regarding zimras ha'aretz (the song of the land), and mentioned him by name during the farbrengen, neither his name nor the source appeared in the printed version of the sicha.
  20. ↑ Likkutei Moharan, first edition, §120; Sicha of Shabbos Parshas Beshalach 5722, Toras Menachem vol. 33, p. 90.
  21. ↑ Likkutei Moharan §113; Sicha of Yud Shevat 5720 — Likkutei Sichos vol. 6, p. 283.
  22. ↑ Handwritten response. Printed in the farbrengen booklet, Shabbos Parshas Shemos, Rosh Chodesh Shevat, 25 Teves 5737, published by Vaad Hanachos B'Lashon Hakodesh, p. 24.
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