The Blog @ Breslov.org

Dear Chaver (Friend) of Breslov Research Institute,

After many years of hard work and tremendous help from the One Above, we are nearing completion of the multi-volume Likutey Moharan in English project. This is a milestone in Breslov Research Institute history. The series features full Hebrew-English text on facing pages, a running commentary based on traditional Breslov sources and profound, highly accessible notes drawing from the Written Torah, Gemara, Zohar, Midrash and kabbalistic works.

As you may know, Breslov Research Institute recently published Volume 13 of this series. There are only two more volumes that remain to be done. The zekhus (merit) of joining us is in completing this mitzvah is open to everyone and anyone who believes in bringing this unprecedented project to fruition.

Our Sages observe, “im ein kemach, ein Torah . . . Without money, there is no Torah” (Pirkey Avot 3:17). Breslover Chassidim point out that the Hebrew word kemach (literally, flour) has the same gematria (numerical value) as the name “Nachman.” This means is that if we give some of our “flour” for Rebbe Nachman’s holy books, we’ll surely succeed in connecting to Torah—and in helping others to do so, as well, for Rebbe Nachman’s works are keys to each area and level of Torah.

The Breslov Research Institute is in earnest need of your partnership. Our Sages teach that one who helps complete a mitzvah is accredited the entire mitzvah. Your contribution, great or small, gives you a genuine claim to this rare mitzvah.

For a generous contribution of $180 you can sponsor a page of Likutey Moharan with an opportunity to dedicate that page in honor or in memory of the person of your choice. Upon completion of the project, you will receive a complimentary copy sent directly to your home.

So please join us for the final leg of this project and be sure to share this opportunity with your friends. To contribute online, please visit www.breslov.org/LM/

If you are unable to contribute the entire amount right now, Breslov Research will gladly accept ten payments of $18 a month.

A list of lessons available for dedication is also available, please click here.

Additionally you may mail your contribution to:
Breslov Research Institute POB 5370 Jerusalem, Israel
Tel.: 972.2.582.4641 Fax: 972.2.582.5542
North America: POB 587 Monsey, NY 10952-0587
Tel.: 732.534.7263/ 1-800-33BRESLOV Fax: 732.608.8461

All contributions are fully tax deductible in the USA, Canada, UK and Israel.
Thanks for being a part of this monumental mitzvah!

All the best to you and yours,
Breslov Research Institute

admin Uncategorized Breslov Research Institute, Gemara, kabbalistic, Likutey Moharan, Midrash, Torah, Zohar

Dvar Torah for Elul/Teshuvah-Time

Based on Likutey Halakhot, P’ru u’R’vu 3:10

We’re taking a break from the based-on-the-parshah dvar Torah. Don’t fret none. With God’s help we’ll be writing and you’ll be reading, just it won’t (necessarily) be about the parshah. And, also with God’s help, it won’t be boring or uninformative, either.

Now, you’ve certainly heard and read a lot about teshuvah. You’ve seen the word teshuvah translated in different ways, sometimes return or returning, coming back—to God, that is—and sometimes as repent. When people said “repent” did you ever wonder what they meant?

Well, it means feeling contrite for doing the wrong things you’ve done (or said or thought), and it means amending your life so that you repeat your mistakes (aka sins) less and less. If you’re like most people who want to be better Jews, you’ll amend your life by doing, or not doing, something that you can measure. For example, you’ll (try to): curse less; eat only kosher food; study more Torah every day; not steal or cheat, etc., etc.

Did it ever, ever occur to you that instead of just eliminating the (obviously) wrong and doing more good things, that you should change your attitude? Did it ever occur to you that you can accomplish more by improving your attitude than by changing your regimen? Maybe you should tell your self, “Self, I was thinking. I behave pretty decently. Yes, I have to cut down on my Internet gambling, and there’s no reason I can’t make the minyan every day. But Self, what I really need to fix, what I must change if I really want to do teshuvah, is add simcha to each mitzvah I do. I’ve got to be glad to it. I will be happy when a mitzvah comes my way. I will enjoy each and every mitzvah I do!”

Rebbe Nachman teaches that two people can be sitting side by side in Gan (the Garden of) Eden. One will thoroughly enjoying it. The other will feel no enjoyment or anything special. Why? They both believed and they both did. They’re in Gan Eden for crying out loud! The difference is that the former enjoyed doing mitzvahs, the latter did not (Likutey Moharan I, #191).

So, fer sure (as the young people like to say), tinker somewhat with your behavior. But start adding a genuine smile to your every mitzvah, as well.

agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!

© Copyright 2010 Breslov Research Institute

Ozer Elul, simcha, teshuvah Dvar Torah, Likutey Moharan, simcha, teshuvah

{This post was first published on 6 June 2010 and was updated 13 June. New comments are in {}. My thanks to those who have commented. You made the post a better one.}

The recent article in Mishpacha Magazine that we were thankful for, and applauded here, was recently followed by a number of “Letters to the Editor.” Those letters, sad to say, were full of canard-laced ignorance-based attacks on Breslov.

Even though we Breslovers are used to such things, it nonetheless is tiresome to hear (or read) yet again. In this case it is particularly disappointing because the same magazine that had shown Rebbe Nachman and Breslov in their true, glorious colors now allowed itself to be used to malign a vibrant community of beautiful Yidden.

Here is some of what I wrote to the editor of Mishpacha in response to those letters. We await word to see if it will be published. {It was not. A fine response by our friend Ephraim Portnoy was published.} May we soon hear good news for all of klal Yisrael (the Jewish people). Amen.

To the Editor:

Although I am the least worthy of my peers and the last one who should be nominated to defend the honor of Rebbe Nachman and his chassidim, I feel compelled to respond to the letters that were published in response to Reb Yisroel Besser’s fine article about Breslov.

First, allow me to respond to the first letter. Even though Breslov is best known for its emphasis on tefilah, from page one of his Likutey Moharan, Rebbe Nachman stresses the primacy of Torah study, particularly learning b’iyun. (in depth). In a number of lessons, Rebbe Nachman teaches the power and importance of learning halachah. In fact, Reb Noson Breslover writes that of all of Rebbe Nachman’s eitzos(suggested practices) only two are universal and daily: hisbodedus (making time to talk to Hashem in one’s own words) and study of halachah.

I’m not sure how you arrive at the correlation of Torah ignorance and questioning Hashem’s ways. To take one well-known example, Acher was quite learned and questioned. Millions of Yidden were unlearned and unlettered, but had faith to live and die without questioning Hashem. Such questions are emunah-related, not knowledge-related.

Of course the Chofetz Chaim’s conversations sounded different than a newcomer’s. Does that make the newcomer’s defective, invalid or unwanted by Hashem? Certainly the Chofetz Chaim’s conversations with Hashem were of a higher quality in his later years than in his earlier years. Furthermore, the Chofetz Chaim became who he did by having hisbodedus. {And please do check Chapter 10 of the Chofetz Chaim’s Likutei Amarim in which he strongly encourages talking to Hashem in one’s own words! My sincere thanks to A Talmid for being the first “to show me it inside.”}

As for the desire for shortcuts to piety or anything else, that is not Breslov. That is human.

“Reb Yid”, author of the second letter, you want us to be cognizant of “the other side of the story,” of catastrophes in Breslov and perhaps somehow fomented by Breslov teaching. I ask you, “Reb Yid”, are catastrophes unique to Breslov? Professionals and askanim know that catastrophes occur in every chatzar/community. I have been involved with “crazies” in Breslov who are refugees from emotional, physical and criminal abuse inflicted upon them by members of the chassidic communities into which they were born. Is that “the other side of the story” of Chassidus X or Chassidus Y? Should we point our finger at the Noam Elimelekh, Meor Einaim or Sfas Emes and put them under lock and key?

Rebbe Nachman points out that TziBuR is an acronym for Tzaddikim, Beinonim, Reshaim. The reshaim, scoundrels and villains, of any community are not those who follow the tzaddik’s advice, but those who do not. We should not judge any community by its “reshaim”—their level we could attain on our own—but by its tzaddikim.

Chazal tell us that the holy Torah—dee heilege Torah!—can be an elixir of life or a fatal poison. What it becomes depends upon the person who learns it. Rebbe Nachman teaches that the same is true of a tzaddik’s advice. What it becomes depends upon the person who receives it. That is to say, the fault, dear “Reb Yid,” lies not in the teacher or in the teaching, but in ourselves.

May I ask if you wish to belittle with faint praise—that Rebbe Nachman is a tzaddik, yes, who ought to be learned, yes, but only by talmidei chachamim, not ordinary folk? Does combining that with what you admit is hearsay “over many years” give license to malign a community of thousands, with chaderim, yeshivas and kolleim?!

Finally, our anonymous, last correspondent, you are simply mistaken. Just as in other chassidic groups, we, too, have our share of disagreements. The leader to whom he alludes has much opposition from within Breslov and has had for many years. (He also has many very loyal adherents.) Breslov leaders are not shy about expressing their disapproval of what they view as a corruption of Rebbe Nachman’s teachings and path. We on the inside know that, but again, like other communities, we don’t wash our laundry in public.

Lastly, insofar as “crazies” (a word that may be accurate, but is certainly loathsome) are concerned, may I suggest two reasons why there seems to be a preponderance in Breslov. First, since so many communities insist on keeping them out, lest those meshugaim spoil their sheine image, the “crazies” go to the only place open to them—Breslov. Second, nowadays when a bit of nevuah has been bestowed upon the insane, perhaps the “crazies” intuit that of all the rebbes and all the seforim, only Rebbe Nachman is great enough to heal them.

Sincerely,
Ozer Bergman

Ozer Faith, Hitbodedut, Likutei Moharan, Rebbe Nachman, Torah, Tzaddik Likutey Moharan, Rebbe Nachman, Tzaddik, Tzaddikim

Based on Likutey Moharan I, Lesson #123

“A foolish people, unwise…” (Deuteronomy 32: 6). Onkelos translates:
A nation that accepted the Torah, without exercising wisdom.

A word of caution: What follows may sound extreme, especially to Judaism or Breslov newcomers. I’ve written some notes to myself, basically an entry into my spiritual diary, if I had one. I think they are instructive and hope they are like all of Rebbe Nachman’s teachings, applicable by any person, no matter what his current or prior spiritual level.

For over six weeks now we’ve prepared ourselves to receive the Torah.
We’ve done introspection (a lot or a little), greatly anticipated receiving the Torah and/or tried to align our behavior to the day-by-day manifestations of Kabbalistic sefirot that relate to the Omer-Count. We’re certainly “better” Jews than we were at the Seder (though we may be hard pressed to explain how), somewhat less flawed, better committed to caring for the Torah and more aware of the preciousness of time.

So are we ready? Rebbe Nachman teaches that a very crucial point in a person’s preparation, upon which hinges his entire ability to accept the Torah, is his willingness to fully and totally accept what Moshe teaches. Will you unquestionably accept it when Moshe tells you that right is left and left is right (Sifri, Parshat Shoftim)? Not so easy, huh?

After all, we cherish some ideas and consider others inviolate, ideas about who we are, what’s true and what’s right, etc. It’s quite difficult to let go of my wisdom. Letting go of it is not like changing a $10 bill for two fives! Letting go of our wisdom demands that we change how we think about the world, feel about our experiences and what we do. It makes us new people. That’s pretty scary. The old me may not be so great, but at least I know who he is!

What’s especially difficult for many is the fear of not having the final say. “I’ll disappear. I’ll become an extension of Moshe, nothing more.” Rest assured, dear reader, that you never for a moment abdicate your free will or responsibility for your decisions. At any moment one can decide to give up his entire connection to Torah, God forbid.
(This is why we are warned not to assume that we will automatically choose correctly for the rest of life. See Avot 2:5.)

As for being “merely” an extension of Moshe Rabbeinu, the Mishnah teaches “be the tail of lion, don’t be the head of a fox” (Avot 4:20).

The toenail of Moshe Rabbeinu has more going for it than, well, my head. Ouch! That’s mighty humbling.

If I insist, for whatever reasons, on holding to my current way of thinking, genius though I might be, all of Moshe’s miracles—frogs, hail sea-splitting, you name it—won’t make a difference. If I don’t put down my ideas, I can’t accept Moshe’s Torah. Where our ideas disagree, I’ll insist on maintaining mine, and where they agree, I’ll accept them because they’re mine. This you call “receiving the Torah”?

Lastly, I don’t know about you, but at Sinai I was at the foot of the mountain, not at the top. I don’t really know what God—the Creator, our Liberator—told Moshe Rabbeinu. I only have Moshe’s word about Shabbat, usury, the red heifer and the rest of it. I’m going to try my best to “unwisen,” to lay down all my pre-conceived notions in favor of Moshe’s, and pray to God that I’m making the right decision to believe in Moshe. I’m in.

All who are with me, say, “Naaseh v’nishma! We will do and we will listen!” (Exodus 24:7).

agutn yom tov!
Chag sameach!
Happy holy day!

© Copyright 2010 Breslov Research Institute

admin Uncategorized Likutey Moharan, Moshe Rabbeinu, Shavuot

Based on Likutey Moharan I, Lesson #191

“If you follow My laws and are careful to keep my mitzvot, I will provide you with rain…the land will bear its crops, the trees…will provide fruit…threshing season will last until your grape harvest…I will grant peace in the land…you will continue eating the previous year’s crops…and will eventually have to clear out the old crops because of the new” (Leviticus 26:3–10).

Sounds pretty good, and I even left out some of the blessings that are on the list. Keep those mitzvot, learn some Torah and then reap the rewards—literally, it says—and enjoy! Right? Well, it depends.

Rebbe Nachman teaches that two people can be sitting next to each other in Gan (the Garden of) Eden, the Heavenly abode awaiting those who are careful to keep God’s mitzvot while they live on our planet, and they will have totally different experiences. One will have “all the pleasures and delights of the 310 worlds, while his friend will feel nothing and have no pleasure whatsoever.” Since they both were observant Jews, why the difference?

Rebbe Nachman explains that Godliness resides in the heart. And even though the heart (and brain) are quite small, though can contain country upon country, with all the things, places and people they contain because, “the Heavens to the heights and the earth to the depths, and the heart of kings is unfathomable” (Proverbs 25:3).

So, if you want to enjoy the rewards of mitzvah performance you have to enjoy doing the mitzvot. You have to put your heart into them, contemplate their wisdom and mystery, the greatness of the One Who chose you to observe them and the wonder of being privileged to do them.

Do that and you’ll enjoy Gan Eden right here on earth!

agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!

© Copyright 2010 Breslov Research Institute

admin Weekly Parsha Behar-Bechukoti, Likutey Moharan, Parsha

Here are the references for the two classes:
Crossing the Narrow Bridge, Page 225 – 226
Advice, Page 54
The Aleph-Bet Book, Page 40 – 42
Rabbi Nachman’s Stories: The Turkey Prince, The Sophisticate and the Simpleton
Likutey Moharan, Volume lV, Torah 151
Likutey Moharan, Volume lV, Torah 29:3
Likutey Moharan, Volume lll, Torah 21:16

Chaim Oliver Uncategorized Dress for Success, Likutey Moharan, Rabbi Nachman's Stories

We will meet at 7:00 PM EST, January 5, 2010 on Skype to study the Rebbe’s Torah: AYEH? Where?

“To achieve lasting happiness, you have to know how to rise out of the lows. This is the theme of Rebbe Nachman’s teaching of “Ayeh?” which shows how to find hope in even the darkest, most desperate situations and turn them to your own advantage”

Reference Clink: http://www.breslov.org/bookstore/explorations/i-will-sing-azamra-where-ayeh-/prod_5.html

To join the class contact howard.o on Skype at the start time.
Email me at coliver@breslov.org if you need any help with Skype.

Chaim Oliver

Chaim Oliver Uncategorized Breslov Class, Likutey Moharan, Rebbe Nachman

Based on Likutey Moharan I, Lesson #244

Isn’t it enough that a person is in this vulgar world, in which angels are incapable of withstanding [the temptations of] this world. For so we find, that angels once came to this world and stumbled greatly* (Zohar I, 58a). But Jews are stronger than angels….

The Torah was not given to the ministering angels (Kiddushin 54a).

Depending on how the following is told, it’s either a risqué joke or a source of encouragement. (Here, it’s the latter.) In the Kedushah of Shabbat Musaf it is told that the angels, in their Heavenly abode, ask in awe: Where is the place of [God’s] glory?! What happens when they visit our planet? They ask a different sort of question: “Where is Sarah your wife?” (Genesis 18:9).

You are not an angel. You’re a human being and you live in a very challenging environment. Like other animals, you have a body that needs to be cared for, fed and housed. Unlike other animals, you have psychological needs that need tending to.

So your desire to do a better job at being Jewish—more honesty, generosity, deeper understanding of God and His Torah, sincerity in prayer—keeps running into detours and dead ends. But Jews are stronger than angels. If it were only the various facets of self-care that challenged us, difficult as they may be, you could overcome them.

But in addition to the above, you have to deal with your fellow human beings, like the other animals, but unlike them (i.e., in a more civilized and peaceful way, hopefully). Unlike angels, you’re not running on automatic pilot. You are affected by your environment. You’re interest and desire to do what’s good and right will peter out if you don’t work at perpetuating it. Your neighbors’ values and pastimes come to your attention, and all too easily can encroach on your mind and your time. After all, we’re only human.

So to improve your chances of succeeding at Judaism, Rebbe Nachman recommends limiting your association with those who behave non-Jewishly. It may cost you some of the short-term benefits of this world, but will keep you clinging to what’s kosher and Jewish in your life.

agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!

© Copyright 2009 Breslov Research Institute

*Rebbe Nachman is referring to Aza and Azael, angels who descended to our planet before the Deluge. They assumed physical form, became trapped in the corporeal and committed multiple crimes of immorality.

admin Weekly Parsha angels, Likutey Moharan

Based on Likutey Moharan II, Lesson #8

The following is Addendum E to Lesson #8, in the forthcoming volume (Volume 13) of Breslov Research Institute’s translation of Likutey Moharan. The themes of the lesson referred to here are: the spread of prophecy (§5); the House of Prayer (§6); refining the imagination and rectifying faith (§7); finding and getting close to a true leader, and faith (§8); and Rosh HaShanah (§11).

Rosh HaShanah by the Tzaddik

In section 8 of this lesson, Rebbe Nachman teaches: When prophecy spreads in the world, the imagination is refined and faith is rectified. Therefore, to attain perfected faith a person has to seek and search for a true leader—i.e., the tzaddik with prophetic spirit—and draw close to him.

In Parparaot LeChokhmah, Reb Nachman Goldstein writes: Rosh HaShanah is the main time to gather by the tzaddik. Rebbe Nachman spoke a great deal about this on the eve of his last Rosh HaShanah. As explained in section 11, Rosh HaShanah is time all the tikkunim (rectifications) mentioned in the lesson are effected. This is why he also stressed the importance of his followers staying united. Even though none than the true tzaddik, the master of strength, rectifies the souls of the Jewish people, the tzaddik himself is dependent on them—the sacred gathering of Jews—for his strength. As our Sages teach: The Holy One said to Moshe: “I gave you greatness only on account of Israel” (Berakhot 32a), and as is explained elsewhere in the Rebbe’s teachings (Likutey Moharan I, 49:8).

This is certainly the case regarding the rectification of one’s soul. One needs to personally contribute to this with “an arousal from below” (see Likutey Moharan I, 60:6 and n.151), which one does by coming to the tzaddik. The essence of this is when many souls gather together, which results in an enormous increase of permutations and houses, such that even the souls which “have been poured out at every street corner” (Lamentations 4:1) are drawn in and receive their rectification. It is the unity of these souls which causes the permutations to multiply. They are then like a single word with many letters, whereas if these letters were separated into a number of small words, the resulting permutations would be fewer. For example, two three-letter words form six permutations each. Contrast that with a single word of six letters which forms 720 permutations.* Understand from this the power of a holy gathering of Jews and the tremendous value of Jewish unity.

Therefore, when Rebbe Nachman’s followers stay united, he can more easily rectify their souls—such that they become kosher Jews and tzaddikim—even after his passing from this world. In addition, we see it for a fact that more than anything else it is the holy gathering of Breslover chassidim for Rosh HaShanah in Uman that strengthens their unity. Even now, who knows what amazing tikkunim and tremendous new and awesome permutations are made each year by the Rosh HaShanah gathering, especially since that is the most efficacious time for effecting all the rectifications mentioned in the lesson.

[*Namely: 3x2x1=6. Two three-letter words yield 12 permutations. In contrast, 6x5x4x3x2x1=720. The same amount of letters/Jewish souls, yet 120 times more powerful! – OB]

© Copyright 2009 Breslov Research Institute

admin Rosh HaShanah Likutey Moharan, Parparaot LeChokhmah, Rosh HaShanah

Through the joy we have on Purim, clapping our hands and dancing, we are able to fulfill the mitzvah of counting the Omer properly. Then we are ready to receive the Torah on Shavuot, both the revealed and the hidden Torah (10:8).
Each day of the Omer period is associated with a different aspect of the Sefirot. And on that day everything which everyone in the whole world is talking about is purely an expression of the particular aspect with which that day is associated. A person with understanding can hear and recognize this if he pays attention to what people are saying (182).

The forty-nine days of the Omer period correspond to the forty nine gates of repentance, and these in turn correspond to the forty-nine letters in the Hebrew names of the twelve tribes. It is through these letters and gates that we must make our return to God Almighty. The festival of Shavuot is the fiftieth gate. This is the gateway of God’s `repentance,’ when God himself returns, as it were. That is to say, He returns to us in love. It is possible to reach all these gates and open them by reciting the psalms. You should be careful to concentrate when you recite the psalms. Then you will be able to reach all forty-nine gates. During the forty-nine days of the counting of the Omer we have to cleanse ourselves of our impurity and return to God. Then God will return to us on Shavuot (Likutey Moharan II, 73).

When we immerse in the mikvah on Shavuot we are connected with the highest levels of God’s loving kindness and abundant mercy, and we can attain awesome levels of perception of God. The illumination which radiates on Shavuot is a supremely exalted level of the Divine wisdom, fine and subtle in the extreme. And this wisdom is in itself an expression of God’s lovingkindness and mercy. For love is bound up with wisdom and perception, as is explained elsewhere. It is a wonderful thing to experience the holiness of Shavuot, and in particular the mikvah of Shavuot, the mikvah of the fiftieth gate, which then becomes the wellspring of holiness and purity for Israel (Likutey Moharan I, 56:7).

Shavuot is the season of receiving the Torah. It is a time of new vitality. And it is a season that brings healing to the lungs. (The five lobes of the lungs correspond to the five books of Moses.) (266).

Copyright © 1997, 2001,2003 Breslov Research Institute

admin Uncategorized Breslov Research Institute, Likutey Moharan, mikvah, Moses, Shavuot