Dvar Torah for Parshat VaEtchanan/Shabbat Nachamu

An Open Letter from Rebbe Nachman

Reb Yitzchok Breiter was a Poilisher Yid (Polish Jew) who was grew up in Lublin. He was raised in a chassidic home, but had no knowledge whatsoever of Rebbe Nachman or Breslov Chassidut. When he discovered a copy of Likutey MoHaran (in 5665/1905) he was immediately taken by the Rebbe's depth of insight and ruach hakodesh (lit., holy spirit). He became extremely devoted to Rebbe Nachman and was instrumental in spreading the Rebbe's teachings in Poland. Reb Yitzchok would, on occasion, have hitbodedut (secluded prayer/conversation with God) for eight (8) hours! Reb Yitzchok was one of the Six Million holy martyrs. He was murdered in the gas chambers of Treblinka shortly after the Germans overran Poland. (Thus ñGod will avenge his bloodî is substituted for the tradtional ñof blessed memory.î) He was approximately 60 years old.

Reb Yitzchok wrote this ñopen letterî as a way of encouraging the Breslover Chassidim of his day to renew their efforts in hitbodedut. We have rendered this letter from the original Yiddish for the same purpose. There are two reasons for this: [1] This Shabbat is Shabbat Nachamu, the Shabbat of Comfort (from the words of the prophet, ñComfort, comfort, My people,î says God [Isaiah 40:1]).The main comfort a person has comes from gaining daat (awarenesss) which is gained through hitbodedut; [2] We are now just seven Shabbats from Rosh HaShanah, the beginning of the new year. This letter is a wake-up call and one always needs to be awake. This letter, written as if from Rebbe Nachman, will help keep you from ñfalling asleep.î

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(Where you are prompted to insert your name, the original offers the following comment: ñSay your name out loud. It will be beneficial for you.î)

To you, (your name), my dear mÍkurav (devotee) and student:

Please, stop and take a few minutes to hear well what I have to say, which is for your eternal good.

You should know that I had to work very hard before I was able to mÍkerav you (draw you close). A little bit you can understand. To some degree you can feel the miracles that were done on your behalf, for you to be mÍkurav (drawn close).

One of the conditions I have for one whom I draw close, to be my student, is that he not allow himself to be fooled. No one he talks to should be able fool him. Remember the question I put to you: ñWhat? What is the purpose of life?...What will become of you?...What will you answer the One Who sent you?î [See Rabbi Nachman's Wisdom #286.]

You've heard many times and well understand that underlying my entire approach to Judaism and my every eitzah (suggestion) to come closer to God; the principle through which one can receive all my tikunim [spiritual rectifications], and through which one can correct all that he needs to correct, and achieve all that he needs to achieve, is hitbodedut.

What does hitbodedut mean? It means choosing a place to speak out your heart to the Ribono shel Olam [Master of the Universe]; it means asking of Him everything you need, material and spiritual; it means confessing to Him all your wrong-doings, accidental as well as intentional; it means thanking the Blessed Lord for all the spiritual and material favors He has done for you.

In His tender mercy God has granted me the following:

Any person who will do hitbodedut with complete sincerity, spending an hour every day with God, even if the person feels no spiritual excitement whatsoever in that hour, even if he is unable to say a word, if he but tries to long and to speak, he will be worthy of kol tuv (all the best) and will not have any din [judgement] visted upon him from Above. For by means of this devotion everything will be corrected: one's every nefesh, ruach and neshamah [levels of the soul] and all the spiritual worlds which have depended upon him, from Adam until the Mashiach.

This is absolutely and unequivocally true. I guarantee it.

But I must also warn you:

Since with such an easy tikun, with one hour a day, any person can be worthy of kol tuv, the Satan will do what he can to prevent a person from doing hitbodedut. He will try to raise doubts in a personÍs mind: Could it really be true. He will try to not let you have any time; he will try to keep you busy with other spiritual practices. Whatever he tries his objective is the same.

Nu?! Dear brother! Have pity on yourself! Open your eyes! Realize that Satan wants you to play the fool and end up a loser! Do you want to remain naked and bare, God forbid?! Do you want to be incapable of receiving my awesome tikunim which touch the Infinite, which you can get for just one hour a day?!

I know that youÍre ready to give up anything for God. Yet for the most important thing, which is so easy and simple, you let yourself be fooled!? Throw away all your money, all your affairs and all your confusion, and run right now to save your self!

You yourself will later thank Hashem for giving you such good advice.
Amen.

On behalf of your Rebbe, the Nachal Noveia Mekor Chokhmah (ña flowing brook, a fountain of wisdomî; Proverbs 18:4). [In Hebrew, the first letters of these words spell the RebbeÍs name, NaChMaN.]

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agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!