Sichos HaRan
Rebbe Nachman's Wisdom

by Reb Noson of Nemirov

Appendix C
On Breslov

There seems to be considerable confusion among English writers about how to spell the name of Rebbe Nachman's city. We have chosen to use the spelling Breslov, which is preferred by all English speaking followers of Rebbe Nachman. It is the spelling used on the stationery of the Breslover Yeshiva in Jerusalem, as well as a number of synagogues founded by his followers.

There is considerable evidence from oral tradition that this was the way the name was pronounced in the time of Rebbe Nachman. This is supported by the Shivechay HaBaal Shem Tov, published in 1815 (Berdichov). Here we find the town spelled and vocalized as Breslov (Jerusalem, 5729, p. 60, based on the 1815 Berdichov edition). In Reb Noson's works, such as Sichot HaRan, Chayay Moharan, and Alim LeTerufah, we find it spelled BRSLV (without vocalization). It is not until the late nineteenth century that we find it vocalized Brasliv (Tovot Zikhronot, p. 7).

Bratzlav, the spelling adapted by most contemporary writers, is based on a transliteration of the modern Russian. Other variant spellings are Brazlaw (Steiler's Hand Atlas), Braclav (Rand McNally, McGraw Hill), Bratslav (Pergamon, Times) and Braslavl (Jewish Encyclopedia).

Situated on the right bank of the River Bug, midway between Nemerov and Tulchin in the government of Podolia (48º 49' N., 28º 53' E.) Breslov had a Jewish population of 2500 out of a general population of 6000. A historic Jewish community, it was the scene of major Jewish massacres in 1479, 1551, 1561, 1648 and 1664. For a while it was the home of Rabbi Naftali Katz, an ancestor of Rebbe Nachman who also embarked on a journey to the Holy Land. The town also figured in a number of episodes involving the Baal Shem Tov.

Rabbi Nachman once said that BReSLoV has the same letters as LeV BaSaR, the “heart of flesh” that the prophet Ezekiel (11:19) said that every Jew must have. He said that his followers would always be known as Breslover Chassidim.