Breslov Hasidic dynasty: Encyclopedia - Breslov Hasidic dynasty

Breslov (Hasidic dynasty)

The Breslov movement of Hasidic Judaism was founded by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810), who was the great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism. Breslover Hasidim usually refer to him as "Rebbe Nachman" or "Rabbenu" (rah-BAY-noo, meaning "our teacher") or simply "the Rebbe".

The name of Breslov itself comes from the town of Bratslav (which was known among the Jews as "Breslov"), where Rebbe Nachman spent most of the last eight years of his life. Bratslav is a small town in the Ukrainian Republic, located on the Bug River, latitude 48.50 N longitude 28.55 E. It is situated midway between Tulchin to the south and Nemirov to the north; 9 miles (15 kilometers) from each.

Prior to his arrival in Breslov in 1802, Rebbe Nachman had lived and taught in other towns in Ukraine such as Ossatin, Moheilov and Zlatipolia. But upon his arrival in Breslov he declared, "Today we have planted the name of the Breslover Hasidim. This name will never disappear, because my followers will always be called after the town of Breslov" (Tzaddik #115).

Later his followers would note that the name of the town dovetailed with the rebbe's teachings encouraging his followers to remove the barriers that stood between themselves and a closer relationship with God. They noted that the Hebrew letters of the word Breslov (ברסלב) can be rearranged to spell lev basar (לב בשר —the "ס" and "ש" sounds are interchangeable), "a heart of flesh"—echoing the prophecy of Ezekiel (36:26): "I [God] will take away your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Rabbi Shmuel Moshe Kramer also noted that the gematria (numerical value) of the Hebrew letters of Breslov (ברסלב) is 294, as is the Hebrew spelling of Nachman ben Faiga (נחמן בן פיגא), Rebbe Nachman's name and mother's name.

Breslov Hasidic dynasty - Breslov approach

The Breslov approach places great stress on serving God through the sincerity of the heart, with much joy and living life as intensely as possible.

Breslover Hasidism is most unusual in that it has no living rebbe, and has not had one for almost two hundred years. Rabbi Nachman was adamant that he did not want to found a dynasty, and appointed no successor. In 1810, upon Rabbi Nachman's death, it was decided not to select a new leader for the movement, but rather, to study the teachings which the Rebbe left behind. For this reason, Breslovers are sometimes derided by other Hasidic groups as the Toite Chassidim (the "Dead Chassidim") in Yiddish. Breslovers, on the other hand, will sometimes reply that "it is better to have a dead Rebbe who is alive (in his teachings) than a live Rebbe who is dead (in his practice)." Today, there is no single council of elders in Breslov, and no official membership list, although some groups do maintain mailing lists. Breslover Hasidim are free to seek advice from any Orthodox rabbi whom they may choose.

Breslovers describe themselves as dedicated to fulfilling the spirit of the Torah's laws, as well as the letter of them. They see Torah life as the means to a joyful existence, and their approach to worship is very personalized and emotional, with much clapping, singing, and dancing. Rabbi Nachman said, "It's a great mitzvah (commandment) always to be happy." Even in the Nazi concentration camps, the Breslovers strove to find joy in life. The well-known tune to Ani Maamin ("I believe") is attributed to Breslover Hasidim who sang it on their way to the gas chambers.

Breslovers do not restrict themselves to Rabbi Nachman's commentaries on the Torah, but also study many of the classic texts, including the Tanakh, the Talmud, the Midrash, and many others. They may also study the writings of Rebbes from other dynasties. Breslover communities exist in several locations in Israel, as well as in major cities around the world that have large Jewish populations, including Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and London.

Breslov Hasidic dynasty - Breslov forms of meditation

Rebbe Nachman placed great stress on meditation. One distinctively Breslov practice is called hisbodedus (hiss-BO-de-dooss), also called hitbodedut (hit-ba-de-DOOT) in Israeli Hebrew. This literally means "to make oneself be in solitude." The Breslov form of hisbodedus is a personalized form of free-flowing verbal prayer which is practiced by the individual Hasid, in addition to the regular daily services in the synagogue. Breslover Hasidim try to spend an hour alone with God each day, pouring out their thoughts and concerns in whatever language they speak, as if talking to a close personal friend. Rabbi Nachman said that the best place to do this is alone in a field or a forest, but if this is not possible, one can do it in a private room.

Some Breslovers also use a form of mantra meditation, by repeating a word or phrase over and over. Rebbe Nachman himself used Ribono shel Olam (Master of the Universe) which he pronounced with the Yiddish intonation as: Ree-BOY-noy shell OY-lahm. Many Breslover Hasidim today also use this mantra. (Some say that the Yiddish pronunciation allows one to pour every possible emotion into the "Oy" syllables.)

Other Breslovers use the Na Nach Nachma mantra, which is based on the Hebrew letters of Nachman's name. This mantra was not used by Rebbe Nachman himself, but was taught in the 20th century by Rabbi Yisroel Ber Odesser.

Rabbi Nachman always maintained that his high spiritual level was due to his own efforts, and not to his famous lineage or any other circumstances of his birth. He repeatedly insisted that all Jews could reach the same level as he, and spoke out very strongly against those who thought that the main reason for a Rebbe's greatness was the superior level of his soul (see Rabbi Nachman's Wisdom, Kaplan English edition, page 29).

Breslov Hasidic dynasty - The Rosh Hashana kibbutz

Another specifically Breslov practice is the annual Rosh Hashana kibbutz, a large gathering at the grave of Rabbi Nachman in Uman, Ukraine on the Jewish New Year. Rabbi Nachman himself said: "My Rosh Hashana is greater than everything. I cannot understand how it is that if my followers really believe in me, they are not all scrupulous about being with me for Rosh Hashana. No one should be missing! Rosh Hashana is my whole mission" (Tzaddik #403). During his lifetime, hundreds of followers spent the holiday with him; after his passing, his closest disciple, Nathan of Nemirov ("Reb Noson") organized an annual pilgrimage to his grave starting with Rosh Hashana 1811, the year after the Rebbe's death. Until World War I, hundreds of Hasidim from Ukraine, White Russia, Lithuania and Poland joined the holiday prayer gathering. The Rosh Hashana kibbutz operated clandestinely and on a smaller scale under Communism, when public prayer gatherings were forbidden. The pilgrimage was officially reinstituted after the fall of Communism in 1989, and continues to this day, with upwards of 20,000 men and boys arriving each Rosh Hashana from all over the world.

Breslov Hasidic dynasty - Additional pilgrimages

Breslovers also make individual pilgrimages to their Rebbe's grave at other times of the year. Plus, there is now an organized women's pilgrimage on Purim, in honor of the Feast of Esther. Visiting the grave at any time is deemed beneficial, because Rebbe Nachman said, Whoever comes to my gravesite and recites the Ten Psalms of the Tikkun K'lali (General Remedy), and gives even as little as a penny to charity for my sake, then, no matter how serious his sins may be, I will do everything in my power -- spanning the length and breadth of Creation -- to cleanse and protect him. By his very payos (sidecurls) I will pull him out of Gehenna (purgatory)! (Rabbi Nachman's Wisdom #141).

Breslov Hasidic dynasty - Main Books of the Breslov Sect

The main Hasidic books revered by Breslover Hassidim are those written by Rebbe Nachman and Rabbi Nathan. All of Rebbe Nachman's books were transcribed by Rabbi Nathan. Additionally Rabbi Nathan wrote some of his own works. Rebbe Nachman's magnum opus is Likkutei Moharan. Other works include, Tikkun HaKlali, Shivchei HaRan, Sichos HaRan, Sefer HaMiddos, and Chayei HaRan. Additionally Rabbi Nathan authored a Hasidic commentary on Shulchan Aruch called Likkutei Halachos, and a collection of personal prayers called, Likkutei Tefillos.

See also

• Nachman of Breslov
• Nathan of Nemirov
• Levi Yitzhak Bender
• Yitzhak Breiter
• Moshe Breslover
• Abraham Chazan
• Nachman Chazan
• Nachman Goldstein
• Yisroel Halpern
• Yisroel Ber Odesser
• Abraham Sternhartz
• Yitzhak Sternhartz
• Alter Tepliker
• Na Nach Nachma

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Breslov Hasidic dynasty", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki