Monthly Archives: April 2013

Who is a Breslover?

I have often heard and been asked, “Who is a Breslover?” and “What makes someone a Breslover?”

Here are two answers. When asked, I give them both . The first makes being a Breslover chassid a very exclusive club. It’s based on a true story which I heard from one of the people directly involved.

In the mid-1960s, a small group of young Breslover chassidim from New York came to Jerusalem to study at a well-known yeshivah. Unlike today, when Breslov chassidism is recognized as a serious, legitimate path in Judaism,  Breslov and its adherents were often unwelcome. The young men had been in the yeshiva for a few weeks, study and behaving properly, keeping their connection to Breslov low-key and under wraps.

Somehow, word got out. On erev Shabbos (Friday afternoon), the mashgiach (sort of like a university provost) sent a message to the American students that they were to see him ASAP. They understood that he had heard something, and was going to ask them point-blank if they were Breslovers.

They weren’t bashful or ashamed to admit that they were Breslover. (I know these guys. The word bashful is not in their vocabulary!) But they had come all the way to the Holy Land to learn Torah (extremely rare at the time), were progressing nicely and wanted to continue in the yeshivah.  But they wouldn’t lie and deny that they were Breslover. What did they do?

They went to speak to Reb Elya Chaim Rosen, one of the leading Breslov chassidim of the day. They presented their predicament and he told them (drum roll, please) to say they were not Breslov chassidim. He explained that only Reb Noson qualified to be a Breslov chassid, because only Reb Noson fulfilled every eitzah (suggestion, recommendation) that the Rebbe gave.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have the definition provided by Reb Yitzchok Breiter, may Gd avenge his blood. (Reb Yitzchok introduced Breslov chassidism into Poland in the late 19th century. He was murdered by the Nazis, at Treblinka.) In a letter explaining the importance of being a Breslov chassid, Reb Yitzchok mentions a tzaddik-teaching of Rebbe Nachman: Even if a follower of Rebbe Nachman sees no spiritual improvement in himself, nonetheless, the attachment/affiliation is worthwhile.

Well, asks Reb Yitzchok, if the follower sees no improvement that means he is not putting Rebbe Nachman’s advice into practice. If he’s not doing what the Rebbe teaches, in what way is he a follower?! Rabbi Breiter’s answer: the very fact that a person believes that his spiritual salvation will come through Rebbe Nachman; and the person is called “a Breslover” by others and he says he is a Breslover—even though he doesn’t say it wholeheartedly, and his behavior is far from exemplary—is enough for Rebbe Nachman to consider him a Breslover (Shearis Yitzchok, p. 120).

That’s a pretty broad range. I found room for me. There’s room for you too—if you decide this is where you want to be.

© Copyright 2013 O. Bergman

Twitt

Open Gates

The fifth week of Sefirat HaOmer, the Omer Count, started Tuesday night. This entire week, through next Tuesday afternoon (30 April) the Gates of Heaven are open. It is an et ratzon, a time of favor. Your every prayer is viewed more favorably, and is more likely to be accepted. This is not only an opportunity. It is a responsibility.

Prayer is a tool, praying is a skill. Praying is not an isolated activity, unattached and unaffected by what you think and do the rest of the day. All that “stuff” is going to affect how much and what sort of energy you will bring to praying, and what—and whom—you will pray for.

© Copyright 2013 O. Bergman/148west

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Reb Noson’s Prayers

A few introductory words to this post. Reb Noson was Rebbe Nachman’s primary disciple. He wrote prayers based on Rebbe Nachman’s teachings, and later compiled them into Likutey Tefilot (An Anthology of Prayers).

Hisbodedus (aka hitbodedut) is talking to God in your own words about whatever you want to talk about. Some call it a “conversation” with God. The emphasis with which Rebbe Nachman recommended this practice cannot be overstated.

Q.

I’ve heard a lot of praises about Reb Noson’s Likutey Tefilot. Yet, I’ve never actually used them.  Whenever I have merited to do hisbodedus, I have had what I would call an ego block that doesn’t allow me to go use Reb Noson’s prayers.  Are there some words of encouragement or ideas that you could give me to help give me that boost and convince me to give them more of a try?  I guess I always imagined that if it’s not my words, then how can I use them in conversation with God?

A.

Well, first thing to do is ask your ego to sit down on the bench and rest for awhile. Let’s remember that we are latecomers to avodat Hashem (serious, dedicated Jewish practice). Reb Noson, on the other hand, was thoroughly immersed in Torah and prayer since birth, and was a student not only of Rebbe Nachman’s teachings, but of Rebbe Nachman the person. When he “prays” a teaching, he’s also teaching us. He’s teaching us some of the more subtle points of the lesson. He’s teaching us how to pray.

In all areas of life, beginners learn from watching and imitating experts. Prayer is no different. “Watching” how Reb Noson prays teaches us how we can pray, how we can be better Jews and what it means to be a Breslover Chassid.

That’s one. Also, Reb Noson gave us the Likutey Tefilot. When we say Tehillim (Psalms), we don’t think, “Hey, these are someone else’s words. They’re not going to help me.” When we say Tehillim, they become our words, our prayers. Similarly, Reb Noson’s words and prayers become ours.

Hope this helped.

 

© Copyright 2013 O. Bergman

 

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Saving Money

Q. I wanted to know what the frum [i.e., ultra-Orthodox] world and the Breslov world thinks about putting away money in savings/401K plans.

I remember reading in Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom (aka Sichot HaRan) #247, that the more money one has, the further his wealth is from him, with money in the bank being among the furthest away.  I thought, money in an “untouchable” bank would be considered even more removed.  What do followers of Rebbe Nachman take as an approach to long-term savings and the like?

A.

Good question.

Rabbi  Nachman’s Wisdom #247  is part of Rabbeinu zal’s overall message to diminish one’s money-lust. That is, somewhere along the line, most folk start to develop an idea like, “The more money I have, the stronger/worthier/real I am. Therefore, the pursuit of wealth is a worthwhile endeavor and goal.” That’s a big mistake and a waste of life. (Rebbe Nachman does say a person should work for his livelihood, but in service of God [e.g., to give charity], not in service of self or other people.)

If you look at the entire passage there, you’ll see that Rebbe Nachman is contrasting acquiring wealth with acquiring Torah. The more material wealth one has, the less direct his connection with it. On the contrary, the more Torah wisdom (not mere knowledge) one acquires, the more it is an actual part of him.

401Ks etc. are a [a] a matter of trust (how much a person trusts in God) and [b] how does the world work in our day and age. For most of us, our level of trust is such that we work for a living. A retirement fund is, to a degree, “working for your old age,” a future paycheck. Since this is a normal way of doing things for people with a normal degree of trust, it’s alright. It’s also smart.

By the way: Trust in God includes, “God gave me seikhel (intelligence). That means He wants me to use it. Having money for my old age, when I can no longer work, seems to be a good idea.”

Hoped this helped.

© Copyright 2013 O. Bergman

Twitt

In God We Trust

Rebbe Nachman’s maternal great-grandfather, the holy Reb Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, had a profound trust in God. His trust was so great that he before going to sleep at night, he would make sure that he had given away all the cash in his house.

One night, he couldn’t fall asleep. He sensed that there was still some money in his possession even though he had distributed everything that had been on his table.

He mentioned this to his wife. She answered, “I put some away so that I could buy food in the morning at the market.” He told her that they had to immediately give the money to charity, and trust that God would take care of them the next day, just as He always had in the past.

Rebbe Nachman commented that yes, the Baal Shem Tov’s level of trust in God was extraordinary. “But my level of trust in God is even greater, so I am able to keep money in the house.”  (See Chayei Moharan/Tzaddik #499.)

© Copyright 2013 O. Bergman

Twitt