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