Chassidut Breslov - Part 1

B"H

Whoever has already been to Israel probably knows them: Chassidei Breslov. You can see them dancing at many public places such as Rehov Sheinkin and near the beach in Tel Aviv as well as at Zion Square in Jerusalem. The dancing chassidim wear white kipot, look like leftover hippies, dance and sell books. But those only belong to one group of Breslov, as chassidut Breslov is at least divided into three groups. Probably even more.

1. The above mentioned dancing chassidim are called the Na Nach Nachman MeUman and follow the teachings of the Breslover rabbi Yisrael Odesser (died in 1994). This group consists of mostly young Baalei Teshuva (who became recently religious). Other Breslover chassidim do not take them too seriously.

2. The "real" Breslover whose ancestors came from Uman. They mostly live in Mea Shearim and do not associate with the newcomers. In theri opinion, they are the real successors of the teaching of Rabbi Nachman.

3. Breslover chassidim who became religious later on in their lifes. The most famous leading rabbis of this group are Rabbi Eliezer Berland and Rabbi Arush (a former student of Rabbi Berland). First they were not taken too seriously but today, even the "old" Breslover chassidim see in Rabbi Berland a true zaddik. Rabbi Eliezer Berland only lives a few meters far away from Rehov Mea Shearim and is the head of a yeshiva in the Old City of Jerusalem. His parents were Holocaust survivors from Hungary.

Writing about chassidut Breslov is rather complicated and, therefore, I decided to split the article in two parts. Here I write about Rabbi Nachman and some general information. Next week I will explain some teachings of Rabbi Nachman.

In general, Rabbi Nachman is very famous for his teachings according to parables. However, chassidut Breslov stands for more than just parables, and Rabbi Nachman was not the first one using this kind of system. Already King Salomon told 3000 parables according to each subject in the Torah (Talmud Eruvin 21b).

Today I am more in touch with Breslov than with Chabad. I have Breslov friends, colleagues and I study Likutei Moharan. For Chabad, the Book of Tanya is very important and for Breslov it is the Likutei Moharan. It includes the teachings of Rabbi Nachman and the Breslov philosophy. As it is extremely kabbalistic, it should be studied together with a teacher.

For people interested: Rabbi Shalom Brod in Nachlaot / Jerusalem has classes on Likutei Moharan, as well as Rabbi Peretz Auerbach in the Old City.

Rabbi Nachman himself used to be very controversial already during his lifetime. He was the founder and the only rebbe of Breslov. He died at the very young age of 38 years. Afterwards his chassidim were unable to find a successor. His student Rabbi Nathan Sternhartz led the group and wrote books but never considered himself as rebbe.

Today other chassidic groups call Breslov a "dead chassidut", as there is no rebbe. Nevertheless, after the death of Rabbi Nachman the group survived.

Chassidei Breslov see themselves as the real followers of the Baal Shem Tov, as Rabbi Nachman was his great - grandson. Born in 1772, Rabbi Nachman already got married at the age of 13. From a very young age he started studying Torah, Talmud, Kabbalah and the teachings of his great - grandfather the Baal Shem Tov. When he was at a certain age he fasted from one Shabbat to the next.

In 1798 he traveled to Israel, in 1802 he moved to Breslov / Ukraine and in 1810 he moved to Uman where he is buried.

Rabbi Aryeh Leib of Shpola was once a great admirer of Rabbi Nachman but later on he became his most influenticial opponent. Rabbi Aryeh Leib saw the Breslov movement as a kind of Shabtai Zvi movement.

Despite all criticism, more and more people are joining Breslov. Especially in Israel where Breslov gets more newcomers than Chabad.

No picture whatsoever does exist of Rabbi Nachman. However, his chair is exhibited in the Great Breslov Synagogue in Mea Shearim.

The remaining communities were destroyed by the Nazis in 1941. Many of their members had left long before, as Rabbi Nachman always emphazised the importance of living in Eretz Israel.