Chassidut Breslov - Part 2

B"H

Besides Chabad, no other chassidic group attracts so many new members as chassidut Breslov. Especially in Israel they have the reputation of attracting lots of freaks. But not everybody joining Breslov is a freak. On the contrary, many are highly intellectuell.

On of the main reasons might be that according to Rabbi Nachman every Jew has a chance to lead a religious life. If you do not succeed today, tomorrow is another day. Just do not give up and get depressed. All of us have our daily ups and downs and depend on moods and feelings. Do as much as you can and try to fulfill your potential but never exaggerate.

Force yourself to be happy and search for all the good points in yourself. According to Rabbi Nachman: if you force yourself to be joyful, even if you are not at the moment, it might help you to overcome your sadness. Being joyful all the time and fulfilling the Mitzwot with joy is one of the most difficult Mitzwot at all.

Rabbi Nachman was not the first introducing the Tikun HaKlali. This Tikun is a rectification for the soul (neshama) and consists of the following Psalms: 16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 105, 137 + 150. Already the ARI (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria) recommended this Tikun which is usually said at around midnight.

Before he passed away, Rabbi Nachman told all his disciples to come to his grave to Uman / Ukraine every year on Rosh HaShana. Until today thousands of Jews travel to Uman every year. Not all of them are Breslover chassidim but sepharadim, non - religious or national religious. The flight to Uman is rather cheap and every year, at least a thousand tickets are being given out for free.

The custom isn chassidut Breslov is that the men fly to Uman and the women go to Meron in northern Israel. Meron is the gravesite of the famous Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

Besides the flight to Uman, chassidei Breslov have another custom which no other chassidic group has. On Purim when everyone is getting drunk, the Breslover go into the forest in order to speak to G-d. Speaking to G-d is called HITBODEDUT and a meditative process. A Breslover chassid should do Hitbodedut on a daily basis. Take at least an hour and speak to G-d. It doesn't matter if this takes place in the forest, in a field or at home.

The whole Breslov philosophie and teachings of Rabbi Nachman we can find in the book "Likutei Moharan" :

- The world is a narrow bridge, and the most important thing is not to be afraid.

- Faith helps us to manage this bridge which is called life. We will face all the challenges and get to the other side.

- Do not question yourself.

- One who cannot pry or study Torah should pray that he can pray.

- Speaking to G-d (Hitbodedut) is a meditative process.

- We need to pray for everything we need in life.

For Chabad, G-d is everywhere but according to Breslov philosophie, G-d is very distant, and we need to get closer to Him through prayer and Torah study.

In chassidut Chabad it is popular the writings of the Rambam (Maimonides). Especially the "Guide of the Perplexed". Not so on in chassidut Breslov. Rabbi Nachman was against studying any kind of philosophie and claimed that Torah, Talmud and Zohar are enough.