Ask a Breslover: Is There a Soul Correction for Cancer? Written by Chaya Rivka Zwolinski | July 25, 2021
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Ask A Breslover: Is There A Soul Correction For Cancer? written by Chaya Rivka Zwolinski | July 25, 2021 Can you tell me if Rabbi Nachman ever said a soul correction for cancer? A: According to Jewish wisdom, there is always a spiritual correlative to a physical state of health or disease—however, a linear correlation isn’t always so apparent, and a causative one isn’t always completely accurate. Rebbe Nachman taught extensively about achieving spiritual awareness and soul-corrections. He may have addressed a variety of specific illnesses with his individual Chassidim, including cancer (which might not have been often identified by name or correctly diagnosed in 18th century Ukraine.) The Rebbe understood perhaps more than anyone, that each person is an olam, an entire world, with his or her own “climate”, “ecology”, “geography” and so on. We know he gave specific tikkunim to individual followers, each custom-designed for that person’s soul-correction. Perhaps he did give some specific general corrections for cancer which could be used by anyone, but if he did, it isn’t mentioned in his sefarim. To my understanding, cancer is the name given to a variety of diseases which may occur in various body parts or systems. Generally, it involves a prolific, abnormal growth of cells which can cause a tumor or otherwise damage a bodily system or organ. Are the material causes of this dreaded illness viral? Behavioral (dietary for example)? Bacterial? Environmental (industrial chemicals for example)? Genetic? Does the cause of and the nature of cancer vary depending on where it is located in the body? Medical research seems to say a variety of possible causes exists, maybe even a few at once. Perhaps the myriad material factors implicated exist to show us that the spiritual causes (and therefore, the spiritual correction), may stem from a variety of spiritual conditions as well. Learning about the mind-body-soul connections, reflecting on one’s life, and perhaps most important,hitbodedut, are integral to soul-correction, and correcting the soul always has an impact on the body. Learning: For an overview as well as a body part-specific understanding of the human body as a home for the soul, read Anatomy of the Soul (BRI). This best-selling book goes into great detail about the topics of spiritual and bodily health, the hidden meanings of our body’s design, and offers insights into spiritual obstructions that may lead to diminished physical functions or disease, G-d forbid. It is important when studying this book to keep in mind that while the state of our body reflects the state of our soul, armchair diagnostics may cause unwarranted stress. It’s good to learn this text with a trusted, empathetic study-partner, if possible. If you are interested in exploring this topic further, please join me for The Healing Dance of Body and Soul, a free video course for women using Anatomy of the Soul as the main text, as well as numerous Breslov sources. You can find it at BreslovCampus.org. You can participate in thelive online class (Monday nights at 8 pm) or watch the archives. Reflection: Rebbe Nachman suggests that most people don’t spend enough time thinking about themselves, their spiritual growth, and their service of Hashem. Making time to do this, even a few minutes a day, can be the catalyst for far-reaching change. Hitbodedut: Talking to Hashem about both big and little issues, including the spiritual and material issues one is dealing with in every area of life, is integral to Breslov Chassidic practice. It can change the way you think, feel, and live. (All prayer, not just hitbodedut, is important.) Also, in addition to learning more about mind-body-soul wellness, reflecting on one’s life, and doing hitbodedut, there is another Chassidic practice followers of Rebbe Nachman do daily. This is saying Rebbe Nachman’s Tikkun Haklali (the universal remedy comprised of 10 specific psalms). Tikkun Haklali helps to heal us at the root of the soul. The book Rebbe Nachman’s Tikkun (BRI) contains the text of the 10 psalms, a variety of supplemental prayers, and extensive commentary and explanatory text. Rebbe Nachman teaches us that everything that happens to us in life is a message to us from Hashem. He wants us to turn to Him to seek the answer. May you and each person turn to Hashem and seek answers to their questions in good health, B”H. Sincerely, Chaya Rivka Zwolinski The Silent Scream – The Three Weeks written by Ozer Bergman | July 25, 2021 Well, apropos of life in general and The Three Weeks in particular, I want to share Rabbeinu zal’s teaching about the kol demamah dakah, the small, silent voice. (Yes, I know I translate it differently later.) This will be new to some and a review for others. It’s a good tool to have and a practice worth practicing. Rabbeinu zal used it. This piece is Sichot HaRan/Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom, #16. Know! It is possible to scream extremely loudly in a “small still voice” (1 Kings 19:12) without anyone hearing a thing, for one emits no sound at all. The scream is simply a “small still voice.” Anyone can do this. One pictures in his mind the exact sound of a scream, down to its tone One can enter this till he is literally screaming with this soundless “small still voice.” Yet no one will hear you. This is not a figment of the imagination at all, but a genuine scream. Just as some channels bring the sound from the lungs to your lips, there are narrower channels from the lungs to the brain. One can draw the sound through the channels leading to the brain, till he forms in his mind an actual scream. Picturing the scream in one’s mind is a scream in the mind. One can scream loudly with others present and no one will hear a thing. Sometimes some slight sound may escape. Some of the sound intended for the mind-channels may slip into the vocal- channels, but only slightly. It is much easier to scream this way without words. If one wants to express words, it is much more difficult to direct the voice to the mind without letting any sound escape. Without words it is much easier. Solving the Shidduch/Marriage Crisis! written by Ozer Bergman | July 25, 2021 Bashert Is Bashert “[Avraham] said to the senior servant … ‘Go to my native land, to my birthplace, and obtain a wife for my son Isaac.’ ‘But what if the girl does not want to come back with me to this land?’ asked the servant” (Genesis 24:2-5). Just in case some review is necessary, let’s start with this. Bashert is the Yiddish word for “destiny” or “destined.” For example, a newly-engaged couple is often told, “You two are so alike! He/she must be your bashert!” or, “The two of you are bashert!” When no matter what you’ve tried, something happens—or doesn’t—somebody is likely to tell you, “Bashert is bashert (it was just meant to be that way).” As far as I know, the shidduch (marriage) crisis still exists. It’s worse than sad. It’s devastating and a theological problem no less challenging than the Holocaust, on a par with Pharaoh’s decree to kill Jewish babies, may God spare us. In lieu of a dvar Torah attempting to solve this challenge (because I’ve tried and could not), I offer some renditions of Reb Noson’s prayers to find one’s bashert. Because these are loose renditions, feel free to amend or modify as you like. If you wish to pray for someone in particular, the formula is: “___ (name), the son/daughter of ___ (mother’s name).” May every Jew who needs to get married, soon marry his or her bashert, and may they build a bayit ne’eman b’Yisrael (a faithful house in Israel), and together raise their children l’Torah, l’chuppah u’l’maasim tovim (to Torah, to the wedding and to doing good deeds). Amen. Dear God, please have pity on us and all Jews, and prepare for our sons and daughters proper matches, made in Heaven. Although we have sinned, let there be no mix-ups and no mismatches. Instead, let each person marry the one Heaven made just for him, in particular [specify person(s) you are praying for]. Please, always lead us on the true path so that we merit making good and proper matches, honestly, in accordance with Your will (LT #2). Dear God, please have compassion on every Jew who is having difficulty finding his/her marriage partner, in particular [specify person(s) you are praying for]. Help each and every one of them! Save each and every one of them, soon! Bless each to find his/her true perfect match, quickly, easily and soon! With no more delay or pain or suffering! We don’t know what to do anymore! We’re totally out of suggestions and ideas on how to find a shidduch for the people we know, or how to pray for them. You know how hard it is for a person to find a proper match, a good fit. People are so different, sometimes so totally different it’s like trying to split the sea! The only way to do it is with great da’at, which we can only get from hearing the tzaddik who brings together words and concepts from all over the Torah to reveal new insights.