Pathways: What Are We Waiting For? written by Yossi Katz | December 28, 2020

As a youngster, I remember asking my teacher a question that was really bothering me: “How can the Mashiach come if there are so few Jews in the world who are connected to the Torah and mitzvot?”

At the time, I was a good student at an elitist Jewish institution. My teacher replied, “Forget about those other Jews. If students such as yourself and others in similar institutions live up to their goals, Mashiach will immediately arrive!” Apparently, he should have checked out his answer with our forefather Jacob first.

Jacob accomplished what no one before him did: he merited to have completely righteous children. Before his passing, he brought together all of his holy offspring, the twelve tribes. At this opportune time, with this gathering of holy tzaddikim, Jacob thought he would merit to reveal the great secret of the time of the Final Redemption. His intention is hinted at by his use of the word hei’asfu (come together) (Genesis 49:1). “Come together” is said when one wants to call over people who are close by. Jacob was, in the spiritual sense, addressing like-minded individuals – the holy twelve tribes. But just as he began, the Divine Presence departed – signaling that something was missing, something was still not complete.

What could possibly have been lacking? If Jacob, whom the Torah calls “the perfect one,” did not merit to have offspring righteous enough to bring the Mashiach, how could we ever be so righteous?

The answer is that God’s greatest pleasure is when souls who were previously distant come closer to Him. Because of this, God is ever patient with us. He specifically doesn’t bring the Mashiach so that we won’t be left behind, and so we actually have time to return to Him.

Realizing this, Jacob switches and says, “Gather yourselves and listen, sons of Jacob” (ibid., 49:2). In contrast to “come together,” “gather” refers to assembling a group from afar. The name Yaakov (Jacob) comes from the Hebrew word eikev (heel) (ibid., 25:26), symbolizing the low spiritual state of a Jew. Jacob is speaking to us, saying that it is specifically because we are far from God that God has not yet brought the Mashiach! We think that because we’ve made mistakes and haven’t lived up to our potential, God doesn’t want our service. In actuality, God is holding back the coming of the Mashiach for our sake!

After Jacob fought with Esau’s angel and won, the angel gave him the name Yisrael (Israel) (ibid., 32:19). This is a name that connotes victory. YiSRAeL is also a Hebrew acronym for Yesh Shishim Ribo Otiot LaTorah (There are 600,000 letters in the Torah). The 600,000 letters in the Torah correspond to the 600,000 root-souls of Yisrael. Every Jew who will ever be born has a piece of one of those 600,000 root-souls. Only when all 600,000 letters – in other words, every Jew – are gathered together in spiritual unity are we collectively called “Yisrael.”

This should serve as a reminder of how much we need each other and how much God wants and waits for each and every one of us personally. When we are unified, we will be victorious over our enemies, both spiritual and physical, and merit the Final Redemption, may it come speedily and in our days. Amen!

Based on Likutey Halakhot, Hilkhot Piriyah ve’Riviyah 5; ibid., Ishut 4

STRINGENCIES? (PART II) – GOD IS ONE written by Chaim Kramer | December 28, 2020 “I did what I could. The question is, have I fulfilled the teachings with the simplicity that the Rebbe demanded of us?!” (Reb Noson). Reb Dov of Tcherin, one of the Rebbe’s followers, wanted to perform one of the more difficult practices in serving God – he wanted to wake up for Chatzot, the Midnight Prayers. The problem was that whenever he did this, the lack of sleep would cause Reb Dov severe headaches. Informed of this, the Rebbe told him, “Sleep and eat. Just heed the time.” Afterwards, he advised Reb Dov that his “Chatzot” should not be at midnight, but at three o’clock in the morning (Kokhavey Or p. 25).

Then there was another of Rebbe Nachman’s chassidim, Reb Naftali, whom the Rebbe counseled to be especially careful in the mitzvah of tzitzit. Once, Reb Naftali climbed a ladder to attend to some repairs and his tzitzit tore. Reb Naftali refused to move until someone had brought him a kosher pair. Afterwards, he never went anywhere without having spare tzitzit with him (Until the Mashiach p. 311). (This law is mentioned in the Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 68:6 – One should never travel without spare tzitzit. Thus, if one string should tear, he won’t be left unable to perform this mitzvah.)

These two stories show us Rebbe Nachman’s approach when advising his disciples concerning stringencies. Reb Dov very much wanted to fulfill the mitzvah of Chatzot by rising at midnight. Even so, the Rebbe warned him that it was not to be at the expense of his health. Yet, when it came to Reb Naftali’s special mitzvah, the Rebbe suggested he be exceedingly careful – and that, he was.

I’m also reminded of what my Rosh Yeshivah would say: “Why is it that people always choose to be stringent in those areas where others can find out about it? Wouldn’t it be far better to be strict with oneself in such matters as slander, additional Torah study, greater concentration in prayer…”

* * *

Shortly before Reb Noson passed away, he gave a very deep sigh. When asked the reason for this, he replied: “It occurs to me that perhaps I have not properly fulfilled what Rebbe Nachman taught.”

The people standing around him were amazed. “If not you, then who can honestly say that he has fulfilled the Rebbe’s teachings?!”

“As to fulfilling the Rebbe’s advice,” Reb Noson answered, “I did what I could. The question is, have I fulfilled the teachings with the simplicity that the Rebbe demanded of us?!” (Rabbi Nachman Burstein).

“Why is it that people always choose to be stringent in those areas where others can find out about it? Wouldn’t it be far better to be strict with oneself in such matters as slander, additional Torah study, greater concentration in prayer…” * * *

GOD IS ONE Simplicity is the highest possible virtue, since God is certainly higher than everything and yet He is ultimately simple (Rebbe Nachman’s Wisdom #101).

“The deeds of the Mighty One are simple” (Deuteronomy 32:4).

Rebbe Nachman teaches: Creation has many parts. Yet, all the various parts of Creation emanate from God. He is one. He is simple. Our mission in this world is “to reveal the unity from amongst the many.” That is, from all of us – from all our differing thoughts, perspectives, deeds, backgrounds, etc. – we still come to recognize the one God (Likutey Moharan II, 2:6).

This is not as complicated as may appear at first glance. Remember that everything emanates from one source – the One Source. Therefore, in our own ways and with our specific differences, each of us reflects that Source. By extension, there is actually no reason to view life in so complicated a manner as most people do. In reality, everything has its root in the unity of the one and simple God. Differences emerge because He manifests Himself to each of us differently. What we have to do is look for God everywhere, in everything. Then we will see that whatever appears complex and diverse is in truth very simple and singular; what appears separate is actually united; what appears fragmented is genuinely whole; what appears to require great sophistication only needs the utmost simplicity. “The deeds of the Mighty One are simple” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

At the same time, Rebbe Nachman understood that relatively few ever succeed in revealing the unity from amongst the many, and that those who can do so consistently are even rarer. Most of us have a great deal of difficulty just keeping our own lives simple. The Rebbe was able to appreciate our struggles with the diversities of this world and understood the complexities we face. By the same token, he also realized that most people tend to complicate matters far beyond reason. We fret away our days and years, anticipating and contemplating difficulties and problems that we assume are on the way. We set goals – material as well as spiritual – and then tie ourselves in knots over presumed set-backs. We plan having a good time and then fret that this-that-and-the-next-thing will go wrong. We spend time worrying about things that may never happen. Anxiety! Anxiety! Anxiety! Nobody denies that difficult moments can and do come, but we also have no idea how they will affect our lives; whereas, keeping the perspective itself simple solves many of life’s most difficult problems. This is why the Rebbe emphasizes simplicity so much. If we took things as they are, one at a time, one day at a time, we could lead a much simpler and happier way of life. (taken from the book: Crossing the Narrow Bridge – A Practical Guide to Rebbe Nachman’s Teachings; chapter 1; Simplicity pp. 18-21)

STRINGENCIES? written by Chaim Kramer | December 28, 2020

Rebbe Nachman teaches: Of those who are overly-strict in serving God it is written “You shall live (and not die) by them.” Such people have no life! Extremism, in any form, is totally unnecessaryRebbe ( Nachman’s Wisdom #51).

Rebbe Nachman teaches: Of those who are overly-strict in serving God it is written (Leviticus 18:5), “You shall live (and not die) by them.” Such people have no life. They are constantly depressed, because they never ever feel they’ve fulfilled their obligations while performing the mitzvot. Because of their stringencies, they don’t experience any vitality – any life – from their deeds (Likutey Moharan II, 44).

One doesn’t have to be a rabbi or even a lay scholar to be stringent. An ignoramus can also say, “It is forbidden!” On the contrary, “Just as it is forbidden to permit the forbidden, it is just as forbidden to forbid the permitted” (Beit Yosef, Tur Yoreh De’ah, 115 s.v. Harav Peretz). The Rebbe’s intention was to bring each mitzvah – no matter how exalted – within our reach. With simplicity, we can always feel that we, too, can perform the mitzvah. With straightforwardness, we, too, can fulfill it. and be filled with life by it.

…They are constantly depressed, because they never ever feel they’ve fulfilled their obligations while performing the mitzvot. Because of their stringencies, they don’t experience any vitality – any life – from their deeds!

Nevertheless, there are certain instances where keeping the law stringently is valued. In this regard the Talmud teaches: Rabbi Yosef asked Rabbah’s son, “In what observance was your father most stringent?” (Shabbat 118b). Each Talmudic sage had a particular mitzvah which he practiced exactingly and according to all of its rigorous details. You shall live (and not die) by them!

With this in mind, the Rebbe advised that every person choose one observance and keep it very strictly, with all its fine points (see Sefer Chassidim #529). And even with this observance, you need not be exceedingly strict to the point of foolishness… Keep one commandment strictly, but the others need not be observed with any unnecessary stringencies. If only we would be worthy of keeping all of the Torah’s commandments simply, without any excesses Rebbe( Nachman’s Wisdom #235).

(taken from the book: CROSSING THE NARROW BRIDGE – A Practical Guide to Rebbe Nachman’s Teachings; Chapter 1; Simplicty pp. 17-18).

SIMPLICITY IN TORAH AND MITZVOT written by Chaim Kramer | December 28, 2020

“My achievements came mainly through simplicity. I spent much time simply conversing with God…” (Rebbe Nachman) Rebbe Nachman remarked: “My achievements came mainly through simplicity. I spent much time simply conversing with God and reciting the Psalms”….The Rebbe yearned to serve God like the simple, common people. He often said,Ay! “ Ay! SIMPLICITY!” (Rebbe Nachman’s Wisdom #154).

The Rebbe wanted us to make every attempt to simplify our lives and our devotions to God. Thus, Reb Noson wrote: The Rebbe’s desire was for us to serve God simply, to the very best of our ability, each and every day. He said that our main goal should be to do good and serve Him without any sophistication whatsoever. Every good and holy thing can be done with absolute simplicity. We should study Torah, pray, recite Psalms and other prayers, and perform mitzvot all with the utmost simplicity and sincerity, and with great joy (Rebbe Nachman’s Wisdom #19). The Rebbe loved and praised the simple acts of people: reciting the Psalms, singing zemirot at the Shabbat table, and so on. He would deride those who thought themselves too smart and clever to act simply. Until he became terminally ill, the Rebbe himself would sing a lot at the Shabbat table (Likutey Moharan II, 104).

Every good and holy thing can be done with absolute simplicity. We should study Torah, pray, recite Psalms and other prayers, and perform mitzvot all with the utmost simplicity and sincerity…

Every word of Psalms recited is a mitzvah, every word of Torah study is a mitzvah, every song sung at the Shabbat table is a mitzvah. The more we do, the more we accomplish. Simplicity, therefore, is the foundation for all our devotions. With it, we can be constantly occupied doing mitzvot and good deeds. Without it, our deeds are always subject to the philosophical reasoning and equivocations of our minds. If we are always “thinking” and trying to figure out if we are doing the right thing, as opposed to actually doing it, then we cannot accomplish much – we are too busy “thinking”. But, if we approach the mitzvot and good deeds with simplicity, we can always find something to do. The achievements came mainly through simplicity!

Simplicity is also a necessary ingredient in the performance of the mitzvot themselves. Reb Noson, always the careful observer of human nature, once remarked: Often, because a person insists upon performing a mitzvah in the very best way possible, he ends up not performing the mitzvah at all (Siach Sarfei Kodesh 1-571). This can be seen from the following: Ideally, the mitzvah of Sanctifying the New Moon is performed on a clear night. However, even if the sky is cloudy, as long as one can see the moon through the clouds, one should not delay, but recite the blessing (see Mishnah Berurah 426:3). Reb Noson asks: What if, as is often the case in the middle of winter, one has reason to believe that there may not be any more clear nights before the full moon is reached and the time for sanctifying the moon has passed? Should one nonetheless wait for a clear night, as this is the ideal way to perform the mitzvah? Reb Noson rejects this argument. Granted, it would be wonderful if we could perform every mitzvah perfectly and in the precisely prescribed manner. But if we did wait to perform each mitzvah perfectly – with all its fine points, with the specific intentions, and with us in the proper frame of mind – there is good reason to believe that we would end up not performing it at all Likutey( Halakhot, K’riat HaTorah 6:6).

(taken from the book: Crossing the Narrow Bridge: A Practical Guide to Rebbe Nachman’s Teachings, chapter 1: Simplicity pp. 14-15)

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Breslov vs Orthodox Judaism Is there a conflict? written by Chaya Rivka Zwolinski | December 28, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKj359sZVOs

Did Rebbe Nachman say following and observing Torah Judaism is optional? Rebbe Nachman was very concerned with our inner growth and service, and less so with the external details. Yet, he and his followers observed the Torah meticulously and with tremendous piety and he encourages us to observe the halachot (Jewish law) in all their details. In fact, he recommends that people make a daily study of the Shulchan Aruch, the Codes of Jewish Law. So how did his message get muddled, and how can we find clarity? Chaya Rivka Zwolinski explains.

LIVE, JUNE 3: Keep Rebbe Nachman’s Fire Burning written by breslov.org | December 28, 2020

On Wednesday, June 3, we will unite to support the dissemination of Rebbe Nachman’s teachings.

Join us for an evening of inspiration, learning and song. www.breslov.org/live

Be a true Chassid of Rebbe Nachman written by Yossi Katz | December 28, 2020

www.breslov.org/live

Dear Friend,

I am sure that Corona has affected you in some challenging way: stress, social isolation, loss of livelihood, or G-d forbid illness. I hope and pray with all my heart that HaShem will bless you and that we see how this terrible plague is in some incredible way for the ultimate benefit of mankind, Amen!

I must also share with you what I and the Breslov Research Institute have experienced: the cancellation of our last planned trip, all bookstores closed worldwide, no in-person meetings with donors and the unfortunate continued illness of Rabbi Chaim Kramer (Chaim Menachem Ben Leah). The perfect storm!

BRI (Breslov.org) for over forty year has mamash been the pioneer and main force to share Rebbe Nachman’s teachings with Jews throughout the world. Without BRI, most of you would never have heard of Rebbe Nachman today. Without Rebbe Nachman, hundreds of thousands of lives would not have been transformed and uplifted.

And Rebbe Nachman’s message has just started to be heard in the world at large. We have so many important projects underway including, “The Elucidated Likutey Halakhot”, “The Breslov App”, “The Rabbi Rosenfeld Biography” and much more. BUT WE SIMPLY CANNOT CONTINUE WITHOUT YOU! Authors, typesetters, printers, graphics artists, office staff all need to be paid.

Dear friend, it is now up to you who has benefited so much and who has so much more to benefit to act as a true Chassid of Rebbe Nachman and help the Rebbe by contributing right now.

We have created for you a fantastic evening which is also our only means to fundraise right now. Please SIGN UP NOW and contribute at least $100 so we may continue this vital work. With humbleness, gratitude, and blessings,

Rabbi Yossi Katz Executive Director, BRI USA

Register now: www.breslov.org/live

A Taste of When the Mashiach Comes… written by Chaya Rivka Zwolinski | December 28, 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjCCGy89Fn0

What will it be like when the Mashiach is revealed? We know that the geulah and world-wide redemption will have profound effects on our lives. Isaiah 11:9 says “the world will be filled with the knowledge of God. Each of us will have a new, holy awareness of Hashem. If we want to start experiencing the times of the Messiah, we can begin by focusing on prayer, faith, Torah learning, and strengthening our awareness of the Creator in every aspect of our lives. Chaya Rivka Zwolinski explains.

VaYikra – When Hashem Reaches Out written by Nasan Maimon | December 28, 2020

VaYikra – When Hashem Reaches Out. from BreslovTorah on Vimeo.

VaYishlach – Binyamin was Born after Yaakov Fulfilled his Vow written by Nasan Maimon | December 28, 2020 VaYishlach – Binyamin was Born after Yaakov Fulfilled his Vow

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