Every Minute Counts written by Chaim Kramer | December 28, 2020 After Rebbe Nachman passed away in 1810, Reb Noson devoted the rest of his life to publicizing and explaining the Rebbe’s wisdom to new generations of followers. Gifted with a phenomenal memory, he compiled several biographical books detailing Rebbe Nachman’s life experiences, conversations, and advice. He began expanding the corpus of Breslov literature with the writing of his own magnum opus (Likutey Halakhot), prayers based on the Rebbe’s lessons (Likutey Tefilot), and the Shemot HaTzaddikim (Names of the Tzaddikim), and sent hundreds of letters to his children and followers explaining the Rebbe’s teachings. Not long before his passing, Reb Noson said, “The ShaKh was able to write as much as he did because he knew a Holy Name that caused his quill to move more quickly than a man could write. I did not have that Holy Name, but I was able to write as much as I did because I zealously guarded my time” (Siach Sarfey Kodesh I, 726). Guarding his time was the key to Reb Noson’s tremendous productivity. He did everything with the greatest speed. Undressing and dressing in the mikvah, he was quicker than anyone else. When he wrote, his pen seemed to fly across the page. Even when traveling, Reb Noson spent all his time in the coach immersed in prayer and Torah study. Above all else, he remembered what others tend to forget: he never let the day of death pass from his mind. Always mindful of the takhlis, the ultimate goal, he took great care to watch his every moment, never wasting or killing time. He accepted all that came his way as a test in serving God, and never allowed anything to stand between himself and his devotions. Regardless of what happened to him, and no matter how much suffering and embarrassment he was subjected to, he remained steadfast in his desire to serve God as best he could. About three weeks before Reb Noson passed away, his watch broke. Right away he sent it to his son, Reb Yitzchok, in Tulchin, asking him to make sure it was repaired and returned to him in Breslov immediately. In his letter to Reb Yitzchok, Reb Noson emphasized how much he needed his watch. Even as he was nearing his end, Reb Noson was still zealous about each and every second! From “Through Fire and Water: The Life of Reb Noson of Breslov” 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.