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Rabbi Nachman of Breslev (1772-1810) was one of the original Jewish philosophers. As the great grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, he was literally born into the Hassidic world. During his short but eventful life two centuries ago, Rabbi Nachman pioneered a new and unique way of life which has remained vibrant and fascinating to this day. His doctrines and teachings are prevalent and well known, his books are studied by people from all walks of life and his grave site in Uman, Ukraine has become one of the most well known places in the Jewish world. Tens of thousands of people make pilgrimages to his grave, and especially on Rosh Hashana, as he instructed and requested.
Rabbi Nachman's teachings were published in his own books (Likutay Moharan "Collected Teachings of Our Teacher, Rabbi Nachman", Sippurey Ma'asiyot "Rabbi Nachman's Stories" and Sefer HaMidot " The Aleph-Bet Book", as well as in those written by his greatest student, Reb Natan. Rabbi Nachman's philosophy promoted a unique type of faith and joy, of coping with life's difficulties through religious strengthening and hope, love of the Land of Israel and the Jewish people and special individual guidance showing each person how to discover the "song of life" through a search for good qualities within oneself and others. Rabbi Nachman's ideas are the source of his disciples' studies and way of life and they have inspired authors, poets, intellectuals and artists.
Rabbi Nachman passed away on October 16, 1810, on the fourth day of the Sukkoth holiday, at the age of 39. The Israel Philatelic Service is issuing a special stamp in honor of the 200th anniversary of his passing. The painting depicted on the stamp was created by artist Rabbi Israel Yitzchak Bezanson, a rabbi in the Breslev Hassidic community. The painting recreates a 1922 photograph featuring a group of Breslev Hassidim who gathered at Rabbi Nachman's grave on the eve of Rosh Hashana to recite the "Tikun Clali" prayer (ten special psalms). This gathering, called the "assembly" took place annually for 125 years, from the Rabbi's passing until the rise of the Communist regime in Ukraine. Twenty years ago the Breslev Hassidim revived this tradition, after a decades-long break. While the gathering depicted in the photograph included only a small handful of gatherers, today nearly 30,000 pilgrims from all walks of life take part each year. Rabbi Nachman promised, "My light will burn until the coming of the Messiah" and there are many today who follow that light, each in his/her own way.
Rabbi Ofer Gissin
