The World Only Exists to Bring About G-d’s Purpose

(Painting by Megan Duncanson)

Sichos HaRan 51

From Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom, translated by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan (Breslov Research Institute), pp. 158-161 (with correction, p. 160, lines 4, 5 and 6).

Footnotes have been omitted for this online version.

The World Only Exists to Bring About G-d’s Purpose

This world only exists to bring about G-d’s purpose.

Do not be concerned with wealth. Even with it your life can be in vain.

The world deceives us completely. I t makes us think that we are constantly gaining, but in the end we have nothing. People spend years earning money, but are left with empty hands. Even one who attains wealth is taken away from it.

Man and wealth cannot endure together.

Either wealth is taken from the man, or the man is taken from his wealth. The two do not remain together.

Where are all the riches accumulated since the beginning of time? People amassed wealth since the beginning — where is it all? I t is absolutely nothing.

No man serves G-d according to His greatness.

If you have some conception of G-d’s greatness, you will not understand how one can claim to
serve Him. The highest angel cannot say that he truly serves G-d.

The main thing is desire. Always yearn to approach G-d.

Many want to serve G-d, but not all have the same desire.

There are many levels of desire, even in one person. At every moment his desire can change.

The main thing is to yearn for G-d. With this, you can pray and study and keep His commandments.

[But according to G-d’s greatness, all service is nothing. It is all like it has never been. Everything is mere nothingness before the immensity of G-d.].

Sophistication is nothing, for you must only be sincere.

It is forbidden to be foolish, even in your sincerity. But sophistication is totally unnecessary.

It is not good to be old.

There are pious and righteous elders, but to be old is not good. You must remain young, renewing yourself each day and making a fresh start.

Only one thing improves with age. The Talmud teaches us that a pig becomes stronger as it grows older (Shabbos 77b).

Do not be a fanatic.

Serving G-d is not fanaticism. Those who pursue worldly goods are the true fanatics.

The world will consider you a lunatic i f you abandon all worldliness in your quest for the G-dly. This is said to be fanaticism, and even this is not necessary.

For you can serve G-d with restraint.

Take my advice and do not let the world fool you.

It may try to deceive you, but it will never let things end well for you.

Every man ends up badly in this world, even those who acquire all it has to offer. The harm is not only theirs, but also destroys many future generations.

Even the nations of the world need to know this.

If the world is nothing, then what can you do?

To know what to do, you must have help from on high.

However, Israel needs no further help, for the Torah has already taught us.

The world says that you should not seek greatness. But I say that you should only seek greatness.

Seek out the greatest possible Tzaddik. When you seek a Rabbi, choose only the greatest Tzaddik.

The passions that destroy man do not really exist.

One must eat and drink but it is a necessity. The body must be sustained. One must likewise beget children. This is all necessity and not desire. It can be accomplished in holiness and purity.

Your mind can withstand any temptation.

It is written (Dan. 2:21), “G-d gives wisdom to the wise.” Every man has the potential of wisdom. It is this potential that must be used.

This potential alone can overcome all temptations. But G-d also “gives wisdom to the wise,” and this can grant you even greater strength.

You may have succumbed to desire and sinned in many ways. You may have blemished your intellect, making it confused and weak. But still you have some intelligence, and this alone can overcome all desires.

One grain of intelligence can overcome the world and all its temptations.

Wherever you are, you can be near to G-d.

You can approach G-d and truly serve Him even in the deepest pit of hell.

The Rebbe remarked that for this one needs tremendous effort or G-d’s help. Sometimes one needs both.

There are impurities in the mind, and these must be subdued. When you do this, you will not want anything in this world. Everything will be the same to you.

It is written (Prov. 6:22), “When you walk it will comfort you, when you lie down it will watch over you, and when you will wake up, it will comfort you.”

“When you walk” on this earth, the Torah “will comfort you.”

“When you lie down” in the grave, G-d and the Torah “will watch over you.”

“When you awaken” in the future world, “it will comfort you.”

When you have purified your thoughts, there is no difference between this world, the grave, and the next world. When you only desire G-d and His Torah, all are the same. In all three you can grasp onto G-d and his Torah.

But if you grasp at this world, there is an agonizing difference. This world is spread before you, but the grave is a tight cramped place.

But purify your mind and all will be the same.

'Israel, Protect Us!'

Received by e-mail via Arutz 7:

Ukraine's Jews report attacks, threats accompanying current rebellion are getting worse, ask for Israeli security personnel.

In the face of increasing hostility toward Jews throughout the Ukraine, the Director of the Federation of Jewish Organizations in Europe, Rabbi Menahem Margolin, has asked Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon to act urgently and send trained security personnel to protect Jewish communities in the Ukraine. He specifically asked that the assistance be sent to cities and towns where there is a greater chance that the current unrest could take the form of anti-Semitic attacks.

Rabbi Margolin said that he was writing on behalf of the Jews of Ukraine. He also demanded that the heads of state in Europe make clear to opposition elements in Kiev that they are the ones responsible for ensuring that further attacks on Jews be avoided.

The rabbi informed the prime minister and defense minister of a growing feeling of dread among Jewish communities in the Ukraine, in the last 48 hours, as the anti-Semitic wave grows. Among the events reported, Rabbi Margolin lists: a fire bomb thrown at a synagogue in Zhprozha, a message telling the rabbi of Krivoy Rog that he must leave the city within 72 hours, a graffito on the home of the rabbi of Blitzkorov saying “we are already near you,” another graffito near a Jewish building in Kiev saying “you are next,” and other anti-Semitic graffiti.

"Reports from the communities indicate a worrisome trend, in which the acts of violence are focusing increasingly on Jewish targets as time goes by – and there is no one to save the victims,” the rabbi added. “The challenge is clear, as is the complex nature of taking security measures in a foreign sovereign country. But this is undoubtedly a Jewish emergency.”

"In the name of the Jews of Ukraine, the Center of European Rabbis and the Federation of Jewish Organizations in the EU, I implore you to take any step necessary, including sending security men, to secure the safety of the Jewish communities in the Ukraine, until calm is restored.”

"The IAF flyover in the skies above Auschwitz sent a clear message that the state will assure Jewish security even in foreign countries,” he added.

Travel in Ukraine Too Dangerous

Received by e-mail

We have been told that the Rosh Hakahal of Rav Yaakov Bleich's Shul in Kiev has sent his wife and children to Moscow, due to violent uprisings throughout the Ukraine. 

Rabbi Moshe Asman, Rav of Chabad in Kiev, told the members of his kehillah to send away their wives and children. The shul has almost closed. Yeshiva classes continue in private home. The streets are dangerous. 

Rav Bleich confirmed over 100 people killed this morning and over 400 wounded. The trains too are dangerous. He reports serious fighting today near Uman, and strongly advises that no one visit at this time. Likewise, tourists going to Lizhensk for the Rebbe Reb Elimelekh's yahrtzeit should not travel to Kivrei Tzaddikim in Ukraine.

May we hear only good news, and may there be a peaceful resolution of this conflict in the near future.

“Great Atheism is Coming to the World.”

Rebbe Nachman’s Vaccination

Sichos HaRan 32-37

Translated by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom (Breslov Research Institute), pp. 133-139. Footnotes have been omitted for this online version.

32. Strengthen yourself in faith, completely avoiding all speculation. Do not engage in philosophy, but believe in G-d with innocent faith. It may seem that the average person is very far from philosophical involvement, but many embrace it to some degree. Everybody philosophizes. Even young children often have confusing theories. You must carefully remove all speculation from your heart. Cast it away and do not think about it at all. All you need is a pure faith in G-d and in the true Tzaddikim.

We have received the Torah through Moses our teacher, and it has been transmitted to us by the awesome Tzaddikim of each generation. There is no question as to their integrity and they can be relied upon without question. All one must do is follow in their footsteps, believing in G-d with innocent simplicity, and keeping commandments of the Torah as taught by our holy ancestors.

When a person is sincere and unquestioning, then he can be worthy that G-d illuminate him with the aspect of Desire (ratzon), which is even higher than Wisdom (chokhmah).

The attribute of Wisdom is actually higher than Faith. Still one must avoid the wisdom of speculation and rely on faith alone. Faith has great power, and when one follows its path, he can achieve Desire, a level even higher than Wisdom.

When one is worthy of Desire, he feels a great longing and yearning toward G-d. This feeling becomes so intense that he does not know what to do. And he cries out…

But there is a philosopher in every man’s heart. He is the Evil One, who raises questions in one’s mind. We must humble him and eject him, strengthening ourselves in faith and emptying the heart of all questions.

There are sins that lead a person to skepticism. This can also result from the fact that a person was not conceived in holiness, especially if he himself is guilty of similar sins. All these things are detrimental to one’s faith.

One should therefore be very much ashamed of the fact that he has doubts regarding belief. Such questions are not a sign of intelligence, but an indication that he was conceived in an unholy state, or that he himself is guilty of such sins. It is these things that cause one to doubt the essence of our faith. Such doubts should therefore cause one to have great shame and heartbreak.

“G-d’s glory fills all the earth” (Numbers 14:21), for “the whole world is filled with His glory” (Isaiah 6:3). A person must realize this, and remember that these doubts are divorcing him from the living G-d and uprooting him from the Life of all life. We need not describe the great shame a person should have because of such doubts. But with heartbreak and shame, he can expel and destroy all these questions.

Faith is a very strong thing, and it can greatly fortify your life. If you have faith, then you have a source of comfort and inspiration even when troubles strike. You realize that all troubles are ultimately for your good and are an atonement for your sins. You know that G-d will be good to you in the end, both in this World and the next.

The faithless skeptic, on the other hand, has nowhere to turn when troubles strike. He is utterly alone, without comfort or inspiration.

It is impossible to put everything into writing, but an intelligent man should be able to build upon this himself.

The main thing is innocent faith. With it, one can have a portion both in this world and the next. Happy is he who has such faith, for he shall never be moved (Psalms 122:6).

There are souls conceived in absolute holiness. When such a holy soul comes down to this world and is not tainted with sin, it results in a person with perfect faith. Such a person never has any doubts.

Others can express their skepticism in such a man’s presence, but his faith is in no way disturbed. Like a eunoch, who is not aroused by lewd conversation, he is totally oblivious to all doubts. His ears are deaf to all their speculation and confusion.

Even one who is not endowed with such an extraordinary soul can realize that the average person’s questions are mere foolishness. Upon close examination, their questions turn out not to be questions at all.

Many people are disturbed by questions for years, not realizing that their questions are actually answers. It is only their lack of intelligence that makes them seem like questions in the first place.

They have questions like those one might ask a child: “If we have a broken window, why replace it with a pane from the next window if a bird can then fly through the remaining empty frame?”

Such a question actually includes its own answer. But a child does not realize this and considers it a very difficult question. He will ponder it and not know what to reply.

But the question itself is really very foolish. The question about the bird is really the answer to the first foolish question. The reason why we do not use the adjacent pane is precisely because it leaves a space through which a bird can fly.

A young child does not have enough intelligence to realize that the answer is included in such a question. For this very reason, the question seems very difficult to him.

The same is true of many people. A foolish question enters their mind, and they have no idea that this question actually includes its own answer. It seems like a difficult question, but only because of their lack of intelligence. Understand this well.

Consider all this and be strong in faith. Flee from this foolishness and confusion, and cast all questions and doubts from your mind.

33. Another time when the Rebbe was discussing faith he remarked, “The world considers faith a minor thing. But I consider it an extremely great thing.

“The main road to faith is empty of all sophistication and speculation. It is the innocent faith of the most average religious person.”

34. Faith is like charity. The Torah says of Abraham (Gen. 15:6), “ And he had faith in G-d, and He counted it as charity.”

Through faith one is worthy of children. The Hebrew word for faith is AeMUNaH (alef-mem-vav-nun-heh). Turn the letters into numbers, and the Gematriah is BaNiYM (beis-nun-yod-mem)—children (102).

35. The Rebbe said, “Great atheism is coming to the world.”

Many times he told us that the world’s many sins are resulting in great disbelief. Happy is he who is strong in his faith.

The Rebbe said that the fact that he is predicting this will not prevent this G-dlessness and confusion from increasing.

Thousands of years ago, Daniel and others predicted that this would happen in the days before the Messiah. They said (Dan. 12:10), “Many will purify themselves and be refined, and make themselves shining white. The wicked will be evil, and only the wise shall understand.”

It has already been predicted that there will be great temptations before the Messiah’s coming, where “many will purify themselves and be refined, and make themselves shining white” in faith. Fortunate indeed is one who resists these temptations and remains firm in his belief. He will be worthy of all the good promised to us by the prophets and sages of old.

Knowing full well that this has already been predicted, it would seem ridiculous for one to succumb to any temptation to abandon his beliefs. It would seem obvious that every Jew would have enough intelligence to remain firm. But still it is a great trial. Many will fall away, and for this reason it is written that “the wicked will be evil” (ibid.).

The Rebbe said, “ Still, I am revealing this for the sake of the few faithful who will remain strong in their belief. They will certainly have great conflicts. But when they see that this has already been predicted, it will give them additional strength and encouragement.”

36. The Rebbe also said, “There will come a time when a simple religious man will be as rare and unique as the Baal Shem Tov.”

37. Atheism is called a burden.

In the verse (Deut. 1:12), “How can I alone bear your encumberance and your burden,” Rashi explains that “burden” refers to the fact that there were nonbelievers among the Jews in the wilderness.

When a person travels to a Tzaddik, he casts aside this heavy burden. Travelling to a Tzaddik is an act of faith, the opposite of disbelief.

The Other Side of the Talmud: Class Three This Wednesday Night

An Aggadata Chaburah:

Exploring “Layers of Meaning" with Rabbi Nachman Levine

Third class: Wednesday night, Feb. 19 (Adar 20), 8:00-9:00

After two eye-opening shiurim on several fascinating stories from the Gemara and Midrash about geirim, Rabbi Nachman Levine’s study group will explore a new topic this week. 

This promises one of the most stimulating and illuminating series of shiurim most of us have ever attended.

Rabbi Levine is uniquely able to open the doors to this dimension of the Torah. A renaissance man –accomplished scholar, artist and musician – with decades of experience in teaching Torah, he will explore the Aggadata from the standpoint of the classic meforshim, Chassidus and Kabbalah, modern literary theory and archaeology. These various disciplines will enable the chaburah to explore the many layers of meaning in this repository of the deep wisdom of Chazal.

Time: Every Wednesday night, 8:00-9:00 PM (followed by Maariv)

Location: Congregation Sheves Achim (Rabbi Fund's Shul)  

1517 Ave. H, off East 16th (across from Q Train)

Men and women invited.

Melava Malka Kumzitz featuring Srully Williger - February 22

(Click on image to enlarge)

Photos of Reb Nachman Burstein zatzal

Received by e-mail

Mordechai Zeitlin of Monsey took some wonderful photos before and after Rosh Hashanah 5773 (a year and a half ago). He kindly gave us permission to post the links for anyone who would like to see Reb Nachman Burstein zatzal davening and also dancing with Rabbi Elazar Kenig shlit"a and chaveirim in the Uman "Kloyz."

Photos:

https://plus.google.com/photos/102084673100453338504/albums/5980067363433631649?authkey=CPuoy4j89vOw3gE

Video of rikkud after Yom Tov (Reb Nachman appears after about 9 minutes):

http://youtu.be/Mfzwl6CWOrw

Every Person Is Unique

Sichos HaRan 54
Translated by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom (Breslov Research Institute)

G-d does not do the same thing twice. Even when a soul is reborn, it is not completely the same. The soul has a level of Nefesh and a level of Ruach, and the two are never brought back in the same combination.

A Nefesh may be reincarnated, but always with a different Ruach. The complete soul is not the same, for G-d does not do the same thing twice.

Rabbi Nachman Burstein zatzal

Boruch Dayan ha-Emes – it is with the greatest sorrow that we announce the passing of one Breslov’s most beloved teachers, Rabbi Nachman Yisrael ben Moshe Burstein of Yerushalayim. Reb Nachman had suffered a heart attack and several strokes in recent years. Yet despite all hardships and physical maladies, he came to Uman for Rosh Hashanah, including this past year 5574 / 2013. Prior to the opening up of travel to Uman, Reb Nachman had been the Rosh Hashanah Baal Musaf in Meron for decades. He was also a renowned baal tefilah in the Kataman neighborhood of Yerushalayim, and a popular speaker and teacher in the Breslov community and wherever he was invited to speak. His devotion to Rebbe Nachman and his spiritual legacy was a sterling example to all Breslover Chassidim.

Reb Nachman's expertise in the traditional melodies of Breslover Chassidim was unparalleled. He also had encyclopedic knowledge of Breslov oral histories and customs. Moreover, he was a solid talmid chokhom and halakhist, who was respected by the leading scholars of Eretz Yisrael. His father, Rabbi Moshe Burstein (1914-2011), was also a leading figure in Breslov in Yerushalayim and a talmid chokhom of stature. Reb Moshe was born in Poltosk, Poland and arrived in the Holy Land in 1935 with his wife and infant son, Nachman. Reb Moshe was one of Rabbi Avraham Sternhartz's closest disciples, and Reb Avraham lived in the Burstein home after his wife’s petirah. Thus, Reb Nachman knew Reb Avraham throughout his youth, until the latter’s passing in 1955, when Reb Nachman was 21. 

Only this past year (2013), the first volume of Reb Nachman’s talks was finally published: Otzar Nachmeini (available through http://www.everythingbreslov.com/works-of-various-disciples/otzar-nachmeini/prod_1222.html). But of course, nothing and no one can take the place of Reb Nachman Burstein, zatzal, with his unforgettable beautiful smile, as he spoke words of Torah and chizuk, or sang niggunim with great hisorerus and retold the stories of tzaddikim with emunah and simchah and hislahavus. May he have a “lechtigeh Gan Eden” and intercede above for his family, talmidim, and countless friends from all walks of life, and for the entire Jewish people, amen.

This Wednesday Night: Another Chance! The Other Side of the Talmud, Class #2

An Aggadata Chaburah:

Exploring “Layers of Meaning" with Rabbi Nachman Levine

Second class: Wednesday night, Feb. 12 (Adar 13), 8:00-9:00

Rabbi Nachman Levine’s Aggadata study group got together for the first time last week – but for those who couldn’t come, this week’s shiur will begin with a review of the material presented so far. This promises one of the most stimulating and illuminating series of shiurim most of us have ever attended,

Rabbi Levine is uniquely able to open the doors to this dimension of the Torah. A renaissance man –accomplished scholar, artist and musician – with decades of experience in teaching Torah, he will explore the Aggadata from the standpoint of the classic meforshim, Chassidus and Kabbalah, modern literary theory and archeology. These various disciplines will enable the chaburah to explore the many layers of meaning in this respository of the deep wisdom of Chazal.

Time: Every Wednesday night, 8:00-9:00 PM (followed by Maariv)

Location: Congregation Sheves Achim (Rabbi Fund's Shul)  

1517 Ave. H, off East 16th (across from Q Train)

Men and women are invited.

Melaveh Malka with Rabbi Nasan Maimon this Motzei Shabbos - Cedarhurst

B'ezras Hashem, there will be a Melaveh Malka this Motzei Shabbos at 8:15 PM with Rabbi Nasan Maimon at Bais Midrash Ha'Chaim V'Ha'Shalom located at 530 Central Avenue in Cedarhurst (next to Citibank). Bring your musical instruments and spread the word! Benching @ 10:15 PM.

This Wednesday Night: The Other Side of the Talmud

An Aggadata Chaburah:

Exploring “Layers of Meaning" with Rabbi Nachman Levine

First class: Wednesday night, Feb. 5 (Adar 6), 8:00-9:00

Traditionally the emphasis in studying the Gemara is on the debates of Chazal related to the clarification of legal issues – Halakhah. However, Ravina and Rav Ashi, in redacting the Gemara, also including many stories and non-legalistic material – the Aggadata. Many Gedoley Yisrael have stated that the mystical "secrets" of the Torah are hidden in the Aggadata. Moreover, scholars have shown that there is an intimate connection between the Aggadic teachings of Chazal and their legalistic thinking.

Rabbi Nachman Levine is uniquely able to open the doors to this dimension of the Torah. A renaissance man –accomplished scholar, artist and musician – with decades of experience in teaching Torah, he will explore the Aggadata from the standpoint of the classic meforshim, Chassidus and Kabbalah, modern literary theory and archeology. These various disciplines will enable the chaburah to explore the many layers of meaning in this respository of the deep wisdom of Chazal.

Time: Every Wednesday night, 8:00-9:00 PM (followed by Maariv)

Location: Congregation Sheves Achim (Rabbi Fund's Shul)  

1517 Ave. H, off East 16th (across from Q Train)