PART SIX — FINAL The Petek Continued · Rabbainu in the Land of Israel The Self-Sacrifice of Reb Yisroel Karduner · Final Words Source Lines 3000–3800

Sixty-two years ago such an episode occurred: I stumbled, I stumbled and fell. This was on the day of the Seventeenth of Tammuz — a severe fast, one of the Four Fasts, before the Ninth of Av — it is over the destruction [of the Temple]. And I was accustomed to fasting all the fasts — Av, the eve of Rosh Chodesh, all kinds... yes. And also I would fast every single day — from midnight until after the prayer — I would not taste even water, as my holy teacher Reb Yisroel practiced. Yes. And on the day of the Seventeenth of Tammuz, which is a severe fast — I fell and stumbled. And it seemed to me that I am not feeling well; I have to, I have to cancel the fast. In any event — however it may be — I am ashamed to tell everything. In any event I stumbled — a descent — I descended a great descent and I ate in the morning on the day of this fast! And this was... hard for me, and I had great anguish, and I fell into such depression that was terrifying! Anyone who looked at me, depression fell upon him — from my having not fasted.

In any event — and all of them were opponents and said: "This is the end of Breslov — in the end they become crazy — I have become crazy!" I was always in joy — and suddenly the whole week: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday... In any event — I had great anguish, and also I could not serve H"Y; I was in darkness, in great anguish, in such depression — literally like one who is losing his mind! And they were all rejoicing and saying: "This is the end of the Breslov Chassidim!" So I prayed to H"Y that He should have mercy on me and take me out of this — and that I am causing by this a disgrace and desecration of H"Y's Name for Breslov. So a firm thought entered my mind — like someone standing and saying words to me: "Enter your room — and there I had a bookcase — open the bookcase and take out some book, whatever book it may be, do not direct yourself to any particular [book]... put your hand on a book, take it out and open it — open it wherever it opens — and there you will find healing for your soul." Nu — so I had such a firm thought, so I said: "What? What do I have to lose? I will enter the room and I will do this." Nu — I entered the room, I opened the bookcase, and I took out a book, opened it — and there was... [he shows the photograph of the Petek] there is here, there is here — this is the photograph, this is a photograph of the Petek...

I opened the book and there was the piece of paper inside it. I did not pay attention to the paper — will the paper give me healing? What will a piece of paper give me? So I read the halachic text to the place where I opened — perhaps I will find there such words that will help me? So I read — and this revived me — but when I finished, the illness returned as it was before! So I fell in my mind, I thought, Heaven forbid, that I have no possibility of recovery, no remedy. So just before I wanted to return the book to its place — before I closed the book — I noticed that there is here, that there are written lines! I began to read — I had just begun to read — and I saw that this is a very wondrous event: "It was very hard for me to descend to you — my student..." Immediately! And altogether I cannot tell it over — even if I were able to speak — what I felt in this and what there is in this: it is impossible to reveal, impossible to tell, impossible to speak.

But fine — I began to read and I read it all the way to the end. I read it like... immediately when I finished reading, I entered into such joy as was not of this world — only of the World to Come! Such joy! I began to dance and clap hands and sing such melodies of joy. And they — and the Yeshivah — heard: they knew that I had been in depression the whole week, and now they hear that I am in such joy, dancing — yes! So they said: "Now he is perfectly fine, he is already... he is crazy!" They entered the room, brought me out to the courtyard, and made a circle — the whole Yeshivah — and I was in the middle and danced! Everyone rejoiced and everyone mocked me: "The crazy one is dancing!" In any event — they stood for several hours. They said: "He will not tire! We — we cannot stand any longer!" They all went — and I remained and danced almost the entire night!

Fine — and from then on — from this night — I acquired a reputation throughout the entire city of Tiberias. I entered from the Yeshivah into the city, and everyone said, everyone knew: "The Breslover — this one has already become crazy!" — and that is it — that is the Petek. Nu — I have nothing to [add]... I am telling it as it was. Also up to... not everything — only... and this I know. And also many times — I showed this in Jerusalem to the great Kabbalists of Jerusalem! Yes — and they were utterly astounded, moved by it so greatly! In any event — I do not need to bring witnesses, because it [the Petek itself] is a witness to itself! Just to see the signature of Rabbainu — this one, with vowel-points: Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman — that is this signature! Our holy Master in his lifetime signed his name on his letters: "Nachman" — here it is written Na Nach Nachma Nachman, with vowel-points, MayUman! The world — the whole world knows "Reb Nachman of Breslov" — here it is written "MayUman," because he dwells in Uman!

And also He revealed this to me — I did not fast on the Seventeenth of Tammuz; no one knew. Yes — should I cause a desecration of H"Y's Name, that they say that Breslov Chassidim do not fast on the Seventeenth of Tammuz? I... this was a secret, yes. And also it is written here: "A sign — on the 17th of Tammuz they will say that you do not fast" — a sign that only I, only I and H"Y knew of this. That is the sign! And also — "BeTammuz" with vowel-points, sheva and patach — "Tav patach, BeTammuz" — only... first and foremost: this signature — this is a new revelation in the world! Because our holy Master speaks in Likutay Moharan that there is a simple-double-triple-quadruple song that will be revealed in the future by our righteous Messiah — and here he reveals that this song, simple-double-triple-quadruple, is this song! Yes — Na Nach [Na — Nach — Rabbainu Nachman]. Ah, ah, yes, with vowel-points.

What is "YH"? Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh — the Name of H"Y is shared with the name of Rabbainu! So he wrote in the Torah [Likutay Moharan Part II, Torah 67] — so he reveals: the Name of H"Y is shared in the name of the Tzadik... If the name of the Tzadik becomes publicized in the world — H"Y becomes publicized in the world — the faith, the Torah... yes! This depends on the publicization of the name of the Tzadik! And here he signed that he is this Tzadik of the simple-double-triple-quadruple song. He... he too essentially not... in the entire Petek it is not written to whom he is writing this — and one can think... yes. But only at the end does he reveal a sign: "A sign — the Seventeenth of Tammuz" — a matter that only I knew! And no one knew of this. So this is the sign — I know that it is to me, that I was the cause of this... through my depression, through the heartbreak I had over the transgression.

And I cannot speak of all this matter — what I see in it: "It was very... it was very hard for me to descend to you..." — one sees descent! All the lines are straight, only this [word] too is straight, but "to descend to you" — it descends very much! "It was very hard for me to descend to you" — if for Rabbainu Reb Nachman it was hard to descend to me — "to descend to you" — this is a descent, a terribly awesome one, Heaven forbid! Yes. Nu — and immediately he strengthens me: "My dear student!" Is "my student" alone not enough? "My dear student!" And also he could have [written] without "my dear student": "to descend to you to tell you that I greatly enjoyed your service" — yes — no! "My dear student!" He strengthens me — he lifts me from the very depths of the abyss — he lifts me to the highest heights! "My dear student — to tell you that I greatly enjoyed." "That I greatly enjoyed your service and upon you I have said" — "I greatly enjoyed your service" is one thing, "and upon you I have said" is another thing! These are two things.

"Upon you I have said" — what did I say upon you? Our holy Master said during his lifetime [recorded in Chayay Moharan]: "My fire will burn until the coming of the Messiah" — so he said, so it is written in the book "Chayay Moharan." And here he reveals it — "I have said," what I said: "My fire — my fire will burn until the coming of the Messiah — upon you I have said!" This is what I said upon you! That through you the light will shine until the coming of the Messiah — upon you I said this! "Upon you I have said — my fire will burn until the coming of the Messiah!" "Mein feierl vet tlyen biz Mashiach vet kumen" — do you know Yiddish also? (Yes.) "My fire will burn until the Messiah comes" — nu: "upon you I have said" — two things: "I greatly enjoyed your service" — "and upon you I have said." He seals this — it is concluded — in this letter he informs me of two things: "I greatly enjoyed your service" — "and upon you I have said: my fire will burn until the Messiah comes." "Be strong and courageous in your service!" I was... I had fallen completely in my mind — and he: "Be strong...!" If so: "I greatly enjoyed your service and upon you I have said" — you can strengthen yourself! "Be strong and courageous in your service."

Also the lines — one, two, three, four, five, six — this too is a line. Even just one word is a line! And our holy Master... the signature is on the line — on the seventh line! This is Shabbos. The Tzadik has the aspect of Shabbos. And also there is... afterwards: "And with this... and with this I will reveal to you a secret and it is" — fine! "Full and heaped from line to line — Petzpetziyah" — this is the name of the angel of the sounding of the shofar! Only this word — it is in the regular handwriting that he wrote. These are Rashi letters and these are regular letters that one writes — by which one recognizes that this is handwriting — his handwriting — for... this is Rashi script, one does not know — but this is his handwriting. Nu — I do not understand this, the secret. "And through strengthening your service you will understand it!" And now he states — he states to me the sign — which only I knew, it was a secret, no one knew of it — yes — and he reveals to me a sign: "The 17th of Tammuz" — what was, was. Oy, oy — Master of the World, Master of the World... In any event — the main matter that we must reveal and publicize and give our lives for: that everything — the Redemption depends on Rabbainu Reb Nachman of Breslov — to study his books!

He — this is every letter, every Torah teaching, every word of his — it is such a light that speaks to you, speaks what you need. All the matters that pass over you, that have passed over you, that are passing over you — and similarly this, and similarly that, and similarly each and every one. And similarly I — each and every one! And every word that Rabbainu revealed is the universality of every member of Israel — what passes over him and what has passed over him. His illnesses and his healings — not only the illnesses! He rectifies, purifies and heals all the sick, all the worst [cases] in the world — who have no possibility of recovery! They have nothing... no Tzadik can help them — but Rabbainu Reb Nachman said: "And I heal her!" This is the end of the Story of the Seven Beggars [from Reb Nachman's Sipuray Ma'asiyos]. At the end of this story, the sixth Beggar told a tale and said: "The king's daughter received all the bullets with all the poisons, yes, and she fell into faintness." And I... so said the Beggar: "And I heal her..." This applies to all of the people of Israel, to each and every one: "And I heal her!" She has already fallen — received all the bullets and fallen — "And I heal her!" Only I heal her — there is no one who can heal this! So our holy Master — the Beggar — said "And I heal her," so our holy Master revealed about himself that he is this Beggar — that he heals her: "I... I heal her!" He said this about himself.

Yes — we are fortunate! We already have all the rectifications and healings and salvations that we need — each and every one — through Rabbainu Reb Nachman! Only Rabbainu Reb Nachman is the root of the Torah, he is the root of faith, he is the root of every member of Israel — however he finds himself, to whatever place he has descended — he takes him out, he heals him! Yes — truly it is impossible to heal such a sick one... such a sick one for whom there is no healing for such an illness! But Rabbainu Reb Nachman — he revealed that he can indeed heal and rectify everything! Yes — there are in this very wondrous hidden matters, but they have not been revealed in the world... Because I remember: seventy years ago when I drew close to Rabbainu, there was a prohibition to study Breslov books! There was a prohibition to study Breslov books! I found a Breslov book and I did not know it was Breslov, and I read in it — so they saw: "What are you doing — you are studying this book?" So that was the first time I heard that there is Breslov in the world!

I did not know there was Breslov in the world. So I found out that there is... "You don't know this is from Breslov books? It is forbidden to read this!" Blessed be H"Y — today one can read in every synagogue, yes, everyone, whoever wants to study... These are signs of the Redemption! Signs that we stand [at its threshold] — that according to our understanding, according to our deeds — there is already, already no remedy for such sick ones! But Rabbainu Reb Nachman was already in the world — and he, he can rectify all illnesses and all... there is no place where he cannot rectify, heal! Yes — so when we hear this, then we must give over our lives to put his holy words in our hearts — his Torah teachings and the prayers and the halachos. There is a book — books — Likutay Halachos — do you know of this? We must be expert in the book Likutay Moharan! Our holy Master said that one must be so expert in it that one can recite it by heart — forward and backward — even backward! Such expertise is needed in this — because this is all our vitality, every word, all our vitality. Every word of his — even one word.

And our holy Master revealed that he is alluded to in a verse: there is a verse in the Bible — "Nachal novea mekor chochmah" ["A flowing stream — the source of wisdom" — Proverbs 18:4] — the initial letters spell "Nachman"! He is alluded to in this verse: "A flowing stream — the source of wisdom." He flows and flows and flows — the source of wisdom! Such wisdom as has not been, has still not been in the world! We have the Torah and all the books of all the Tzadikim — and this is the root of all the Torah! This surpasses everything! Through this we can draw close to the Torah, to know, to see the light of the Torah. In the Torah there are many powers — there is a potion of life, and the opposite, yes. And through our holy Master one merits to see the light of the Torah as it must be seen. There are very hidden matters in this.

But now we see that the entire world — even the goyim, the scholars of the goyim at the university — they marvel greatly at Rabbainu Reb Nachman of Breslov! Even the goyim! I spoke with several people who know of this from London, from England — and they always speak of Reb Nachman of Breslov, of the stories, of his words, yes! And one sees that the entire world is drawing itself to Rabbainu Reb Nachman of Breslov! One sees — there were many Tzadikim in the world: the holy Baal Shem Tov and his disciples, and there were many Tzadikim — not... only what remains for us is as if there is one singular person in the world — Reb Nachman of Breslov. And so we — the main conclusion to draw from this is that we must give our lives to be expert in his holy words — then we will merit!

But with faith — one can study and be blind, seeing nothing! If for pride — "I am Breslov" — only for pride — that we should be expert in Likutay Moharan?! The main thing is to study in order to know how to fight the strategies of battle — how to fight and conquer, to subdue the evil! Yes. Nu — H"Y shall have mercy on us, and we need great mercy. And this we... I and my companions have seen many wonders from this holy Name: Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman! In America there was such an episode: a secular man heard it being discussed — he was there with them together. And he heard that we... in recent times we have made amulets [kameos] from this holy Name — Na Nach Nachma Nachman — and this is efficacious for a person for all the salvations he needs! It is a protection like an amulet! He heard this — and he heard: in a time of trouble, when a person is suffering some trouble, he should say with his mouth — in addition to the kamea — he should say with his mouth: Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman!

Nu — that's it. He heard this, and he is a secular man — he knows nothing, knows nothing at all of what faith is. He went with another person in a taxi — and on that day there was such cold in America, and such snow! And his car broke down completely; it needs repairs — yes, technical repairs — impossible... And the cold was so strong — one could literally die from the cold! He was in a remote place where almost no cars pass, and it was in the middle of the night. And in a little while he would be frozen — with his whole family. And then he remembered that there is this segulah: Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman! At that exact moment a car passed — stopped — and saved them! So he came afterwards to testify to his companions!

There was an episode of a girl — a baby, a year and a half old — a kettle of boiling water fell on her — fell on her face! And they took her to Beilinson Hospital. And the doctors came; they had great grief: "How is she? She is in great danger — even if she comes out of the danger — what will her face look like? It's not worth [hoping for much]." And her parents saw the trouble — they knew nothing. They had a relative who had an amulet [kamea]. She went to visit her and placed her amulet on the patient — yes, on the baby. Two days passed — the burn healed as if she had just been born anew! She has a father and mother — everyone knows — the family and the doctors too! The doctor who treated her went crazy! He said to them: "What did you do? What happened?" They told him: "This is an amulet — they placed the amulet on her!" He took the amulet — and to this day he does not want to return it!

[Finding the book Hishtapchus HaNefesh, finding the Petek — all in even greater detail...] (My engagement is on Tuesday.) I want to rejoice at the engagement — and afterwards at the wedding! Blessed be H"Y — do not delay the wedding! Does she work? (She will start working.) She still doesn't work anywhere? She should not work! It is never good for the woman to work in other people's homes. (No — perhaps she will be a teacher.) A teacher — that is good... not in every home. Never forget to always give thanks and praise to H"Y for this great miracle and this great kindness of which we have no conception — this is a kindness, this is a treasure — a treasure above all treasures! Master of the World, Master of the World — oy, oy, oy! And afterwards I — with H"Y's help — I want to merit to be at the bris milah [circumcision] and at the wedding. I have, blessed be H"Y, I have time; I have a blessing from... I have a blessing from our holy Master that I will live long — only I: who knows? Heaven forbid that sin should cause [otherwise]. But I have a blessing — and not one word of his words [has been lost] — everything he said, we see [fulfilled].

He [Reb Nachman] traveled to the Land of Israel* during wartime — and there is a great episode of what passed over him, how much... did you see? And blessed be H"Y — he came to the Land of Israel in peace and returned in peace — through miracles and wonders that are impossible to grasp! And when he returned from the Land of Israel — there was the holy rabbi, the Maggid [preacher] of the city of Terhovitza. He was singular — he was an elderly man. And our holy Master was like a child — twenty-something years old! And he [the Maggid] knew the Baal Shem Tov. The Maggid of Terhovitza was a genius and a very great Tzadik; he was a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, and he was singular among the true Tzadikim — he was the singular one who nullified himself before our holy Master and said to him: "You are my Rebbe!" * Reb Nachman traveled to the Land of Israel in 5559 (1798–1799), sailing from Odessa during the Napoleonic wars. He returned safely, the journey a culmination of his life's spiritual preparation. He said: "The moment I set foot in the Land of Israel — I attained what I attained."

And when he [Reb Nachman] returned from the Land of Israel — our holy Master was in some village, not far from him, from the Maggid of Terhovitza. He [the Maggid] was traveling through there, and the village where Rabbainu was was not far from Terhovitza. And he was informed that our holy Master had come — blessed be H"Y — from the Land of Israel, and he is located in the village. And then he was not ready — not dressed, not prepared for travel! He had to get dressed. So he immediately began to run, and said they should follow him with a wagon. And he was running with force — at such speed — that he arrived before the wagon! But the wagon went out immediately after him, and he arrived to our holy Master before the wagon arrived. Such self-sacrifice! And he was singular among the great Tzadikim in that he recognized a little of our holy Master's greatness. And he was an elderly man — he said to Rabbainu: "You are my Rebbe!" This was truly so — not just as a casual verbal expression. The Maggid was an elderly man — eighty years old — and he ran like a child! He ran to see our holy Master when he returned from the Land of Israel! Rabbainu was approximately twenty, twenty-eight, twenty-six years — seven years [of age at the time] — when he returned from the Land of Israel.

Once — this is recorded in Chayay Moharan — the Maggid had [a difficult matter]. He was a genius, and he has an approbation from him on the Shulchan Aruch of the master of the Tanya, on his books — nu, from this it is apparent that he was not a simple man! He had some matter — a very deep matter — and it was very hard for him. And he had been by several great holy Tzadikim and asked them about it — and they gave him some answer. But he was not satisfied! And he began to think that he would ask Rabbainu. And he came to Rabbainu — and our holy Master said to him a Torah teaching on this matter that was hard for him. And when he heard from Rabbainu's mouth this Torah teaching — he saw that this is not human intellect! It is very awesome! He was beside himself! And he thought that such a Torah teaching is impossible to put in writing! Afterwards Reb Noson came and wrote down this Torah. And then he said to our holy Master: "You are a very awesome novelty!" So said the Maggid of Terhovitza to our holy Master: "This is a very awesome wonder!" So Rabbainu said to him... the Maggid of Terhovitza said to him: "That you are a wonder — a great and very awesome novelty!" So Rabbainu said to him: "A novelty such as myself has still not been in the world!"

And when he returned from the Land of Israel, Rabbainu said at Shabbos — at the Third Meal, at Mincha, after Mincha, the Three Meals — he said this Torah: "Ki taavor bamayim ittecha ani" — "When you pass through the waters — I am with you!" [Likutay Moharan Torah 73] — "When you pass through the waters — I am with you!" After the journey from the Land of Israel, on Shabbos — from the journey to the Land of Israel. He said a Torah on Friday night and also at the Three Meals — he also said a Torah — that is the Torah of the Three Meals... From this one must draw the lesson: that everything from H"Y — only faith! We believe — but is this faith truly faith? It is truth — if there is faith. But in something false — that is not called faith. Yes — blessed be H"Y — we have merited to know from our holy Master that he instills within us such faith — which is new — such faith that... only we must receive it, blessed be H"Y!

And I also see at my own [experience] several wondrous things. For example this Aharon — he is a baal teshuvah. Do you know of this? And he... I cannot tolerate it — he regards me as a great person! But I know the truth. I will explain to him: "You must be careful here. Breslov is truth — if you believe in me that I..." It is the opposite! I am a completely simple person. Only I — I merited in H"Y's kindness to know what a Breslov Chassid is — what that is! If I had not known this person, my teacher, Reb Yisroel of blessed memory — Reb Yisroel Karduner. Kardon — he was from a city; there is Kardon in Galicia, in Russia; they call him "Karduner." Reb Yisroel Karduner. But his family name — Halperin! His family name. And he too had great anguish and great suffering from drawing close to Rabbainu — because then the entire world were opponents. Do you know of this? (Yes.) But you know what you know! But what I know — you do not know! What I saw! What our holy Master Reb Nachman can make from a human being born of a woman! Such holiness! This is beyond nature! What I saw with him — just to hear his voice! The voice was pleasant, and he was always cleaving to H"Y — especially in Torah... and prayer — I never saw and never heard such a thing. For this I drew close.

With me there was... and H"Y arranged circumstances — miracles, all of them miracles! From the time I came to awareness, when I was small — six, seven years old — I loved the Torah greatly, with fear of Heaven, with faith. But I had great bitterness — I suffered greatly from the evil inclination. There is an evil inclination, and it wants only this world — only all of this world and all desires and all... And I was God-fearing and loved the Torah greatly! When I saw a person who knows the books, and he speaks idle words and like that and does not guard his time — I said: "What is this? He is crazy! If I were able to study, then I would not rest — not be idle for a single moment!" Yes. I heard about all kinds of Chassidus — but only the name "Breslov" I had never heard! That there is in the world a name "Breslov," a type of Chassidus called Breslov — I had never heard! But H"Y — He knows the heart, He knows the thought in the heart ("He knows the secrets of all the living") yes, ah, yes, yes. ("He examines the mind and heart, and nothing is hidden from before Your eyes.") Yes — so He saw that I am abandoning myself and degrading myself before people. When I saw one old, God-fearing man — I told him my whole heart, so that he would take me out of the darkness and from the desires. H"Y saw my heart, and He wanted to do me a kindness — to draw close to Rabbainu! And how? I do not know! Even though Breslov exists in the world — how will I draw close to Rabbainu?

So H"Y arranged a circumstance: I was in the courtyard of the Yeshivah... I studied in the Yeshivah in Tiberias — at the tomb of Reb Meir Baal HaNes — do you know? Yes. It stands among the fields, among the mountains, yes. And I loved to go out to walk among the mountains, in the fields — even before I drew close to Rabbainu. And when I became seventeen years old — I had very hard battles with the evil inclination. What to do? I still did not know of Rabbainu — still did not know. So H"Y arranged that I went out from the Yeshivah to the courtyard to take a cup of tea — and in the courtyard stood a garbage bin! And I saw the bin — a garbage bin — and I saw there: pages, a book like this, without a cover, without a beginning and without an end — pages. Nu — I was God-fearing and this was a disgrace, a great disgrace — this is in the garbage bin! So I took them in order to throw this in the genizah [the storage for worn-out sacred books]. There was a genizah — old books that had become torn — so they put them in the genizah. So I went with the book to throw it in the genizah. And before I threw it — before I closed it — I saw: the name of the book: "Hishtapchus HaNefesh!" [The Outpouring of the Soul — Reb Noson of Breslov's guide to hisbodidus] I was accustomed to reading many books — books of morality, books of Chassidus, and so on — and I had never seen such a book whose name is "Hishtapchus HaNefesh"! Never seen it. So when I saw the name "Hishtapchus HaNefesh" — I thought in my mind: "Perhaps — perhaps this is good for me? Perhaps this is Providence from H"Y that I should have this book?" Yes! So I began to read... I read one page — and I saw that this is for me!

That this is good for me! Such goodness... immediately I saw that this is very good for me! That I will succeed in conquering all the battles — all that I suffer! So I did not throw the book in the genizah — I took it, and I stole myself away from the Yeshivah to the field, among the mountains, with the book — and began to read in the book. And because I wanted to save myself from the evil inclination and I searched and searched and searched — yes, I had goodnesses, salvations. But such a salvation as was... to conquer all the battles at once — this I had never experienced! I read in the book one page, two pages — and immediately I fulfilled what was written there! And I saw such wonders as I had never seen in all my days... I search in books and I see salvations, but such a thing that I had, such a wonder from the words of this book — I had never experienced! But I did not know by whom this was? It was pages, without a beginning and without an end — I did not know by whom!

And these pages were by me like a treasure! I guarded them greatly. And every day I went with the book into the field and read — and immediately I fulfilled what I read! And I saw such wonders — that it nullified, nullified nature, changed nature! Once I was sitting in my bed. So a companion came — I was a Karliner; there is a Chassidus of Karlin — have you heard? And a friend of mine from the Karlin Chassidim came — I was a Karlin Chassid, and he too was a Karlin Chassid. And he saw that I am reading with fervor, with seriousness, with love, with great arousal, with enthusiasm — inside the book. So he saw the book "Hishtapchus HaNefesh" — and he said to me: "What are you doing with this book? You are reading?!" But I had already tasted the taste of the book and seen wonders! (He said that this book is not good?) Yes — certainly! "This is a book — it is forbidden to read this book! This is from the Breslov books!" Yes, so he said to me: "You are reading this book?!" I became very angry and flew into a great rage and said to him: "This is not for you! This book is for me! This is good — this is a holy book — and I see great wonders from it!" So he said to me: "You are an animal! An animal! You are not a human being! You haven't heard who Breslov is? That there is a prohibition to read the Breslov books! All the Admurim and the whole world oppose Breslov! And you..." So I said to him: "Let all the Admurim come, and all the angels and all... I will listen to no one! For me this is good!" So he overpowered me and took the book from me by force, and I remained... I did not want to give it to him in any way — but he was stronger, stronger than me. And he took the book from me by force, went — and I remained an orphan without the book!

But I had a gain — I heard that there is a Chassidus called Breslov, that it is forbidden to study the Breslov books! So I prayed to H"Y that He should send me Breslov books and Breslov Chassidim. "I want to be a Breslov Chassid!" Yes — so I prayed to H"Y, and not much time passed — and in Safed there was living my holy teacher Reb Yisroel Karduner. And he was such a novelty as does not exist in the world! I grew up among great Chassidim — strict Chassidim, meticulous in the commandments — but I saw this person, and I saw that all the others are standing outside — they know nothing of faith and H"Y and the Torah! They all study — but I saw compared to him that he is singular — he is singular in the world, there is none like him! But I did not know him and did not know that there was a Reb Yisroel in Safed — I did not know him, did not know.

But H"Y first informed me that there is a Chassidus called Breslov — that it is forbidden to study the Breslov books — so I prayed to H"Y that He should give me, that He should send me Breslov books and Breslov Chassidim. I prayed — and H"Y did wonders with me: supreme kindness! In Safed there was living my holy teacher Reb Yisroel — I did not know him and had not heard of him. He was located in Meron — and he served H"Y there in complete solitude. There was not a single creature present! He had the key of the synagogue of Reb Shimon Bar Yochai — yes — and he was there alone, in hisbodidus! And also he walked among the mountains for hisbodidus and prayer, and engaged in the service of H"Y with self-sacrifice.

What did H"Y do? He wanted Reb Yisroel to go from Meron to Tiberias — to Yisroel Ber! But Reb Yisroel would not leave Meron! Even if you give him all the money in the world — he would leave Meron? Reb Shimon? Such a holy place? And go to Tiberias? What does he have in Tiberias? Everything in the world — only Meron! The family lived in Safed, and he was all week in Meron, and would go on Friday from Meron to Safed. Nu — who would say that Reb Yisroel would go to Tiberias? How?... It is a pity you were not there... H"Y knew that Reb Yisroel would not budge from Meron to Tiberias. What did He do? He sent him an illness on his hand! And the pain — it was very great pain — and the pain increased from day to day, from hour to hour. Such pain that it is impossible to say one word! He could not pray and could not do any service. And he did not attribute anything to the natural course — everything was the Providence of the Creator! When he saw such a thing, he began to think: "Perhaps the will of the Creator is that I go to Tiberias? What will be in Tiberias?"

"In Tiberias the climate is warmer than Meron, than Safed." (So he would be healthy?) "Not healthy — but not such great pain, so that he could pray and engage in the service of H"Y!" But nevertheless — even though he had all such pain, and he has to think about this — he had doubts! He had doubts whether to go — whether to leave Reb Shimon and go to Tiberias. If not? Because he thought: "How is such a thing possible? When a person is in trouble — he flees from Meron, from Reb Shimon, to Tiberias? One must flee to Reb Shimon to pray and ask for healing! But not to go!" But he had doubts — perhaps the will of the Creator is that he go to Tiberias? Perhaps not? So as long as he did not know clearly that the will of the Creator is that he go to Tiberias — then he would go immediately. But he did not know — so he had hisbodidus, and asked greatly of H"Y that He illuminate his thought, his mind, what to do: "If the will of the Creator is that I go to Tiberias — I am traveling immediately to Tiberias! I want to know only how the will of the Creator is — if not, if yes? If yes, if not?" So he prayed so greatly, until H"Y illuminated his eyes and arranged a circumstance in which he saw clearly — knew clearly — that the will of the Creator is that he go to Tiberias!

This was on a Wednesday! And Reb Yisroel — early in the morning — went to the donkey owner and hired a donkey to go to Tiberias. On Thursday?! Friday eve?! He could have gone on Sunday — after Shabbos! No! He — since he knew that the will of the Creator is that he go to Tiberias — went on Thursday! He arrived in Tiberias — and only when he descended from the donkey, he needed a loaf of bread to eat the night meal... So he encountered a man who was a relative of mine — and he asked of this man: "Show me where to buy bread?" He came — Reb Yisroel arrived on Thursday — and we, my family, my parents, my mother and father, had begun baking bread to sell on Sunday.

And on Thursday he came... I thought however: "How is it possible for me to have a connection with him? But he... I thought that he is a hidden Tzadik from the thirty-six hidden Tzadikim! A hidden Tzadik can perform a miraculous leap to Jerusalem! But I will get nothing from him! I don't know where he is from, and where he is going, and how far he wants to go? And how will I have a connection with him?" As I am thinking this — and he is holding his hand in his pocket and taking out money for me — so he said to me: "Perhaps I may eat the bread in your home?" I felt that he knows what I am thinking — how will I have a connection with him? And he... salvation — I will find by this person! Everything I need! But how will I have a connection? So he asked me: "Perhaps I can eat the bread by you?" Nu — he paid money. And our home — my parents — they were poor, very poor — and my father was blind: blind as the night. Nu — and the home was like the cave of Reb Shimon — like a cave! There is no room where to sit!

And we were already at the end of the meal — to say Grace after Meals, to recite the Shema, to lie down and sleep — because they have to get up to make challah and bread. Nu — so I thought: "Father will certainly not agree — and I myself cannot bring in a guest without Father's permission!" And I was ashamed to ask Father whether this person can eat bread in our home. He will say to me: "What are you saying? Is there room?... Where? We already have to recite the Shema and lie down and sleep! And how?" Yes — so I greatly strengthened myself and said: "Whatever will be! Even if Father hits me — I will ask him!" So I asked: "Father — take the money of the... this person is asking, he wants to eat bread in our home?!" So he said to me: "Yes! Yes! Yes! By all means — we have some portion on the fire!" And there was a little stew of lentils and rice — a little stew. So my father said to me: "Yes." I saw that this is salvation for me!

He asked me — I had been thinking... he asked me, and I asked Father — and I saw the Providence! That it is from every side like... this is Providence — supreme Providence and great kindness! So he performed the ritual washing of hands, he recited the blessing, Grace after Meals — and they recited the Shema and lay down on the floor with the children, like birds. And he sat by the door, on the step — there were steps going down from the courtyard — he sat on some step. I merited to hear from him the blessing over the hand-washing and the Hamotzi — and I saw that this is great kindness: this is a holy Tzadik! Because his speech was holy! It was like hisbodidus — like speaking... like I am now speaking with you — so he was speaking with H"Y! As if there is no house, no people — only with H"Y! And I saw a wonder, a wonder! So I gave him the portion of the stew, so he said to me: "I don't eat! Only bread and tea. And tea without sugar."

But we had no kerosene — no kerosene stove, none at all — only charcoal. One needs to know how to make a fire. Yes — so it took time! Until I managed to make tea, and they had already gone to sleep inside the house. And I could not restrain myself — so in the middle of the work of making the fire, I entered to him and said to him in a whisper, so that no one should hear: "Do you know? You came to Tiberias for me! Because I am in a very difficult situation — the evil inclination overpowers me and... so I am certain that H"Y sent you to Tiberias! I... and you came to Tiberias for me! And therefore — I ask you: do not abandon me..." I said to him in a whisper: "Do not abandon me..." And I saw that he was so moved! He had insisted on going to Tiberias from Meron and had not known why — and had doubts! Now he saw that this was from the beginning — from H"Y — that he should travel... And from this night — we merited to bond in such a bond that was a tremendous novelty!

And immediately a great commotion arose in Tiberias! My name is Yisroel Ber — so a commotion arose in Tiberias: "Oy vay! Great pity! Yisroel Ber has become a Breslover!" (Everyone opposed?) Yes — everyone! Nu — and Father and Mother heard. So they were not so upset. But the Yeshivah's gabbai came to them, and other separate individuals — scholars, Chassidim who have a name and reputation — said to Father: "Do you know that Yisroel Ber has become a Breslover?!" So he said to them: "My son? You know that my son is God-fearing — he fulfills the honor of father and mother. If I send him to fire — he would go to fire! There is nothing [to worry about]... he fulfills the honor of father and mother — singular in the world! So I am not worried — he will come from the Yeshivah..." I was in the Yeshivah. With Reb Yisroel we studied together — and [Reb Yisroel Karduner] made me a name that I had become a Breslover!

So I came from the yeshivah on Thursday — I came from the yeshivah — and my father said to me: "Know, my son, that the great men of the yeshivah were by me and told me that you have become a Breslover! I beg you not to pain me — I give you permission: you are Karliner and I am Karliner — I do not care which chassidus you belong to, only not Breslov. I do not want you to be a Breslover."

Nu — I walked with Reb Yisroel. He told me that he wants to be in some synagogue — he wanted to recite the Chatzos prayer, lay tefillin, pray, and have hisbodidus. So I went from synagogue to synagogue — and they were all locked, and there was no room in them! So it came to my mind that there is a synagogue of the holy Tzadikim who were there a hundred years ago — disciples of the Baal Shem Tov: Reb Avraham Kalisker, and Rabbainu's grandfather, Reb Nachman of Horodenko. And our holy Master — he is named after him, after his grandfather. Yes. And they — holy Tzadikim — they prayed in this synagogue, and they built the synagogue and arranged for it to be in a place that is close — close to the sea to immerse and to pray after immersing. But in winter when it was difficult — the waters would rise up, the sea would rise and enter into the synagogue! Like this — up to here. So they could not pray — so they left [the synagogue] for some... for a month, two months — they left all the tables [in the flooded synagogue]. Yes. And this synagogue was open — what is there in it? What? They had taken the books and everything — only the tables remained. So we entered this synagogue — into the water! — and sat the whole night, and he learned Torah with me from Likutay Moharan!

And an episode occurred — my mother was worried for me, because she saw that I am not present. It was already close to daybreak and I am not there! So she thought: "Who knows? Who knows?" She knew that some man had come who bought bread and ate — but where is the man? And where is Yisroel Ber? She went from synagogue to synagogue searching for me — with great weeping! And she did not find me — they were locked. So she wept greatly and her voice was heard throughout the whole city! Tiberias was a small city — and everyone came. "What is this? What are these sounds?" They thought, Heaven forbid, that there had been a death — that someone had died! They came in the morning and asked: "What was this weeping? What were the screams?" She told them: "Some man came — he bought bread and ate by us — and like this and like that... he went with him — and is not in the house!" So everyone knew — Reb Yisroel had gone to pray in the synagogue — so they all knew him. Only I did not, because I had not gone out from Tiberias — because I had no money to travel to Meron.

In any event — from this night, blessed be H"Y, until today — I am telling you briefly, because I have no strength to speak! But the main thing — how H"Y arranged circumstances, how I merited, how I merited to know of Rabbainu! First of all — from where did I know of Rabbainu? I did not know the name "Breslov." And He arranged that I was informed that there are Breslov books — that it is forbidden to read them. And blessed be H"Y — I held my ground, I held it, I conquered all of them — and laughed at them! They laughed at me — but I laughed at them... He brought Reb Yisroel — He took him by force from Meron, brought him to Tiberias, and brought him from the donkey straight to my house! And from this came... something from nothing! He did such a thing — I was a poor child, and I was crushed, very crushed! And also I had nothing... I was not gifted; I did not have the intellect to study and... (Simple.) Yes.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman

The entire world will come to the Messiah: "Give me a rectification! I want a rectification!" A rectification? Ready to give immediately — Likutay Moharan already exists! Everyone has a rectification through it. "I? I am Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman!" I — the initial letters — Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman. Already included in this is the entire world, with all, with all the sins — everything is rectification, rectification, rectification! I — Reb Nachman — this is Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman. We know nothing! Our holy Master concluded everything — the day and the month when our righteous Messiah will come, and how his coming will be. And the book is called "Megilas Setarim" [the Scroll of Secrets]. And Rabbainu revealed it and Reb Noson wrote it down. He revealed a drop from the ocean — whoever knew, whoever merited to attain this — it is above our intellect, above the entire world, above the Torah, above everything! This is the light of H"Y Himself!

And it is written in the Petek — in the letter of Rabbainu: "And upon you I have said — my fire will burn until the Messiah comes." This is Messiah. This — I know — in the month of Nissan he will arrive! And our holy Master and Reb Noson — they knew everything: when the Messiah will come and how it will be. I have already seen our righteous Messiah. Now is the time of the Redemption — great lights need to be revealed... The Petek — this is Messiah! It reminds us that there is a Messiah. But the Jews who do not believe — they do not want to accept the Torah. But now one sees that the days of Messiah have arrived! This is only the beginning. He will come, will come, and will come. We are Jews. The Torah — will rise, rise, and rise! Everyone will engage only in the Torah of Reb Nachman: Likutay Moharan, Likutay Tefillos, Likutay Halachos. (This is the segulah for the days of Messiah?) Yes! This is the truth!

It appears in the letter: "Upon you I have said — my fire will burn until the Messiah comes" — nu: "until the Messiah comes" — we do not know! Our holy Master revealed when he will come — but we know nothing. Rabbainu revealed the day when the Messiah will come — and we do not know — only Reb Noson heard from Rabbainu this secret of when the Messiah will come! And it is written upon me: "Upon you I have said — my fire will burn until the Messiah comes." (And through strengthening of service —) "You will understand it — and as a sign: the 17th of Tammuz they will say that I am not fasting." (Rabbainu says "And through strengthening of service — you will understand it.") I do not understand "you will understand it" — it could be in another fifty years, another hundred years! (There was the dream — "The time of the Redemption is very near!") Yoa! That was by Reb Yisroel of Kardon — I took the bag, took out a piece of paper, and a piece of paper remained in my hand! And on the paper it is written: "The time of the Redemption is very near!" — in large and very beautiful letters. (Very near — how near?) I do not know. Whenever it will be — it will be near, very near!

"And upon you I have said — my fire will burn until the Messiah comes" — it appears from this that I will be present at the coming of the Messiah! At the coming of the Messiah — I will be alive! "Upon you I have said — my fire will burn" — until* the Messiah comes [*he draws out greatly on the word "until"]. But we do not know when the Messiah will come. There is a Petek — "The time of the Redemption is very near" — four words... "And as a sign — the 17th of Tammuz they will say that you do not fast." (This year is a shemittah year — and it is written in the Talmud: "After the seventh year they will be redeemed.") Yes — they say that I will be alive! Until the Messiah comes — afterwards I will also be alive. When the Messiah comes — then it is good to be alive!... (May you merit to live until the Messiah comes.) Yes! It is written until the Messiah comes: "My fire will burn until* the Messiah comes" [*he draws out greatly on the word "until"]. He will rectify the entire world with his name! Na Nach — sufficient for the entire world. Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman!

(Are there other simple-double-triple-quadruple songs in the world?) There are — there are many — but he [Reb Yisroel sings:] "Ashrainu mah tov chelkainu umah na'im goralainu umah yafeh yerushasainu — ashrainu, ashrainu..." [They danced:] "Ashrainu mah tov!" ..."Ashrainu — this was a dance and melody together: "How fortunate are we — how good is our portion, how pleasant our lot!" (Reb Noson — he fled from the stones?) He asked of H"Y... and do you know who will reveal? (Messiah.) "Our greatness and our glory — our righteous Messiah will reveal!" "How fortunate are we — how good is our portion, how pleasant our lot!" He said to H"Y — Reb Noson said to H"Y that he knows nothing at all! The Messiah will reveal everything. We have upon whom to rely! "Our greatness and our glory — our righteous Messiah will reveal..." our righteous Messiah... [he sang such a melody — this is a melody of Rabbainu of blessed memory:] "Our greatness and our glory — our righteous Messiah will reveal..." Ah! Good.

Nu — how many more stones? So we continue to make melodies... Good! Good — very good! The larger the stone — the more beautiful the melody! The larger the stones — the more beautiful the melody... "Our greatness and our glory — our righteous Messiah will reveal" — the stone that was larger — then the melody must be more beautiful! "Our greatness and our glory — our righteous Messiah will reveal...." (Saba — what is better: to write Na Nach, or to photograph it and put it in an amulet?) Better to write it!

"I have finished and I will finish!" This was two and a half years after Reb Yisroel Karduner had passed away — I found this [the Petek] in a book. I opened a book... I was ill, and everyone in the Yeshivah and throughout the whole city said: "The end of Breslov Chassidim — they become crazy" — yes, this is the end. So I too had fallen into a mental illness; I was in depression. So they said: "This is the end of Breslov Chassidim — in the end they become crazy!" So I had hisbodidus and I wept before H"Y: "I am causing disgrace to Breslov — heal me!" I asked H"Y to take from me the depression, the sadness, the illness. There came upon my thought — like someone entering [my mind] and saying to me firmly: "Enter your room" — I was in the Yeshivah, this is the Yeshivah and this is my room — "enter your room, open the bookcase and take out a book — open it — whatever book it may be — just place your hand on some book, take it out and open it!" And I did so — I opened the book — and there was this... the original Petek.

(Can he see this — do you have the original?) I don't have it — it is in the institution [a safe place]. But this is the same thing — exactly the same thing. But one sees literally the letters as written in the original. This was written for every member of Israel: "It was very hard for me to descend to you — my dear student" — this is for each and every one who studies Rabbainu in truth, for the sake of serving H"Y, yes... No Tzadik ever signed such a thing! He... Rabbainu's books [tell us] that this is the Song that will be revealed in the future — he himself is this Song! Yes: Na Nach — simple, double, triple, quadruple — Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman! One need not deliberate and think — only we must put his words in our hearts and go to fulfill them — his words. Then such a person conquers the entire world! And he plants within the world thoughts of repentance and faith. From this come great and very wondrous effects!

Yes — and the main thing is our holy Master — Reb Nachman — he is the key to everything! Of faith, of Torah — he is the key! Yes. Closed — it is impossible to receive otherwise! He is the main thing — the foundation of all of Judaism, of each and every member of Israel. And also he will rectify the entire world — even the goyim! Such a wonder... about this — this is not... it has no value whatsoever — what? Who am I? What am I? I say this? But this is not — this is our holy Master! [He] revealed a drop from the ocean of his wonder! This will overturn the entire world! According to us, according to our intellect — we see that the world descends more and more every day — how is it possible to rectify? But our holy Master has already promised: "I have finished and I will finish!" So there is nothing [to fear]... so he will finish — with us and with the entire world!

Yes — and I saw Reb Yisroel; I saw what this is — the power of Rabbainu that can make from flesh and blood [a saint]! From a son — from a person who is born — born of a woman — and he is a human being like all human beings, like all the world — and he was something else! He was in this world, but he was not of this world — he was of the World to Come! He was... yes. I saw what Breslov is! And also he — he had self-sacrifice for the many souls of Israel that he drew close to H"Y! And with self-sacrifice truly — he had... once he was in prison, yes, and suffered such troubles! And for me personally he was suffering such troubles! If someone would give a person all the money in the world and all the honor in the world — he would throw it away: "I don't want honor, don't want money — I don't want such troubles!" — yes! What he suffered for me... for what did he suffer? He thought: "Perhaps I will succeed in putting within him some light — some little light — so that through this he can draw close to H"Y, to know H"Y, and to engage in the service of H"Y — perhaps I will succeed?" For this he gave all his soul — everything! Such a thing is not seen in the world, from any Tzadik, from any person — this is only [found] by Rabbainu, with Rabbainu.

What? He came to Tiberias — he found Yisroel Ber in Tiberias! He left the family — Safed and Meron — he left everything! Yisroel Ber! He found Yisroel Ber — he slept in the synagogue! He was cold, he had [pain] — already this... but he slept on a bench! And what did he eat? Bread with tea. Bread with water. Yes! And he was the whole winter in the synagogue on a bench! Yes. And he did not know that he has a family — "He has no family at all — he has no wife, no children, no livelihood, nothing at all!" Only he found Yisroel Ber in Tiberias. Who saw such a thing? From this alone — aside from such a wonder — where does one see such self-sacrifice? For a child — for... not his own! For some child — perhaps he will be able to illuminate in him some light, so that he will fulfill the Torah, so that he will draw close to H"Y? Perhaps? So he gave all his soul — he gave the children and everything! There was no Safed, no Meron, nothing whatsoever — only one thing he had: "Yisroel Ber!" Who heard such a thing? Where is there such a thing in the world?

There was not and not... only with our holy Master! Yes. And he was greatly impressed — he saw that I am a small person, that I am nothing. But he saw that the heroism that I have — the heroism that I have — that I stand against such forces, with such illnesses — and I am strong and happy! So he saw: this is good — this is a good thing. So in Tiberias there were two crazy ones — Reb Yisroel and Yisroel Ber! There were two! And we danced on Friday night — with such dances, with such joy — until all of them were opponents, until all of them... and they fell. "What is this? Where do they get such joy? Where do they get such a Shabbos?" Yes. (What was there to eat?) Blessed be H"Y — there were dry pieces of bread!

How was it [the Petek] written and how did it come to Tiberias — to the Yeshivah, to the bookcase, to the book? How? And we... we hear, we see — that this is beyond nature! Something from nothing! And how does it exist in the world?! And how did it come into the world?! And how did it come to Tiberias?! How is this?... Furthermore — such a wonder has never been in the world! This is only from Rabbainu — only the wonder! Such a signature — such a signature: no Tzadik ever signed such a signature — the "simple-double-triple-quadruple"! And our holy Master in his lifetime also did not sign this — only in this Petek! We did not know; it is found in Likutay Moharan — because our holy Master speaks of this Song, and certainly he is the Beggar and he is this Song. Yes — but here he reveals it explicitly to the entire world: נַ נַחְ נַחְמָ נַחְמָן מאומן

(Reb Mordichai of Slunim — after a year he began to believe?) He became... he nullified the opposition! He was such a terrible opponent — H"Y should save us — and he did [teshuvah] — merited to do teshuvah! He was the Admur of Slunim, and they are all opponents — and he said to them: "I am not an opponent!" Yisroel Ber did... (Reb Mottel of Slunim, the...) Slunim! A great Admur! (A year after the Petek — he said "I am not an opponent" — but he did not become Breslov?) This is a miracle! (After this he gave you honor — Reb Mottel?) He gave me honor all the time, yes. I was by him like an only son, yes. But I did not listen to him, I did not... and he saw that I... what is this?...

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman! Our holy Master said to his men: "Do you know who I am? No... no... I am Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman! I am the Rebbe of all the Jews!" They receive at all times, every time, blows — great blows — all the goyim, the Americans and the English and all the goyim receive great blows! (Will there be peace — or will there not be peace?) Messiah will come — and then there will already be peace! And our holy Master said to me: "Upon you I have said" — in the letter: "And upon you I have said — my fire will burn until the coming of the Messiah!" So I have to be [here] until the end — and Messiah will come! The letter — what is his word? Every word of... that he left for us in his books — he said that every single word [teivah] contains the entire Torah and all the Tzadikim and all of Israel! Yes! In one word — thus the entire Torah can be contained... every word of his is all our life, our vitality, and our salvation.

Every word of his that he left for us — so he said, and so one sees... this is still nothing [of the truth]. Nu — do you feel better? (Yes.) Yes? Na Nach! So everything is good — only Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman! This is everything — the entire Torah and all of Israel and all — everything! All the healings and all the salvations — everything in one word! This is a universal melody! A universal melody! Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman! And it is a great mitzvah to always be in joy! The entire world sings this, the entire world — even goyim sing this! He revives, he renews, he rectifies all of Israel. When Messiah comes — there will be a new world! Not the world of now — a new world! What there is now in the world and what has been revealed now — they did not know and they know nothing! All the scholars and all the great ones know nothing! Even one word of Rabbainu — this is the universality of all the Torah and all of Israel and all the healings and all the salvations! Not I — what am I? Our holy Master said this! And if he said it — the halacha is in accordance with him!

In the Talmud it says: "The halacha follows Rav Nachman" — "The halacha follows Rav Nachman" — "The halacha follows Rav Nachman!" So says the Talmud: "VeHalachta keNachmani!" ["And the ruling follows Nachmani!"] He consoles us from our deeds. He is Reb Nachman — he will console all of Israel and rectify all of Israel! So he said. [Reb Yisroel sings the melody "Atik Yomin" — "Ancient of Days."] (So you will sing the zemiros.) Yes — and we will sing: Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman! (Father, do you remember "Asader LiSeudasa"?) "Asader LiSeudasa...."

Reb Yisroel [Karduner] was in Jerusalem, in Chevron — he came from Russia; he was close to our holy Master. Yes. And everyone said that he is such a force that among Breslov Chassidim there is none like him! He came to me from Chevron to Tiberias — from Chevron to Tiberias, this is like... it was different then; there were still no airplanes. So there were none. I received... what I suffered! And I have ten children — and I had nothing to give them, no bread, no clothing, no... I cannot understand how I am alive?! And the president of today is Weizmann — and the other one, I do not know his name — he needs to... The time has come for our holy Master to already be revealed in the world! There will be an entirely new world!

A world of truth, a world of faith, a world... what our holy Master revealed — it has still not been revealed in the world! And he will overturn the entire world and illuminate for every person — what is his, for what he lives, for what he came into the world. I need my people... I have nothing else to do — I always need [to go to] either the Western Wall, or Rashbi [Reb Shimon Bar Yochai], or to the true holy Tzadikim. But such a light as Reb Nachman — it has still not been revealed in the world! Who am I — I who say such things? Our holy Master — he can speak, he knows, he is the one! No wisdom... he surpassed all wisdoms, all the Torah, all the Tzadikim, all — all of everything! Yes — he revealed this! Whoever is a fool and simpleton and does not accept this — he will regret it! And they will overturn — everyone will overturn to the truth, to the Torah... to the Torah, to such faith as has not yet been in the world.

He illuminated within me, and he revealed to me. And also true holy people — they drew close to our holy Master — and there was such truth! And this was always fulfilled: such a light, such truth, such faith — there has never been in the world! A time will come when it will overturn — and the entire world will be only truth and faith! I was the last — Reb Yisroel came from Meron to Safed, to Meron — he came from Jerusalem to Meron — he found me there! And there was... a bond was formed between us. And all the family... and everyone was an opponent of Breslov! What I suffered — from the time I became Breslov! Yes — I was there, I saw it, what I suffered — I had nothing... I had ten children and I had nothing to give them — no bread, no clothing, nothing at all! I do not understand how I am alive?!

How am I alive in the world?! But there is a power — such wisdom that gives life and vitality — and this is our holy Master, Reb Nachman! Reb Nachman — Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman! Our holy Master revealed: "And now there is nachal novea mekor chochmah — a flowing stream, the source of wisdom!" That there will be a new world — a world of truth, a world of faith, a world of Torah, of true wisdom. This is a new thing! It was in the world — but it was without the root. Today it is with the root! Our holy Master Reb Nachman is the root of all the Torah, of all the Tzadikim. There will come into the world such a light that... but I do not know when. But soon — not far! (Very soon?) I had a Petek: "The time of the Redemption is very near!" And it has already been fifty years and it has still not been revealed. But now — every day it is revealed more, some matter is revealed... All, the entire world loves Reb Nachman and praises him and says: "Such a sage has never been in the world! Such a light of wisdom has never been revealed in the world!" Now it will be revealed — there will be a new world!

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman — this is the Torah of our holy Master! He revealed that he is "Nachman" — this is the meaning: Nachman is Na Nach Nachma Nachman — the ultimate perfection! Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman. (Who is Na Nach, Saba?) Na Nach — Nachman! Our holy Master revealed that he is "Nachman" — but what is Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman? He revealed this. There has never been any revelation of this in the world! Now he himself revealed who he is — this is Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman! This — no Tzadik revealed this, no Gemara — only our holy Master himself revealed this. Rabbainu himself signed this in the holy Petek. "I have finished and I will finish!"