אות - ריב

Once he said: The halacha is like Rav Nachman in monetary matters — namely, regarding the opponents who disputed him, certainly the halacha follows him, for "the halacha is like Rav Nachman in monetary disputes" (Gittin 34a) — for "dinei" [monetary matters] is also an expression for dispute, when two people contend before a court over some matter. (This I heard in his name.) And see in tractate Gittin, chapter HaShole'ach, where they say three times: "The halacha is like Rav Nachman, and the halacha is like Rav Nachman, and the halacha is like Nachmani."

I heard in his name that he spoke about the matter of dispute and said: One might think — what does it matter if this one speaks about that one? But in truth, through dispute — through people contending against someone — they can, Heaven forbid, bring him down from his spiritual level. As our Sages o.b.m. said: they wanted to include even King Solomon, peace be upon him, among those [who have no share in the World to Come], etc., until David came and prostrated himself before them, etc. (Sanhedrin 104b). For they had the power to remove him, Heaven forbid, through their speech.

And he said that this is what King David, peace be upon him, said: "Princes have pursued me without cause" (Psalms 119:161) — that is, great men and princes have pursued me, but I know it is without cause and they accomplish nothing at all through their dispute against me. And the sign is: "But my heart fears Your word" — that I fear Your word, meaning I have fear of Heaven and I do not fall from my level, Heaven forbid. And this is the sign that their pursuit is without cause — the aspect of "princes pursued me without cause."

I heard in his name that he said: When a person asks the Tzadik whether to do something involving self-sacrifice for the sake of Hashem Yisburach, it is fitting for him to answer and instruct him not to do it. Yet even so the one who asked need not fulfill his words.[395] So I heard in his name.