Chapter Eighty-Seven (continued)

Rabbi Yisroel and the Chassidim sing joyfully from the strengthening-teachings of our holy Rabbenu:

"The entire world is a very narrow bridge —

A very narrow bridge —

And the essential, the essential —

Is not to fear at all…"

I sacrificed myself to be with Rabbi Yisroel Kardoner — because I was on my way to the grave. I did not leave him even one step. Wherever he went — to Teveriah, to Meron — we went together. This was spoken of among people: "Look — the Breslovers. Look — Yisroel Ber with Rabbi Yisroel Kardoner." This was a sign that we were together. This was the seal of Breslov. Rabbi Yisroel was such a hero — he stood against great ones and against all the world. He had such wisdom of Rabbenu, may his memory be blessed: one spark against the entire world! One spark can conquer the entire world — one spark!

I am an utterly simple person. I merited through Hashem's kindness to recognize what a Breslov Chassid is: Rabbi Yisroel Kardoner. Rabbi Yisroel — in every place: in Tsfas, in Teveriah, in the entire world — had different names. He had four names. His family name was Halperin. But his nickname was "Kardoner" — after the town Kardan in Galicia. And also in Uman they called him Chak — Rabbi Yisroel Chak. Why Chak? Chak means fraylach in Yiddish — joy: joy that surpasses all joys! He had such great joy — so they called him Rabbi Yisroel Chak. He was always dancing and always in joy. And he also had great sorrow and great sufferings from drawing close to Rabbenu — for then the entire world were opponents.

Through Hashem's kindness and wonders — what I merited! I give thanks and praise to Hashem for His great kindness: that I merited to recognize Rabbi Yisroel at a time when all were opponents. You do not know what that was. Blessed be Hashem — I stood and fought against all of them: such great ones, such famous ones. And blessed be Hashem — I was very strong.

Rabbi Yisroel came to Eretz Yisroel and lived in Yerushalayim for a year. In the second year he came to Meron — to Tsfas. He also spent a year in Chevron. Afterwards he came to me — and I merited to see him and to see such wonders as cannot be expressed with the mouth!

Ho — his dances, his melodies, his joy, his prayers, his service of Hashem, his emunah with such awesome power! Who can describe or tell what I saw — what I felt? Whoever has not seen such a thing has never seen good in his life!

He could have been in Meron while I was in Teveriah and neither would have known the other. But Hashem willed that there be a bond between us — so He arranged circumstances and placed in Rabbi Yisroel a light to know what this was — and brought him to my house. And from this there was made what was made — another world was created…

Now we see that the bond that was between me and Rabbi Yisroel — this was preparation for now. Everything I suffered — this was for the sake of the redemption. And also the Petek — this too is among the wondrous things that cannot be received, cannot be understood. And all of this was through Rabbi Yisroel. Without Rabbi Yisroel there would have been no Yisroel Ber — no Petek — no Seventeenth of Tammuz.

What I saw — what this is: the power of our holy Rabbenu Rabbi Nachman — that he can make from flesh and blood, from a person born from a woman's body, a person like all people, like all the world — such a holy one. This is beyond nature. He was a different matter entirely. He was in this world — but he was not of this world. He was from the World to Come. I saw Rabbi Yisroel — I saw what Breslov is.

Just to hear his voice — his voice was pleasant. And he was always cleaving to Hashem — especially at the hour when he occupied himself with Torah and prayer. I never saw or heard such a thing in my life. For this I drew close. Hashem arranged circumstances for me — miracles, all miracles.

We speak of spiritual matters — it is impossible to explain them as they were. Entirely spiritual, entirely soul, entirely truth. And he also had mesiras nefesh for many souls in Israel whom he drew close to Hashem — truly with mesiras nefesh. Once he was in detention and suffered such troubles. And also for me personally he suffered such troubles. Oy — what Rabbi Yisroel suffered for me…

If someone were to be given all the money in the world and all the things in the world — just for one day to go through what Rabbi Yisroel went through — he would cast it away and say: "I do not want money and I do not want such troubles!"

Oy — Rabbi Yisroel, Rabbi Yisroel! He had mesiras nefesh — as if he had no wife and no children. Only I — he and I: only two people. He sacrificed himself for me. What — one person, Yisroel Ber — what will come of this? Is the redemption in this? For what did he suffer so much? He thought: perhaps he would succeed in illuminating within me some light — some small light — that I fulfill the Torah. And that through this I might draw close to Hashem, recognize Hashem, and occupy myself with the service of Hashem. Perhaps. For this he gave his entire soul and everything.

And he saw how it unfolded: Hashem took him by force from Meron to Teveriah and he found Yisroel Ber. So he abandoned the family, Tsfas, Meron — as if he had no wife and no children and no livelihood and nothing. He abandoned everything for me. He spent the entire winter in the synagogue and slept on a bench and was cold. And what did he eat? Bread with tea — bread with water. He had only found in Teveriah Yisroel Ber — so he gave his entire soul. He had only one thing: Yisroel Ber!

Oy yoy yoy — the holy Ari had holy students: geniuses and masters of Kabbalah. And he warned them greatly about love of friends. And also Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai warned his group to hold themselves in great love. And our holy Rabbenu — he and his holy student Rav Noson — they speak so much about love of friends. And so we too: we must guard ourselves greatly that love not be damaged G-d forbid even by a hair's breadth. For it is fitting for us to love one another with even greater love and strength — because we merited to have some share in the publicizing and revealing of the light of the true tzadik in the world. Upon this depends the perfecting of the world in its completeness. We must guard greatly against damage to love and separation of hearts G-d forbid. Only to endeavor to add and multiply love and unity one to the other — as one body — so that we can unite and join together always. So that through us there be greatly magnified — without number — the wondrous buildings of the true tzadik. Until all of Israel will gather and assemble together to enter into them. And even those who lie outside — and even the nations of the world — will gather and enter into the holy buildings of the true tzadik. It is also fitting for us to long to see one another.

And the matter of Rabbenu is: a Rebbi and students. All the Chassidim — great and small — there is no great and no small. We are all friends.

Nu — blessed be Hashem: among us there is love. But there is love and there is love. I saw what love is: Rabbi Yisroel Kardoner, may he rest in peace, gave his entire soul for me — perhaps he would succeed in illuminating within me some light — to be cleansed of the desires of this world. This is the essential — to cleanse oneself of the desires of this world. This is the essential of drawing close to Hashem. And he was very impressed. He saw that I was a small person — that I was nothing. But he saw the heroism I had: that I stood against such powers and was strong and joyful. So he saw this was a good thing. And from where did I draw such heroism? Prayer, prayer, prayer — and good will.

So in Teveriah there were two madmen: Rabbi Yisroel Kardoner and Yisroel Ber. There were two of us. And we danced on Shabbos night with such dances — with such joy. And all were opponents. And we danced until all the opponents were entirely annulled and fell: "What is this — from where do they get such joy? From where do they get such a thing?"

Who has heard such a thing? Where is such a thing in the world? Where does one see such mesiras nefesh for someone else's child — not even his own? Such a thing has not been and is not seen in the world — from any tzadik, from any human being. This is seen only with our holy Rabbenu! And from this there was made what was made — a building was made for generation upon generation, forever, eternally. A creation of a world from nothingness…

And the Petek came suddenly — without preparation, nothing. There was the event of the Seventeenth of Tammuz — as it is written in the Petek: "And the sign is the seventeenth of Tammuz." I cannot describe it. I was in very great danger. I was so depressed that I was sick in my soul. I fell into such sadness, such a broken heart — without healing. There is no healing for this — none. Nu — and from this the Petek was created!

And our holy Rabbenu says in the Sefer HaMidos: "One who transgresses and is ashamed of it — is forgiven for all his sins!" So the sorrow and the shame and the depression I had from this — this was atoning. So says Rabbenu — so it is written in the Sefer HaMidos. So it is no novelty that he speaks to me in such language: "My dear student — and regarding you I said." He lowers himself — "It was very hard for me to descend to you." He lowers himself even to Yisroel Ber: "My dear student — and regarding you I said."

I had such sorrow. And also I could not be with pride — I could not. For I recognized my own worth. And also Rabbi Yisroel, may he rest in peace, recognized me — he understood about me. He knew that I was nothing. Yet even so he saw my desires and that I stood against all the wise ones and all the great ones. So this had more value for him than all of them. And he received me as a gift — with all his heart and soul. The world thinks: "What — is the mesiras nefesh worthwhile? One needs to be a scholar, talented." And in this Rabbi Yisroel was singular — no other person had such a bond with me. Even Avraham bar Nachman — if I had drawn close to him he would have spoken with me — but not in such a way as Rabbi Yisroel: the bond that was between us.

Rabbi Yisroel — all his weeping was only for the people of Israel: "What will be!" He felt the sorrow of this — these falls, the heresy and the false beliefs and the falsehood. This is worse than all the sufferings in the world. And he sacrificed himself to Hashem. He would pray for this: that Hashem have mercy — that the wisdom of Rabbenu be revealed in the world.

Everything depends on Rabbenu! Everything: all the Torah and the emunah — all our lives in this world and the World to Come — only Rabbenu!

Every word of Rabbenu contains very much wisdom and knowledge and strengthening and life-force. And also through our holy Rabbenu one sees the light of the Talmud and of all the Torah. The Kabbalah — and everything — is in the Likutay Halachos. The Likutay Halachos connects the Kabbalah with every law — this illuminates for us the Talmud and all the Torah. The world should be permanently fixed in the Likutay Halachos — all the scholars and all the world. For one sees there such wonders — how Rav Noson learned the Talmud, how he learned the Midrash. And the world does not know of this. They think: "Why do I need the Likutay Halachos? Why do I need the novelties of Chassidus — the novelties of Kabbalah?"

The world does not know that our holy Rabbenu is such a secret, such a wonder. Even one of the famous Breslov Chassidim — he says he is a Breslov Chassid. But he thinks: "A Breslov Chassid must be a scholar — Talmud, legal codes. But the Likutay Tfilos, the Likutay Moharan, the Likutay Halachos — these are not scholarship. These are Chassidus."

There are those who say G-d forbid that we make idol-worship of Rabbenu. But what Rabbenu says — what Rabbenu revealed: he revealed only a drop from the sea of his greatness. Nothing — it is hidden…

Oy yoy yoy — happy are the ears that hear such words. There are none in the world. There are no such words to be found in the world as I received with mesiras nefesh from Rabbi Yisroel and from all our older friends — people of truth. Not like today: people simply run after honor and money — this is darkness. Yes.

I do not intend that I am a secret. On the contrary — I intend the truth: that I am on such a level that I am ashamed even to speak. And our holy Rabbenu — as it is written in Hallel: "From the dust-heaps He raises the destitute." Evyon [destitute] — truly destitute in Torah, in good deeds, in everything.

"He raises the poor man from the dust" — from the dust: there is nothing lower than dust. Sadness is termed by the name dust. Dust is sadness — dust is laziness.

"He raises the poor man from the dust" — dal [poor] — he truly has nothing: poor. And even more: "from the dust-heaps He raises the destitute." It appears that evyon is even lower than dal — "from the dust-heaps He raises the destitute."

Nu — it was hard for me to receive "my dear student" and also "regarding you I said." At the time I found the Petek there were elders among our friends in Yerushalayim: Rav Shlomo Wexler, Rav Naftali Cohen, and Rav Noson the son of Rav Pinchas Yeshaya — who took Gitteleh as his wife after the passing of Rabbi Yisroel. He was true Breslov — not ordinary Breslov. There were elders. Yes. And I showed Rav Shlomo Wexler the Petek — I see this as if it is now. We were with Rav Naftali — we sat one beside the other by the bookshelf. There was a great distance between us: I was nothing and Rav Shlomo Wexler had a great mind and great power. He was a holy man. I ate by him — I saw how he ate with such holiness — not ordinary like we eat. He was a different matter. I marveled: "How does he live? How is he in the world? How does he have existence?"

I received words from Rav Shlomo and I saw wonders from the words of Rav Shlomo that he himself did not know. Yet even so he had the nature of the Germany region — he was from there. And there they have a tendency like stubbornness: they are stubborn in their views and it is impossible to change them. In any case — even from Germany one can err. He did not travel to Rabbenu. He could have traveled — he had money. But he was a great scholar — expert in all the chambers of Torah. And for him it was an absolute Torah ruling that it is forbidden to leave Eretz Yisroel.

True — it is forbidden to leave Eretz Yisroel. But there are matters. It is written explicitly that if one has a uniquely special Rebbi outside of Eretz Yisroel — more than in Eretz Yisroel — then he may go outside Eretz Yisroel. But I was together with him and I knew he had a deficiency. It was impossible to take him out of it — so I did not argue with him. I sat with him together and received his reprimands. And what I understood to be incorrect — what was not necessary to accept — I did not accept. It had no value at all for me.

And in the Petek one sees such strengthening: as is written regarding Hashem — there is a verse: "I dwell with the crushed" — whoever is crushed even to the extreme of being crushed: "I dwell with the crushed."

And Rav Noson was by Rabbenu in the ultimate state of nullification. Rav Noson saw the light of Rabbenu, the holiness of Rabbenu — so he was in such humility. He considered himself as nothingness and zero. For it is impossible to be without Rabbenu. He saw the greatness of Rabbenu — so he was entirely nullified.

Rav Noson had no thought of honor or pride. He could have thought: "I am the student of our holy Rabbenu — I merit to hear such Torah teachings, such stories." No — he was nothingness and zero. He understood that he was entirely remote from Hashem compared to Rabbenu. He was humble — this is greatness, this is great wisdom! Such a person to be nothingness and zero? How? This is beyond nature. This is our holy Rabbenu who illuminated upon him. Our holy Rabbenu needed such a vessel — "I dwell with the crushed" — to be nothingness and zero before him. If not — how could one receive from Rabbenu?

Hoy — Rav Noson was a genius. But I am nothing. I am nothingness and zero literally — I am truly nothing!

(A Chassid tells Rabbi Yisroel that every Motzaei Shabbos he conducts a class in his home in the Likutay Moharan.)

Blessed be Hashem that I merit just to hear this! What this is — this is the redemption. This is all our life-force and all the salvations. To merit to hear the Likutay Moharan — what this is, what this is! What salvation — what healing — what… This is all our repair. This is everything! Within it is everything: fear of Heaven and emunah and repentance and all that is needed is there in every word. Such a thing has never been in the world. Now there will be revealed to us a wonder — such a terrifying wonder that is all our life-force and salvation. Everything — everything that is needed.

Blessed be Hashem — Hashem gave us the Likutay Moharan. Our holy Rabbenu is very joyful that there is in the world the Likutay Moharan. Every Torah teaching is all our life-force and our seed — everything!

Torah thirty in the Likutay Moharan: "The greater the sick person — the greater the doctor he needs." And we are such sick ones! We have none to help us — only our holy Rabbenu!

The entire matter of Rabbenu is the matter of redemption — a matter beyond nature. This is such a wondrous matter as does not exist in the world. One sees the greatness of Hashem — the greatness of the Creator and the greatness of the tzadik. The entire matter of Rabbenu is above everything. Every word that Rabbenu revealed — even what already exists: like the Talmud — but now it has come out of his mouth, his Torah teachings. The world does not know. They think it is the Noam Elimelech or the Kedushas Levi of Rav Levi Yitzchak of Barditshov. They think: "What — was he more than the Kedushas Levi?!" Yes — the world does not know. They think: "So there is another book — there is the Likutay Moharan also: just as there is the Kedushas Levi and the Noam Elimelech — so there is the Likutay Moharan." But the matter of Rabbenu is an entirely different matter — a unique matter. Our holy Rabbenu said: "I am a secret from the entire world!"

The holy Ari also did not know of Rabbenu. This is such a wondrous matter as has never been in the world — entirely new. And one sees his Torah teachings: the Likutay Moharan and the Sipuray Maasiyos. Is there yet another such thing in the world? Are there yet such Torah teachings? There is none in the world!

I heard from geniuses — from great ones — who said to the yeshiva: "Torah teachings like Rabbenu's — there are none! Stories like Rabbenu's — there are none! Conversations like Rabbenu's — there are none!"

Nu — and our holy Rabbenu said: "Mashiach will expound a commentary on the Likutay Moharan." No tzadik said such a thing. There was the Rabbi of Barditshov — a holy genius and tzadik. And he did not say that Mashiach will expound a commentary on his book. Only our holy Rabbenu said so: "There is no one who will expound a commentary — only Mashiach!" And even though our holy Rabbenu praised the Rabbi of Barditshov — if the Rabbi of Barditshov had known of Rabbenu: he would have been like Rav Noson — a student of Rabbenu in ultimate nullification.

And even Rabbenu's people — who were such holy tzadikim — when they drew close to Rabbenu and our holy Rabbenu brought them outside the settled area: it was such a wonder…

And also at Rabbenu's there were such chazanim — such masters of prayer! Each one was a great light as does not exist in the world. Not for nothing did the world stand against Breslov!

And also at Rabbenu's there were such chazanim — such masters of prayer! Each one was a great light as does not exist in the world. Not for nothing did the world stand against Breslov!

And also it is impossible to enter the King's palace with a bellyful of pride. One must cleanse this: "You want to study the Likutay Moharan — for what? If you want it for honor and fame — then you do not belong here."

What this is, what this is! Even among Breslov Chassidim — not all of them understood. Did they understand what Rav Noson understood? Rav Noson knew of Rabbenu. Rav Noson said that in the World to Come — if they sentence him to Gehinnom — he will expound a Torah teaching from the Likutay Moharan. And Gehinnom will become the Garden of Eden there! There is already healing — there is already the Likutay Moharan. There are already Rabbenu's books. He completed everything…

But there are hidden spiritual matters — there are wondrous matters hidden from the world. This is the matter of Rabbenu. Our holy Rabbenu has dealings with each and every one. He guides him as he needs to be guided — each and every one. Every soul that draws close — passes over him what passes over him: in the spiritual, in the physical. But it passes. Our holy Rabbenu said: "When Mashiach comes there will be many stories of the wonders of Breslov — how Breslov was in the world." So said Rabbenu: "When Mashiach comes there will be many stories from Breslov Chassidim to tell the world." And our holy Rabbenu speaks of this in the Likutay Moharan. He expounds the verse in Deuteronomy: "These are the words that Moshe spoke to all of Israel." — In every word of the tzadik — he speaks one word — and you receive what you need. In the word of the tzadik is everything: all that each person needs — in one word.

"These are the words that Moshe spoke to all of Israel" — the words that Moshe spoke: to all of Israel. Each one finds what he needs. Yes.

Every soul that merits to truly draw close to Rabbenu — this is a wondrous matter!

Hashem arranges that there are souls who draw close to Rabbenu. But not every soul merits. Even in Rabbenu's time — not all the souls were all holy tzadikim. But each one is a world unto himself. And our holy Rabbenu in his Torah teachings illuminated in every heart what it needs for its eternal purpose: to recognize Hashem.

Each person has his unique matter. And the true leader — the true guiding tzadik — knows that this person needs to be guided in this manner and that person in another manner. Not everyone in the same manner just because he is Breslov.

Our holy Rabbenu said: "To draw close to me is very hard." There is a question: "Why is the service so very hard? I want to draw close — why should it be hard? Why should I suffer?"

No — our holy Rabbenu said: "I love a fried Chassid!"

He loves fried — this has good taste: fried. Fried Chassidim — those over whom pass many falls and many troubles and many sufferings. And he bears everything and wants help. And our holy Rabbenu praised greatly these Chassidim who still want more — who long for holiness, for Torah. The essential is the heart — to long for Torah, to serve Hashem.

Hashem arranged that they fried me greatly — the father and the mother and the entire world. I was very fried. And I did not know what this was — I did not know why. If I had known then what I see now — I would have asked for more…

The matter of Rabbenu is a very awesome matter. I merited to be with Rabbi Yisroel for approximately five years — every day. Not one month and not one year. But one can live seventy years and this is nothing. The essential is the mesiras nefesh — the emunah — the will — the suffering I endured for this. This is the essential of everything.

I remember what I suffered with my family — what we suffered just from the name Breslov. And blessed be Hashem — now that I am alive, that I am in the world: in this one sees that there is what is beyond nature. It is impossible to understand what passed over me — this is a wonder, such a wonder! And how I held my position with Rabbi Yisroel for years. There is a verse in the Torah: "But my wisdom stood by me" — so it is written in the verse. We believe there are secrets in the Torah but we know nothing. And the Talmud speaks of this verse and illuminates our eyes in the Torah — it explains it. The Talmud — the holy tzadikim of the Talmud, the Tannaim and Amoraim — they found an interpretation of this verse:

"But my wisdom stood by me" — the Torah of af [wrath/anger — meaning here: Torah that one suffers for]: Torah that one suffers for — "stood by me." This stands forever. Through this one has amidah — standing in prayer — to hold one's position. This is the essential: the Torah of af — of mesiras nefesh — of suffering.

And what I suffered — this was once-in-a-lifetime!

Oy — I do not know in what merit. But I passed through such places, such a life — what I suffered: such lowliness, such humiliations, such troubles. And now I see in retrospect that this was all the good — there is no such good. Such a matter as Yisroel Ber and Rabbi Yisroel Kardoner does not happen at every turn. There was between us a bond — not for any reason, not for money. On the contrary — I suffered for this. And I thought I would not hold my position — and G-d forbid I did not want to live. I thought: "What is this — what kind of a life is this? Who knows what will become of me — I will go mad. What — without a father and without a mother — without family?" But when I heard Rabbi Yisroel praying — when I saw from Rabbi Yisroel some word, and I saw some act: I saw such acts that the mind cannot receive — beyond nature. I was alone with Rabbi Yisroel — and Rabbi Yisroel laughed at all of them!

Nu — blessed be Hashem. We see that this bond between me and Rabbi Yisroel has endurance. Even though some years have passed — this bond endures. The time passed but this matter of mesiras nefesh endures — it makes such effects in our hearts. Only in truth — whoever truly wants help. And also there is in the air in this world a kind of feeling — and it goes and awakens and comes to some person and takes hold of him: "What are you running for — what is there — what?"

And also our holy Rabbenu performs acts even in concealment — without one knowing of them. He is already in the world. The Likutay Moharan and all that he revealed. And the essential: our holy Rabbenu himself is already in the world. He already exists in the world. Truth conquers everything…

Oy — Master of the Universe. May we merit to see the light of Rabbenu — which is the light of all the Torah, of all the repentance, of all the redemption, of each and every one of Israel. There are such words in the Chayey Moharan. But one does not feel it — the world is so material. Even the great ones — even the geniuses — do not feel that there is what there is in this. Each one according to the mesiras nefesh — according to what he suffers…

This is a very wondrous thing: our holy Rabbenu said: "Every thought of repentance — is drawn from me!" So he said, our holy Rabbenu. So all the awakening of now — we see many ba'alei teshuvah. This is also a sign of the redemption — for the entire world must be drawn to Rabbenu. Even those who do not know from where: it is within the person. But this is the power of Rabbenu — it is in the world. And he performs acts and gives no rest.

Oy oy — the world does not know this. They do not know and do not know. Our holy Rabbenu is already in the world. And if he is already in the world — then there is a master of the house for the world. But they do not know this — so it is vanity. But it exists nonetheless. There is already a master of the house for the world!

The time will come that the truth will be revealed — the time of the wedding. To everything there is an end. The end will come — the time will come. The time of the wedding will come — and then there will be the wedding…

We do not understand at all. If there had been no controversy over the Baal Shem Tov…

The Baal Shem Tov was such a tzadik. But Rabbenu is an entirely unique matter. The world does not know of this — even Breslov Chassidim. Our holy Rabbenu said: "I am a secret from the entire world. Only Rabbi Noson knows of me — and Naftali a little." So two plain interpretations can be said of this:

"Only Rabbi Noson knows of me" — Rav Noson knew a little. Who can know of Rabbenu? So Rav Noson knew a little. And then the interpretation is: "Only Rabbi Noson knows of me — and Naftali a little." Our holy Rabbenu does not say Rabbi Naftali — he says Naftali. So Noson knows and Rabbi Naftali — knows a little. One may interpret it thus.

And one may say of both of them a little: only Noson and Naftali — both know a little.

And both interpretations are true!

And Rav Noson — what Rav Noson knew, Rabbi Naftali did not know — did not attain. Rav Noson was Yehoshua — Rabbenu and Rav Noson: this is Moshe and Yehoshua. This is a unique matter.

Rav Naftali was a friend of Rav Noson — both were born and grew up in Nemirov and were friends. They were great Torah scholars and G-d-fearing servants of Hashem. And also Rav Naftali was a master of miracles. Yes.

Rav Naftali drew close to Rabbenu first. So Rav Noson felt that he was nothing. Rav Noson heard the Shalom Aleichem of Rav Naftali — and he was ashamed before Rav Naftali and was nullified: "What is this!" So he knew that Rav Naftali knew of Rabbenu — and this was a different matter. He felt it. And there was also in Nemirov one close to Rabbenu — Rav Lippa. He too was among Rabbenu's people. Whoever merited to draw close to Rabbenu became an entirely different matter!

This was the great city of Nemirov — and there were great Torah scholars: not like today. There were servants of Hashem and scholars. But the matter of Rabbenu is a different matter — a unique matter — a secret from all the worlds. It is not like the world is accustomed to: that there are tzadikim and there are Chassidim and there are geniuses of various kinds.

There are two things in the world: there is the world — and there is Breslov. There is the world — and there is Rabbenu. Our holy Rabbenu is a unique matter!

The matter of our holy Rabbenu is not an ordinary matter. There are geniuses — but this is an entirely different matter. Our holy Rabbenu saw what all the tzadikim did not see. He attained in the Torah wondrous things in every verse — as the Talmud explains in the verse we explained — and more.

The Talmud explains the Torah — without the Talmud we know nothing. Do we know how to make the tzitzis? We know only from the Talmud. Yes. I say: "I hereby intend — in the laying of tefillin — to fulfill the commandment of my Creator who commanded us to lay tefillin: 'And you shall bind them as a sign on your arm.'" How did He command us — where did He command us? It is written in the verse: "And you shall bind them as a sign on your arm and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes." Nu — perhaps tefillin of gold or silver? There are many parshiyos [Torah portions] — from where do we know specifically these four: Shema Yisroel?

Nu — the Talmud — the tzadikim — they teach us.

And one sees that our holy Rabbenu is a unique matter. And one sees that the world — even scholarly Breslov Chassidim — they think this is from Chassidus. Since they are not expert in Talmud and legal codes — they think: "The Likutay Halachos is nothing — the Likutay Tfilos is nothing — the Likutay Moharan is nothing — these are books of Chassidus. But one needs to study — to be a scholar — to study Talmud." This is how it is in the world.

And one sees even now: they esteem the Rambam and say that compared to Rabbenu the Rambam is nothing. But the truth is: there has been none like Rabbenu in the world — there is no tzadik of the generation like this, no wise man like this. And there is no one who speaks such words as our holy Rabbenu in his Torah teachings and stories. They are nullified. 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 — see the light of the Torah. In the Torah there are many powers — there is a life-giving medicine; and the opposite. And through our holy Rabbenu — one merits to see the light of Torah as is needed!

Our holy Rabbenu is a secret — one knows nothing. What is in the Likutay Halachos on all four sections of the Shulchan Aruch illuminates our eyes to the entire Torah. And the world does not know of this — even if they study it they do not see. They are blind — they do not know the value of the Likutay Halachos. They do a favor by studying the Likutay Halachos as they study other books — that is how they study the Likutay Halachos. But blessed be Hashem — there is already the Likutay Moharan, there is already the Likutay Tfilos, there is already the Sipuray Maasiyos — and there is already everything!

There are very hidden matters in this. But now we see that the entire world — even gentile scholars at the university — are very astonished at Rabbenu Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. Even gentiles!

I spoke with some people who know about this — from London, from England. And they always speak of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov — of the stories and of his words. And one sees that the entire world draws itself toward Rabbenu Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. There were many tzadikim in the world — there was the holy Baal Shem Tov, and his students, and many more tzadikim. And they do not speak of them — as if there is one alone in the world: Rabbi Nachman of Breslov!

(Rabbi Yisroel was asked when Mashiach will come.)

If our holy Rabbenu is already in the world — Mashiach is already here!

This is a very holy and utterly hidden matter. Our holy Rabbenu said he is a secret from the entire world. Secret! The world does not know. Our holy Rabbenu revealed such wonders as have never yet been in the world. There is none in the world like his Torah — like his wonder — like his wisdom. As he worked on this with such mesiras nefesh — and he illuminated in the world the light of Mashiach: the light that is destined now to illuminate in the world through our righteous Mashiach.

And our holy Rabbenu says in the Sefer HaMidos: "The coming of Mashiach depends on drawing close to the true tzadikim." One sees that this will bring the redemption — will bring the coming of Mashiach. There are things we do not attain or see. Our holy Rabbenu will sanctify and purify each one of Israel with such repentance. Mashiach will already find everything ready and prepared — our holy Rabbenu has already prepared everything for Mashiach. Our holy Rabbenu has already prepared everything!

The matter of our holy Rabbenu is the printing — that his wisdom spread in the world. That the time arrive when they receive: if the world had received Rabbenu as their leader — if they had known he is the true leader — the world would long since have been completely repaired. There would already have been the coming of Mashiach. Yes.

Everything depends on Rabbenu!

And this we do not understand. It may be that Rabbenu will be revealed — that such souls will draw close who have great minds. One person can draw millions close to Rabbenu through his speech — and then all will say: "Oy oy — Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman!" All will cast away all the money and all the desires.

The entire world is entirely remote — how remote the world is from the Torah: all the secular ones, all the distant ones, all the sinners. All of this is because of the concealment over Rabbenu — that the world does not know and does not want to know. They want the desires. But the time will come when they will feel and know that everything is nothing — all the desires and all the money are nothing: vanity. The wicked, the heretics — they have fallen, fallen — all of them. And they see that they are nothing. Like the country of Wealth in the story of the Baal Tefillah [the Master of Prayer — one of Rabbenu's stories].

One sees now that the entire world draws itself toward Rabbenu. They nullify themselves before Rabbenu. The secular ones should have been entirely remote from Rabbenu — they should have nullified him: "What — he speaks wisdom that is nothing, and the languages are nothing — only Torah and prayer?!" Yet they see his conversations and his Torah teachings. Even according to their own perspective they feel and say: "Ho — this is the Master of Prayer! There has been no such sage in the world — no such philosopher!" They are entirely nullified!

Yes — they are nullified. He makes them dust and ashes. Like in Rabbenu's lifetime with the maskilim [Enlightenment intellectuals] in Uman — they were entirely nullified. In Rabbenu's time the Haskalah [Enlightenment movement] and atheism had begun. And they were great worldly figures — great wise men. And they had permission to enter the Tsar of Russia whenever they wished. There was one whose name was Hirsch Ber, Tzvi Dov — he was their head, their rabbi. And he was a great man. And they were such atheists that they could not bear a person mentioning the Name of Hashem with his mouth — so they vowed among themselves that the Name of Hashem would not come out of their mouths. And when our holy Rabbenu came to Uman and they lived in Uman — they heard that he was a grandson of the Baal Shem Tov and that he was a great and wise man. So they said they would send one of their maskilim to our holy Rabbenu to see "if there is someone to talk with." So that one came to Rabbenu and spoke with him — and saw that they were all donkeys compared to Rabbenu. So he went and said to his friends: "Ho — there is someone to talk with! We are all nothing compared to him! Such a sage — there is none in the world!" So they began to enter our holy Rabbenu — and they spoke with him of their books, of their investigations. And they saw that our holy Rabbenu knew everything by heart — and they were entirely nullified.

This the entire world now knows — all the distant ones know: that the maskilim in Uman — Hirsch Ber and his friends — they were all nullified before our holy Rabbenu. Today this is known.

Our holy Rabbenu traveled to Uman some months before he passed away. And they would come to Rabbenu — they were such wicked ones, such atheists! And all of them became ba'alei teshuvah!

Before they came to Rabbenu they traveled to all the tzadikim of their time — perhaps there was someone who could take them out of the mud, from the heresy. And they did not find. They came to Rav Levi Yitzchak of Barditshov and other Chassidim — and they were not able to receive them, to speak with them. There was no connection. But our holy Rabbenu received them with a welcoming face, with such closeness — and they were nullified before Rabbenu.

So Hirsch Ber and his friends — they had a connection with the Tsar of Russia. So they came to the Tsar and said to him: "You love wise men. In your country there is such a sage that we are all donkeys compared to him — and you do not know of him!"

So the Tsar sent a letter to Rabbenu — requesting that Rabbenu come visit him. He wanted to meet Rabbenu. But the letter arrived after Rabbenu's passing…

And also we saw: there were famous great wise men in the world and they drew close to Rabbenu and were transformed. Some fifty years ago there was Hillel Zeitlin [a spiritual figure, thinker, poet and writer — one of the great ones of pre-Holocaust Poland]. He was an atheist — like Shazar was. But afterwards he merited to see the words of Rabbenu — and he merited to do teshuvah.

He was a great orator and when he spoke they took a large hall that could hold many thousands — and it was packed. And when he spoke he spoke only of Rabbenu! They called him "the religious one" — and he had a son, Binyamin. This was in Poland in the time of Hitler.

He was a great intellect — a philosopher. And at the end of his days he did complete teshuvah and was in Uman for Rosh HaShanah!

And also Martin Buber — he was not observant but he had a heart ailment because he was not observant. And also Shai Agnon — Shai Agnon nullified himself before me like a rag. I came to him at his home and he greatly loved to hear about Rabbenu and about his close followers — what they had suffered. He was very moved — he nullified himself and paid no attention to his honor. Once he was in Tel Aviv and I met him — and he received me with such love, with such joy as one does not see such a thing. There was such a bond between us…

There was a famous lawyer in Russia — in Poland — a great matter, a great intellect. And he was walking in the market and heard great joy — such joy! He thought this was a wedding. But he was astonished — for even at a wedding there was no such joy and awakening. So he asked: "What is this joy?"

So they told him: "These are the Breslov madmen — they are dancing." So he entered the synagogue. He thought that in the synagogue all the tables would be covered with bottles of drinks. And he entered the synagogue and did not see even one bottle. He saw the Chassidim sitting — studying and speaking of Rabbenu — and joyful. So he was gradually confused — and gradually he drew close to Rabbenu.

And so too other great wise men and writers — they all nullified themselves before Rabbenu. And also the drawing close of the world to Rabbenu — this was not so seventy years ago. We see this — it is beyond nature. For the world should have distanced Rabbenu from them and from their descendants — they should have placed a ban on Breslov books. But what we know is: that Rabbenu's books are printed and the world can read them in the synagogue and in every place. And there is no prohibition to study Rabbenu's books. These are signs of the redemption…

If I were to say this — it has no value at all. Who am I — what am I? But our holy Rabbenu revealed a drop from the sea of the wonder of his matter — that he will transform the entire world.

The essential is our holy Rabbenu Rabbi Nachman — he is the key to everything: to emunah, to the Torah. He is the key. Without a key one cannot enter — it is locked. Our holy Rabbenu is the essential foundation of all of Judaism — of each and every one of Israel. And also he will repair the entire world — even the gentiles. This is such a wonder…

If I were to say this — it has no value at all. Who am I — what am I? But our holy Rabbenu revealed a drop from the sea of the wonder of his matter — that he will transform the entire world.

And Rabbi Yisroel printed with mesiras nefesh. For whom? People did not want to touch Breslov books. They thought: "Breslov books? There are many prayer books — why does one need Breslov? There is the Reishis Chochmah and there are other books — and one can also live without Breslov books."

And we see that the world descends more and more each day. And what will be? How can there be repair? I saw with my own eyes — you are from this generation, you do not know what was. I saw what this was. There was a time when it was forbidden to touch Breslov books. It was hard for me: "How will the redemption come and what will be? The world does not want to touch Breslov books! And how did our holy Rabbenu say 'I have finished and I will finish' — what did you finish? It is impossible to touch a Breslov book — what did you finish?"

But now I see what he finished. He promised: "I have finished and I will finish" — and he conquers everything. He has conquered the entire world!

Now we see a thing beyond nature — from one extreme to the other. So one can understand: the time will come when the entire world will draw close to Rabbenu with such nullification that they will cast everything away — only Rabbenu. Yes.

The entire world draws itself toward Rabbenu Rabbi Nachman. I see the exact opposite of what was. Our holy Rabbenu has already promised "I have finished and I will finish" — so he will finish with us and with the entire world. Yes — the time will come…

Had there been no controversy over the Baal Shem Tov — then there would have been no controversy over Rabbenu. Rabbenu would already have been revealed in the world — and there would already have been what would have been. If the world had received Rabbenu — ho! This will be — the time will come.

Our holy Rabbenu said: "The holy Baal Shem Tov was permitted with miracles" — and he performed such miracles! He had a student who traveled with him and told of what he saw with his own eyes: resurrection of the dead, healing of the sick. "And I — I am forbidden with miracles" — (and Rabbi Yisroel indicates with the palm of his hand upon himself)! If Rabbenu had been permitted with miracles — the entire world would have drawn close…

And the world fell into such darkness as we see. And our holy Rabbenu announced this. But everything is prepared for the redemption — that it be revealed and elevated precisely from such controversy, from such concealment. The glory of Hashem will be ever greater. These are such wondrous matters that will be in the world. There will be such joy — all will be told: everything that passed over each person. Many stories — there will be many stories from each and every one.

Everything I say — I do not say as false humility. I was the worst and most lowly in the world — in Teveriah. There are diamonds — this one has such a quality and that one has such beauty. And all have their unique matter. And I was the worst — but I had some wise point that I merited to see and understand the truth: where the clear pure truth is. I did not look at this world — at greatness and pride and importance and fame. On the contrary — these had no value for me at all. I valued only truth. So I am wiser than all of them. And also I chose Rabbenu and Rabbi Yisroel Kardoner. Why Rabbi Yisroel — what is Rabbi Yisroel? There are many rabbis. But Rabbi Yisroel was singular in the world — Breslov. And I chose Rabbi Yisroel and rejected the judge [the dayan who had been like a father to him]. The judge was like a father to me — he taught me and drew me close and supported me and lifted me up. So I could have thought: "The judge says not to be a Breslov Chassid — so I must listen to him." And I did not listen to him. This is a sign that I am wiser than the judge!

The judge was a genius and a scholar and an upright G-d-fearing wise man. And Yisroel Ber — nothing: like a fly. But this fly had such power that he could stand against the entire world!

We say a blessing every day: "Blessed is He who gives strength to the weary." Nu — I was a tiny mosquito. But they were nullified. I saw: they always spoke of me — of Yisroel Ber, of Breslov. They themselves were moved: "What is this — if one says 'Breslov no' one time — that is finished and done." And they spoke and spoke and spoke. This is a sign that they had no peace: "Breslov, Breslov, Breslov…"

Ayy yay yay yay — a person like me: I had no importance, no value. I had no talents — nothing. But I had some matter: that I abandoned the entire world — the judge and all the great ones. Even though I thought about myself: "What is this — who are you, what are you? Are you wiser than the judge? Are you wiser than the other rabbis who are so great?" Yes, yes — I, Yisroel Ber. And our holy Rabbenu sent from Meron Rabbi Yisroel for me to Teveriah — and what was made was made…

And also my mother passed away in Rabbi Yisroel's house on a Shabbos day. There was such sorrow. She passed away because I wanted to be a Breslov Chassid. And if she had not had the resurrection of the dead — Rabbi Yisroel would have had no place in the world: in Tsfas, in Teveriah. The entire world was furious: "What is this Breslov — they killed the mother of Yisroel Ber! He is a murderer — murderers!"

Hashem arranged that I saw — and also Rabbi Yisroel and other people who were here — a miracle of the resurrection of the dead. The mother died — as is written regarding Sarah: the angel told Sarah about Yitzchak. It was on a hair's breadth: Avraham would slaughter Yitzchak. But she thought he was already dead — that Avraham had already slaughtered him. So her soul departed. We read after the portion of the Akeidah: "And Sarah's life was…" — the passing of Sarah. She passed away from the greatness of the sorrow…

What our holy Rabbenu made from simple souls — entirely, utterly remote from Torah and Judaism! Material people who know no scent of Torah: when they drew close to Rabbenu, holy tzadikim were made from them — such as are not seen in the world. This is beyond nature. This is a new matter. And King David in Psalms — all the Psalms: "a Psalm, a Psalm, a Psalm" — "to David a Psalm" — "to the conductor, to David, a Psalm" — "a Psalm." There is mizmor [psalm] — and there are several words for song: "a Psalm — sing to Hashem a new song." King David said "a new song" — he is entirely new. A new song — our holy Rabbenu is a new song: Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman! And so there is much: new song, new song, new song…

King David — he is Rabbenu. Our holy Rabbenu surpassed all the tzadikim — all the tzadikim that have been since the day of creation. This is a wondrous matter. Hashem saw what would be in the latter generations — what heresy, what falsehood. For us as we are — G-d forbid there should have been such a destruction without any hope whatsoever, Heaven forbid. But Hashem is merciful and gracious — He knew that in the latter generations the soul of our holy Rabbenu Rabbi Nachman must descend into this world. So there is already no despair in the world at all — only Rabbenu!

And our holy Rabbenu alludes in his stories: they took the soul and made it swear that it descend into this world. Then came the Samech-Mem [the Adversary — the Angel of Death and evil inclination] — he had arguments: "There is a Torah ruling — what is this — it is ownerless?"

He said: "What — if this soul descends into this world then I have nothing to do whatsoever. Were you created in vain? For what purpose did You create me?" And he departed…

Afterwards they said to him: "There was a Torah ruling and it was decided — this soul must descend into the world. And you — find yourself a counsel." So he went to think of a counsel. He returned and said: "I already have a counsel — he may descend. But there will be such a controversy…" (Rabbi Yisroel was asked whether there will also be controversy over Mashiach — or whether the controversy is already finished.) No, no — over Mashiach: no. Already finished — the controversy is already finished…