Nachman of Breslov

Nachman of Breslov also known as Reb Nachman of Breslav or simply as Rebbe Nachman (1772-1810) was a rabbi and the founder of the Breslov Hasidic dynasty. His full name was Nachman ben Simchah (Nachman son of Simchah), but he also sometimes used his mother's name, calling himself Nachman ben Feiga (Nachman son of Feiga). He is a seminal figure in the history of Hasidism.

Works published after his death

Nachman's doctrines were published and disseminated in books and pamphlets mainly after his death, by his disciple Nathan ben Naphtali Steinhartz of Nemirov (Nathan of Nemirov, known to Breslovers as "Reb Noson.") Reb Noson built a synagogue in Uman, in honor of his teacher, and composed a number of prayers to be recited at Nachman's grave by his followers. Many Breslovers flock there annually even to this day during the Rosh Hashanah kibbutz.

Related Topics:
Nathan of Nemirov - Synagogue - Rosh Hashanah kibbutz

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Reb Noson arranged and published Rebbe Nachman's works as follows:

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• Likkutei Moharan (vol. i., Ostrog, 1808; vol. ii., Moghilef, 1811; vol. iii., Ostrog, 1815) Hasidic interpretations of the Hebrew Bible, the Midrashim, etc.;
• Sefer ha-Middot (The Aleph Bet Book) (Moghilef, 1821) Treatises on morals, arranged alphabetically as a primer.
• Tikkun HaK'lali (General Remedy) Rebbe Nachman's order of Ten Psalms to be recited for various problems, plus commentary by Reb Noson. Published as a separate book in 1821.
• Sippurei Ma'asiyyot (Rabbi Nachman's Stories) (n.p., 1815), fantasy parable-tales in Hebrew and Yiddish. The best-known of these tales is the Seven Beggars (see external link below) which contains many kabbalistic themes and hidden allusions.

Thirteen treasured stories have been published and are considered precursors to the later literary style of such secular Jewish authors as Franz Kafka (who may have been acquainted with them). There are also several fragmentary stories included in Aryeh Kaplan's translation, Rabbi Nachman's Stories. Aryeh Kaplan regarded himself as a disciple of Rebbe Nachman.

Related Topics:
Franz Kafka - Aryeh Kaplan

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