Biography of Rabbi Nachman
It is with emotion that we present this new biographical essay on the life of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. We have taken as our reference the very comprehensive biographical work "Rabenu," focusing on the person of Rabbi Nachman while leaving aside certain other aspects of his life such as his ancestors, his disciples, etc.
In an effort to make the story even more vivid, we decided to include photos from the late 19th century, as well as reproductions of the endpapers from the first editions.
Rabbi Nachman lived between the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, a pivotal period in human history. The French Revolution proclaimed the reign of Reason and Liberty, and Washington and his generals fought for American independence. Voltaire and Rousseau, Kant and Goethe, Mozart and Beethoven, Danton and Robespierre dominated the news and brought a breath of fresh air. Everything heralded a new era of liberalization, while the nascent Industrial Revolution challenged the structures of traditional society. Within the Jewish world, Russian decrees were beginning to be enforced, and the emancipation movement intensified, leading to devastating changes.
As we know that God, in His great goodness, always puts the remedy before the disease, it was in the person of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov that the Eternal One entrusted the remedy for this misguided generation, and for all those that will follow until the coming of the Messiah.
This book contains a great many superlatives that may sometimes put the reader off. But it must be said that they only reflect the accuracy of the portrayal of the Master. Truth, honesty, and sincerity are the very essence of Rabbi Nachman, and they shine through on every page of the work of his principal disciple, Rabbi Nathan.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Rabbi Nachman is that he spoke very frankly about his spiritual achievements. We find in some passages that the Master "took pride in," "boasted of his accomplishments," etc. People expect the Tzaddik to be devoid of all pride. It is worth recalling one of his teachings: "Humility is not about bowing down and being humble... true humility involves wisdom" (LM 197). And it is certain that the true humility of authentic Tzaddikim can elude ordinary people, especially those who are not entirely free from their own pride. Moses writes in the Torah: "The man Moses was more humble than any other man..." (Numbers 12:3). And how could Moses claim to be the humblest of all?
Thus, everyone can form their own opinion of Rabbi Nachman's greatness, but his true stature and holiness far surpass our perception. Therefore, we must ultimately acknowledge that all that has been written about him represents only a tiny fraction of the reality, and for reasons known only to Heaven, not everything has been recorded. Even if we manage to express, to some extent, the holiness he revealed in his teachings, it is impossible to reproduce his truly awe-inspiring way of speaking. His light has been veiled, hidden, and nothing has been revealed about his true identity. For despite the attraction he inspired, Rabbi Nachman remains elusive and enigmatic. His devotion surpasses the understanding of ordinary mortals, and all his actions are shrouded in unfathomable mystery.
Much will be said about him when the Messiah comes, as Rabbi Nachman once declared publicly: "I have exerted all my efforts before the Eternal that our upright Redeemer may be one of my descendants!" May he come soon, and in our days, Amen.
