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reb gedaliah on the perfection of man

The following is a translation of a talk given by Reb Gedaliah over a New York radio broadcast in 1979 on Rebbe Nachman's role in tikkun olam, repair of the world through the perfection of man.

Everyone desires to attain perfection. We have spoken about the name Adam as being the term for the perfect Man. Many have attempted to attain this level through many different exhausting ways, but few knew the secret of the right path. Fewer still were those who merited to actually travel the entire distance in order to reach perfection. Rebbe Nachman merited to completely traverse the path to reach the ultimate goal—the perfection of Man. He struggled and toiled to reveal this secret to all of mankind, teaching us how to attain it in the easiest and most practical way possible, appropriate for every generation until the coming of Mashiach. Don't think that Rebbe Nachman was interested in introducing a new sect or group into the world, amidst the many that presently abound. Instead, he can be seen as a teacher for everyone—one who knows how to direct the footsteps of mankind to come to the proper goal. He can be seen as a personal guide to each one of us individually, helping us to find our correct place in the world.

Reb Noson, the main student of Rebbe Nachman, referred to this in the beginning of his introduction to Rebbe Nachman's stories. He wrote, "Whatever he was, his name has already been given, and it is known that he is Man–Adam" (Ecclesiastes 6:10). In other words, the very name of Adam that was already was given to the first Man in Creation, now can be ascribed to Rebbe Nachman, who merited to complete the Form of Man. Through his deeds and dedication to his family, students, and all of mankind, he showed that he embodies the true concept of Adam, the perfect "Man."

Rebbe Nachman was born in 1772 in the Ukrainian town of Medzeboz, in the house where his great grandfather, the Baal Shem Tov had lived. He lived to the age of 38 1/2 years, and left this world in the year 1810, in the city of Uman. There, he is buried. I always say, and teach my friends to say: "Fortunate are you, Land of Russia, blessed is your earth that has resting within it, the pure and holy body of the Light of Lights, Rebbe Nachman of Breslev, who illuminates the entire world with compassion." He left behind blessing: Generations of straight and noble souls, students filled with the wisdom and knowledge of God—servants of God, pure in their fear and love. He left books filled with deep, yet simple guidance as well as stories written in easy and simple language, but also containing the deepest secrets of life. They are all meant to let us know how to remain strong and immune from the evil in this complicated world, and how to benefit from the beauty of the Divine Light hidden in it, so that Creation and Creator can be unified completely.

As students of Breslever Chassidim, our entire purpose in life is to follow in the footsteps of our Rebbe, so that we too may merit to be included in the name Adam—the perfect Man. So few have achieved it, yet a number of those who did are buried in Tsfat and its surrounding area. In addition to them, Rebbe Nachman is the man who not only merited to attain this level himself, but with perfect intention, brought this favor and blessing to us, as well as to the Jewish people and all humanity.

TZADDIK Magazine archive, Shavuos 5761 / 2000

reb gedaliah on rav avraham sternhartz

In 1979, Reb Gedaliah Aharon Kenig, zt"l, traveled to the United States to publicize the building of Kiryat Breslev in Tsfat, marking a new entrance for many into a previously closed Breslev world in Jerusalem. After speaking about the soul's longing for closeness to HaShem, the interviewer, by way of a translator, asks Reb Gedaliah what drew him to Breslev Chassidut. Reb Gedaliah then describes his teacher, Rav Avraham, and in an unprecedented disclosure, reveals his deeper connection to Rav Avraham.

Can you tell us a little bit about when you first experienced this kind of longing as a young man? Did it come through meeting great teachers?

Like every human being, a lot happens to them in their younger years. There are wars to be fought, there are wars between the body and soul of a person. I have also fought many wars, and when I saw my downfalls, my heart was in pain. I was searching for light in all the Jewish books. This gave me strength until God helped me to find the teachings of Rebbe Nachman, where I found wellsprings of understanding and wisdom which gave me the power to survive and grow.

Could you tell us a little bit about your mentor, Rav Avraham Sternhartz, so we can know what a great Rabbi is like? Perhaps you can describe the way he lived and the way he was.

Rav Avraham Sternhartz was the one who brought me close to the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev. He was born to Reb Naftali Hertz, the son of Reb Shachne, who in turn was the son of Reb Noson, the closest disciple of Rebbe Nachman. He was immersed in the teachings of Breslev from his birth onward and was constantly watching and observing the customs and behavior of Breslever Chassidim. He had a phenomenal photographic memory, and spoke about things he remembered from the time he was one year old. So you can imagine his level of understanding, being part of the family of Reb Noson, and raised amidst the closest followers, as well as having the Tcheriner Rav as a grandfather. He possessed tremendous diligence in Torah learning, and he was a great servant of God through his prayers and good deeds. When he was young, he never slept for more than four hours a night, and these were not four consecutive hours, but rather snatches here and there. There were times that he didn't sleep at all, or half an hour, or one or two hours. Everyone was astonished by the unbelievable strength and power of his mind. There is one day in the year, on Purim, where Jews have the mitzvah to become intoxicated. On Purim, he was given a very large amount to drink, but as much as he drank, he never became intoxicated. It was from this Jew that I had the merit to learn for 17 years. He put me, as we say, on my feet.

Was there a special moment in which Rav Avraham told Reb Gedaliah that he would have to take over his work? And how did Reb Gedaliah feel at that time?

There was a time when I told him my understanding of a certain teaching in Likutey Moharan, one of the works of Rebbe Nachman. There were some very important Chassidim sitting there, and at that time, he said to everyone that my understanding of Rebbe Nachman's teachings should be the definitive explanation. The last day of his life, a few hours before his passing, there were many people gathered around him. But then everyone left. I arrived about an hour before his passing, and at that time, I was the only one left in the room with him. I was there at the moment his pure soul left his body. Rebbe Nachman teaches in Likutey Moharan, that if one is present at the time when the soul of his teacher leaves his body, he receives the ability to give over his master's teachings.

Click here to hear the original broadcast.

harav elazar mordechai kenig: on desire

The Baal Shem Tov had an only son and daughter. He greatly praised the level of his daughter, Udel, since all day, her heart was directed Above. Her only yearning and desire was to please God. Every Jew should merit such a high level, that his heart be constantly directed towards God.

There is a fundamental element to serving God called ratzon, desire. One’s desire to come close to God and please him should always be strong and powerful. Although everyone desires to do what God wants, not all desires are equal. Within one person, even during each moment, there are tremendous differences and distinctions in desire. Nonetheless, the guiding principle is constantly to desire and yearn for God.

Reb Noson says that it is impossible to describe in writing the greatness of one’s desire and yearning to do the Will of God (Likutey Halachot, Arev 3). He explains that the entire reason a soul is forced to descend from the upper worlds into this physical world is only for the sake of desire. It is only here that one can merit complete and perfect desire.

seeking the good point

 

There is a single point in the universe that attracts us with an irresistible force. It is a place of ultimate desire and yearning, where Man and God merge, the “meeting place.” It is here where all existence is nullified, since it is from here where the entire Universe burst forth. It is the place of teshuva, which precedes the Creation of the world. It is an all-inclusive point, encompassing all souls and is the essence of being realized during hitbodedut, the practice of speaking to God in your own words. This same point is the good point within yourself and others. It is the point of Truth, the Tzaddik, the Shechina. There are many names for it, but ultimately, it is the same point. The “good point.”

rav ephraim kenig: the power of vision

We learn from the Torah about the power of the eye. In the book of Bamidbar (Numbers), God informs Moses that he is going to die and instructs him to bestow the special qualities of leadership upon his student Joshua, enabling him to lead the Jewish people. Moses then gave Joshua a lot more than what God told him to give. The commentaries remark that Moses gave him with a "good eye." This doesn't mean that what he gave, he gave with a good eye, but rather that he actually gave Joshua a "good eye." This was one of the special qualities that Moses granted to Joshua, empowering him to become the next leader of the Jewish people.

In the previous Torah portion, we read the story of Balak and Bilaam and how they plotted to destroy the Jewish people. Occurring almost forty years after the Exodus from Egypt, the intense drama of the splitting of the Red Sea had apparently waned and they were less intimidated by the Jews. All they knew was that an entire people was wandering around in the desert, approaching the border of Israel, with the intention of conquering the land. They had to come up with a plan.

Balak and Bilaam did, however, remember one thing from the past. When Amalek had attacked the Jews after the splitting of the Red Sea, almost four decades earlier, the Cloud that followed them had absorbed all of his arrows and he was unable to harm the Jews. Realizing that conventional warfare didn't work against the Jews, they needed a different tactic. Bilaam was famous for his ability to cause harm through the curse. A partnership was formed between the two when Balak sent messengers to Bilaam asking him to curse the Jews, and offered to pay him handsomely for his services. Their strategy? Penetrate the Jewish people through the "evil eye."

Commentaries on the Torah describe how Balak took Bilaam to a mountaintop in order to show him the very edge of the Jewish camp. He was already trying to affect them negatively with the evil eye.

the evil eye

What your grandmother never told you about the evil eye... The evil eye, also known in Hebrew as the ayin hara, is usually seen as a mysterious external force, lurking around, waiting to pounce on innocent victims. Some of us are familiar with phrases such as bli ayin hara or k'nayna hara, which are said in an attempt to ward off the influence of the evil eye. Other protective measures against the evil eye include the wearing of special amulets or visits to those who perform various practices using oil, mercury or eggs in an attempt to shatter the effects of the evil eye. On the other hand, many of us understandably relegate any discussion about the evil eye to superstition and irrationality. However, there is another dimension to the story of the evil eye, which can dramatically transform our relationship to others and the world in general.

The evil eye is synonymous with greediness, not being satisfied with one's portion, jealousy and begrudging others their good fortune. Someone who has an evil eye possesses these attributes as part of their personality. These characteristics can be manifested in a person quite openly, or sometimes in a much more hidden and subtle way. The potential damaging influence arises when someone who harbors these types of feelings against us, looks upon us, or our good fortune, including our children and our possessions. The negative force only has power over that which can actually be seen by the physical eye. This is one of the reasons that it can actually be a blessing to not be so noticeable in the public eye.

bringing down the light

Chanukah is a festival of light and spiritual perception of God. The kingdom of Greece wanted to overpower us with foreign philosophies, in order to make us forget the Torah. The Greek ideology represented a spiritual force operative even today: The belief that there are more enlightened ways than the Torah, in particular, the conviction that external form and beauty are the highest value. The Greeks believed that the world runs autonomously, according to the laws of nature. They also believed that man is independent from God, and maintained that human reason is the highest expression of wisdom and knowledge.

This path inevitably leads to the denial of God (apikorsut in Greek) and a rejection of the responsibility to observe the mitzvot. The preciousness and centrality of the Torah becomes forgotten and lost. The Greek philosophy negates the Jewish belief in a God Whose presence permeates the entire universe, and Who personally supervises every aspect of our lives.

For every Jew, the Torah is the essence of holy wisdom; the Torah is the only possible way to acquire a clear and true perception of God. The problem is that many find themselves in circumstances where it is difficult, and seemingly impossible, to sense the light of the Torah. Today, the challenge is to seek the right channel to constrict the light in a way it can be perceived.

During the first Chanukah two millennia ago, God "preceded the illness with a cure." Not only was the Greek rule overthrown, but a great light was brought into the world and established for all future generations including, and especially, our own. Every Chanukah, we draw down the very same light by simply lighting the Chanukah menorah, everyone in his own home and place, no matter who, what ,or where he may be. The Chanukah light has the awesome ability to penetrate the lowest levels and unify them all. When the flame is lit, it services to constrict and channel a glimpse of Divine light. This is what all the Tzaddikim have worked to accomplish throughout history: To bring down the light to the lowest places in Creation, where anyone can receive, it they so desire. When we light the Chanukah menorah, we connect to the Infinite from wherever we find ourselves. "Though I walk in the valley overshadowed by death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me" (Psalms 23:4). [see Likutey Halachot, Haskamat HaBoker 4:10]

TZADDIK Magazine archives, Chanukah 5761 / 2000

reb gedaliah aharon kenig: limits of the mind

We are called by the name Man (Adam) by virtue of our intellect and wisdom. It is impossible to separate intellect from the concept of Man. Without intellect, the concept of Man does not exist, since knowledge is what defines Man. Because of this, we possess a will and desire to know everything. Therefore, Man and intellect are one and inseparable. In this light, Rebbe Nachman writes in Likutey Moharan 62: "The truth is that it is a great mitzvah to sharpen the intellect in order to understand perfectly and completely what God has limited to the human mind." It is important to pay attention to exactly what Rebbe Nachman expresses in his golden language. He writes, "...what God has limited to the human mind." This means that man's intellect is limited. The obligation upon man to sharpen his intellect is only according to his ability, i.e., his measure and limit. He should not attempt to reach beyond this limit. If he does, it will result in what is called "breaking of the vessels." The idea of "breaking of the vessels" means destruction and collapse. The mind of man is like a vessel made to receive the light of the intellect in measure. But if we go beyond the measure, this vessel, the mind, comes to a breaking point, collapses and is ruined. It then loses the ability to receive anything more.

a prayer for chanukah

God, in Your tremendous compassion, help us to properly perform the mitzvah of kindling the Chanukah lights at the proper time, in holiness, purity and with powerful kavannah, intention. Let our mitzvah be considered perfect before You, with all of its minute details and intentions. May the light from the holiness of our mitzvah illuminate and repair the entire world. Through Your compassion, enable us to completely fulfill all of the Torah's mitzvot with love, awe and tremendous joy, until we are able to draw down peace from You into all of the worlds. Then the prophecy will be fulfilled: "God will give might to His people; God will bless His people with peace." O God, Who makes peace Above with compassion, make peace upon us, and upon all Israel, Amen.

[Excerpted from Likutey Tefilot 14; end]

holy vessels

 

If someone were to ask you, "What is the purpose of life?" what would you answer? This question can surface during times of crisis or transition. If you are fortunate, it is also a question that can catalyze a shift in lifestyle. The bottom line is that the nature and direction of our lives depend upon how we answer this question.

Rebbe Nachman emphasizes throughout his teachings that the ultimate purpose of life is to come to know God. In Hebrew, knowledge of God is called Daat. "Knowledge of God might sound a bit irrelevant and unattainable for the average person, but it is possible to achieve, because it is the reason we were each put here in this world.

Daat is more than simply verbalizing that everything happening in the world is from God. More accurately, it is a deep internal awareness of direct and intimate Divine involvement in every detail of your life from the moment you were born. Random or chance occurrence doesn't exist. This level of consciousness can bring you to experience the entire Creation operating as a single unit, expressing one Divine will. Obviously this takes work, but when you actually live with this type of awareness, you are less angry, lonely and sad, and are more easily satisfied with every aspect of your life. Every moment becomes an opportunity to reveal God-awareness. To attain knowledge of God is the highest expression of the human intellect, but you have to consciously decide that this is what you want. And then, the challenge is to overcome all obstacles and distractions to get to the true purpose of life.