reb gedaliah

understanding breslev today

Reb Gedaliah Aharon Kenig, zt"l. One cannot fully understand Breslev today or the potency of Rebbe Nachman without understanding a little about Reb Gedaliah Aharon Kenig. It is nearly thirty years since his passing and the phenomenon of Breslev is very different today than it was during his lifetime - more complex, more established and in certain ways, even more hidden. The driving force behind Reb Gedaliah's mission in Tsfat was his conviction that now that there was a light like Rebbe Nachman in the world, there is no other path that can bring one closer to God or repair to the soul. Although it is fitting and proper to call him by every important salutation such as Gaon, Chassid, Rav, etc., he was known simply as "Reb Gedaliah." Here we will explore his message, iy"h, who he was and what he represented.

audio: on the perfection of man

Reb Gedaliah speaks here about the centrality of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev to the attainment of perfection among mankind.

Duration: 11:40 / Size: 5.4 MB

Reb Gedaliah on The Perfection of Man

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reb gedaliah on rav avraham sternhartz

Reb Gedaliah speaks here about his relationship with Rav Avraham Sternhartz, great-grandson of Reb Noson Sternhartz and key Breslev leader in the last generation. The following is a clip from a live radio interview given in New York during his trip in 1979. In contrast to the openness associated with Breslev today, this marked a bold new entrance for many into a previously closed world of traditional Breslev in Jerusalem. 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. A year later, Reb Gedaliah unexpectedly passed away at the age of 59, and was buried on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

Duration: 9:43 / Size: 4.45 MB

Reb Gedaliah on R' Avraham Sternhartz

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who is reb gedaliah aharon kenig?

In the nearly thirty years since his passing in 1980, the very essence of the Holy City of Tsfat was resuscitated from near death and extinction, G-d forbid. Looking at Tsfat today, you wouldn't know of the desolation that permeated the soul of the city three decades ago, particularly in the Old City where the community of the Arizal lived 500 years ago. Reb Gedaliah knew that Tsfat had to be restored as a center of living Torah, which would begin the messianic repair of the world.

But there is another essential element to Reb Gedaliah's vision: The singular importance of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev. Reb Gedaliah sought to establish Tsfat as the fundamental channel for the light and global tikkunim of Rebbe Nachman. He would say: "Rebbe Nachman is saving the world!"

Only in this context, can we begin to understand what drove Reb Gedaliah to give over his very soul for the rebuilding of Tsfat. He was 59 years old when he passed away on a trip to England to garner support for the Tsfat project, which was then on the brink of collapse before it had even begun.

He hid his profound spiritual level, even from his own family. Aside from his personal attainments of holiness and purity, he was a genius in the revealed and hidden Torah, studying in Jerusalem with masters such as Rabbi Mordechai Sharabi, zt"l, one of the greatest Kabbalists of the previous generation. Above all, his soul was completely bound to his teacher, mentor and master, Rav Avraham Sternhartz, zt"l, the undisputed leader of the previous generation of Breslever Chassidim.

The significance of this relationship is that it represents an unbroken chain of transmission back to Rebbe Nachman himself. The relationship itself is a channel for Rebbe Nachman's awesome power of tikkun and universal spiritual influence. Reb Gedaliah embodied this conduit and emphasized in no uncertain terms its critical importance for the world. The heart of his message was now that there was a light like Rebbe Nachman in the world, there is no other path that can bring one closer to God or tikkun to his soul.