Getting Attached to the Tzadik by Shmuel Horowitz

 BH the friends in Uman have translated this little book, and you can download the pdf with this link:

Hiskashrus Latzadik - Getting attached to the Tzadik - by Shmuel Horowitz

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman

Blossoms of the Spring - Letter 14

Letter 14[1]

B.H., 19 Elul 718 (Thursday, 4 September, 1958), Tel Aviv.

To an astute man who seeks and quests the palace of truth, Mr. Z. Shazar, abundant Shalom.

Brudehr <brother> halt zich <hold up – keep strong>, luz zich nisht up <don't let up>. Be strong and let us be strengthened, and we shall not be like a large elephant and like a camel even when the mouse pulls it by its nose it won't kick it[2], gird your waist like a mighty warrior, and gird your loins with might to fly like an eagle to the tzadik who heals all sickness, and (to) a man of suffering[3] (who) extracts souls from nethermost hell, reverses descents to ascents, and willful sins to merits[4].

Know that there are two kinds of palaces, in one lives a king, and in the second lives a slave, and both of them are completely similar to each other and it is difficult to differentiate between them. Because there are many souls that bond until there is made from them a house and palace, because they bond one with another and one with another until there is made from the a foundation and afterwards there is made a tent, until there is built from them a house and an abode where truth lives, and whoever wants to find truth he will find (it) in this house and palace of these souls who from them was made an abode for truth. And there is correlating to this, that many souls bond and there is made from them a house where it is the house of falsehood who is the aspect of a slave. And behold between these two aforementioned houses it is possible to err, that is, between the truth and the falsehood, because the falsehood simulates itself to the truth, because also there, there is a bond from many souls, until it is extremely difficult to differentiate between the truth and the falsehood and it is possible for a person to err and not know where the truth is and where to draw himself close[5], however, if he looks[6] upon his eternal tachlis (ultimate end/purpose) with a really true eye, certainly he will merit to understand which way to go and to whom to draw close[7]. The main exile is through the sins of Israel and the main rectification is through repentance, and the main prevention of the repentance is the strife of the opponents of the true tzadik, because the majority of the multitudes of the Children of Israel would listen to him[8], however, the main prevention is through the opponents of the point of truth in many many aspects and from these opponents suck nourishment the aspect of the forehead of the snake and evil beasts who are the sages of nature etc. etc., and through all these evil views (there) is the main prevention from repentance[9].

The bal duvur (-litigator-Satan-evil inclination) strengthens and endeavors with his conniving to prevent (one) from drawing close to the true tzadik in whom is contingent the complete rectification of his soul, and the greater a person is, and the higher level and aspect he has – the more he (-the bal duvur) strengthens over him to prevent him. Because if he would draw close, who know what would sprout forth from this, goodness and rectification for Klal Yisroel <the collective people of Israel> and for all the worlds.[10]

Through the bonding to the true tzadik people can traverse safely in all the deserts, in all types of darkness and grave danger. Even when traversing, Heaven forbid, a region of snakes, vipers, and scorpions, and thirst etc., for in all these places it is imperative for one who desires to approach the holy to traverse, particularly someone who already failed (-sinned) and desires to return it is compelling for him to traverse these places, and from all of them Hashem will save him through the power of the holy desire that he will merit through the bonding to the true tzadik who through him one rises from all types of darkness of the world.[11]

The transcriber and the editor who supplicates for him and mentions him (in prayer) for benefit always, blessing him with a good and blessed year from the Source of the blessings and the salvations.

Yisroel Dov Odesser

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[1] Includes most of Letter 131.

[2] Shir Na-im – Pleasant Poem published at the beginning of Likutay Moharan.

[3] Isaiah 53:3.

[4] Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim II, Mincha 7:32, and elsewhere.

[5] Discourses after Rabbi Nachman's Legendary Tales, article 6. See there where Rabbainu concludes that one can merit to differentiate between the two by virtue of the mitzvah of redeeming captives.

[6] Pays attention (as in Ethics of Our Fathers 2:1 – "look at three things etc.").

[7] Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim 1, Laws of Prayer 94.

[8] Ibid – Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim 1, Laws of Prayer 91.

[9] Ibid – Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim 1, Laws of Prayer 91.

[10] Rimzay Hamaseyos, Story 8 of a Rabbi and an Only Son.

[11] Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim 1, Morning Blessings 5:45.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

ספר אבי הנחל - הוצאת נקודות טובות - לפי המכתבים המקוריים

אב"י הנחל חלק א'

מכתב יד:

ב"ה , י"ט אלול תשי"ח, תל-אביב

לאיש משכיל הדורש ומבקש הפלטין של אמת, מר ז.שזר, שלום רב.

ברודער האלט זיך, לאז זיך נישט אפ {אחי היקר, אחוז עצמך ואל תרפה}. חזק ונתחזק ואל נהיה כפיל גדול וכגמל, אפילו כשמשכהו בחטמו העכבר - לא יבעט בו, אזור נא כגיבור חלציך, וחגור בעוז מתניך לעוף כנשר אל הצדיק המרפא כל חולי ואיש מכאובות מוציא נפשות משאול תחתיות, מהפך ירידות לעליות, וזדונות לזכויות.

דע שיש שני מיני פלטין, באחד דר מלך, ובהשני דר עבד, ושניהם דומים זה לזה לגמרי וקשה מאד להבחין ביניהם. כי יש כמה נפשות שמתקשרין עד שנעשה מהם בית ופלטין, כי מתקשרין אחד באחד ואחד באחד עד שנעשה מהם יסוד ואחר כך נעשה אוהל, עד שנבנה מהם בית ומדור ששם דר אמת, ומי שרוצה למצוא אמת ימצא בבית ופלטין זה של אלו הנפשות שמהם נעשה מדור לאמת. ויש כנגד זה שמתקשרין כמה נפשות ונעשה מהם בית ששם דירת השקר שהוא בחינת עבד. והנה בין שני הבתים הנ"ל אפשר לטעות, היינו בין האמת והשקר, כי השקר מדמה עצמו להאמת, כי גם שם יש קשר מנפשות רבות, עד שקשה מאד להבחין בין האמת והשקר ואפשר לאדם לטעות ואינו יודע היכן האמת ולהיכן יקרב עצמו, אך אם יסתכל על תכליתו הנצחי בעין האמת לאמיתו, בוודאי יזכה להבין באיזה דרך ילך ולמי להתקרב. עיקר הגלות על ידי עוונות ישראל ועיקר התיקון על ידי תשובה, ועיקר העיכוב של התשובה הוא המחלוקת של החולקים על הצדיק האמת, כי רוב המון בני ישראל היו שומעים אליו, אך עיקר העיכוב הוא על ידי החולקים על נקודת האמת בכמה וכמה בחינות ומאלו החולקים יונק בחינת מצח הנחש וחיות רעות שהם חכמי הטבע וכו' וכו', ועל ידי כל אלו הדעות רעות הוא עיקר העיכוב מן התשובה.

הבעל דבר מתגבר ומשתדל בתחבולותיו למנוע מלהתקרב להצדיק האמת שבו תלוי שלמות תיקון נפשו וכל תקות ישראל, וכל מה שהאדם גדול ביותר ויש בו מדרגה ובחינה גבוהה ביותר מתגבר עליו למנעו ביותר. כי אם היה הוא מתקרב מי יודע מה היה נצמח מזה טובה ותיקון לכלל ישראל ולכל העולמות.

על ידי התקשרות להצדיק האמת יוכלו לעבור בשלום בכל המדבריות בכל מיני חושך וצלמות. אפילו כשעוברים חס ושלום במקום נחש שרף ועקרב וצמאון וכו', שבכל מקומות אלו בהכרח שיעבור בהם הרוצה לגשת אל הקודש, בפרט מי שנכשל כבר במה שנכשל ורוצה לשוב שבהכרח שיעבור באלו המקומות, ומכולם יצילנו ה' על ידי תוקף הרצון דקדושה שיזכה על ידי התקשרות לצדיק האמת שעל ידו עולים מכל מיני חושך שבעולם.

המעתיק והמסדר המעתיר בעדו ומזכירו לטוב תמיד, מברכו בשנה טובה ומבורכה ממקור הברכות והישועות.

ישראל דב אודעסר

נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן

Blossoms of the Spring - Letter 70

Letter 70

B.H. (Monday) Night of Tuesday 16 Cheshvon 723 (31 October, 1962). The holy Jerusalem.

My very flesh and bones, who is truly dearer to me than myself, Mr. Z. Shazar, who aroused his spirit and consecrated his expansive heart and his great talents, and he applied himself with all his strength, with great and overly exceeding enterprise, to magnify and publicize in all the worlds the name of the true tzadik, solitary in the world, who surmounts higher and higher than all the awesome tzadikim the unique ones of the generations, who protects and shields us, also now, in the midst of all types of darkness and alienation of these end of times. Fortunate are you a thousand fold, that the inners of your heart understands and feels the light of the absolute truth which shines now in all the worlds from beginning to end. Abundant Shalom.

From the utter exhaustion of my soul due to the troubles and acrimony which encompassed me from all sides, not upon you, my mind is not clear to write, however, for the sake of the pleasantness of your love which is engraved on (the tablet of) my heart, I was not able to restrain from performing my obligation incumbent on me, and I wrote with all my strength.

Hashem knows and is witness, and also your heart sees and feels, that your soul is bound with my soul always, every day and at all times, and specifically during hisbodidus and conversation with Hashem Yisburach, all my innermost interest is of you[1]. Being that my soul knows very well that your soul in her root is very extremely high and precious, and in the inners of your heart is rooted the point of the holy faith in Hashem and His Torah, and your heart burns like a burning fire to connect with all types of connections to the true tzadik and his loyal, koshe, and true men, who with his wellsprings of Torah wisdom shines into us absolute true faith, this faith which is the root and source of wisdom, through which one comes to conception of the Divine <hasugas Elokus>, to see eye to eye His Divinity, and His Kingdom, and His Dominion. But against this are spread out immeasurable obstacles and hindrances. Therefore, I am addressing you from the depth of my heart to put you up to the holy obligation incumbent upon us, to ponder deep thoughts, to surmount and to be emboldened with very strong will, to desire, and to yearn, and to long with the very expiration of the soul, to study his holy books every single day, to see their new awesome lights, until the good fragrance from the holy words enter your heart (bringing it further) to fulfillment and practice.

The bal duvur (-litigator-Satan-evil inclination) waylays a person constantly, and most essentially on his end and culmination, because a person, the more he ages, the more he needs to draw close to his root and rectification, and therefore the battle of the (evil) inclination intensifies upon him more, and there is no aitzu (remedy, advice, recourse) to be saved, just through the great power of the true tzadik and his holy books[2].

When two Israelites who love each other get together and meet with love and peace, and are happy upon seeing on another, then they bless "shehecheyunoo <He has given us life> vikeyimunoo <and has sustained us> etc.," for this is the main vitality and upholding of all the worlds[3]. It is necessary to seek and to find in every one of Israel some merit and good in order to love him as oneself, because every one of Israel – as long as he is called by the name of Israel, it is impossible that he does not have some good side and merit, and it is necessary to bind oneself with the good in them, and to be integrated together with them with love and unity!  The more the gathering of the true tzadik grows larger, the more the glory of Hashem becomes greater and the more they are subsumed in His unity blessed He[4].

With complete love and unity, and with desire and yearning to engage in the light of the daas (realization of knowledge) of the tzadik.

The transcriber Yisroel Dov Odesser

The virtue of the holy gathering <keebootz> who grasp themselves on the true tzadik with love, and great unity, and the utmost true harmony, with honor of their friends, and to guard themselves from all types of strife, and nullify their own honor completely opposite the honor of their true Rebbe this being the honor of Heaven[5], and they bind themselves with every point of the Judaism just to the true tzadik, and they draw upon themselves at all times the illumination of his holy daas (realization of knowledge), and they gather and get together all the time to speak with one another about fear of Heaven and of the illumination of the holy daas that the tzadik is engaged in shining in them – this holy keebootz (gathering) is very precious and lofty, and through this the tzadik who shepherds them can illuminate exceedingly to the dwellers of high <duray maluh> and to the dwellers of below <duray matuh>, and to strengthen all the fallen, and the downtrodden, and the exceedingly alienated, so that they also shall know the truth that Hashem is still with them, and by them, and very close to them, until they also return to Hashem Yisburach. And through this holy keebootz (gathering) there will be the redemption, and Messiah will come and rectify everything completely[6].

The transcriber

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[1] Psalms 87:7. See there different explanations of the words presented.

[2] Likutay Halachos, Yoreh Daya 1, Meat With Milk 5:7.

[3] Oatzar Ha-yeeru; Shalom and Achdus, Ahavas Chavayrim, and Judging Favorably article 10, from Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim 2, Blessing of Thanksgiving 6:61.

[4] Likutay Halachos, Laws of Blessings on Sightings and Blessings on Particulars 4:4 – regarding the commandment of loving one's fellow.

[5] Ethics of Our Fathers 4:12.

[6] Oatzar Ha-yeeru; Shalom and Achdus, Ahavas Chavayrim, and Judging Favorably article 8, from Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim, Laws of Washing Hands for a Meal 6:79,80,82,100.

Bonding

HH

The Talmud in tractate Sanhedrin 26a tells of the statesman Shevna who would teach Torah to masses 130,000 people. The righteous king of the time Chizkeyahu who is the Talmud credits bringing the highest education in history to the entire nation, would have an attendance of only 110,000. When Sancherev came to conquer Israel, Shevna wanted to just hand over the country. Chizkeyahu feared that Shevna had the merit and power of the majority. Heavens told Chizkeyahu fear not, the bonding of the wicked isn't considered a bond whatsoever. The Talmud also reveals that Shevna was a pursuer of desires possibly even including homose*uality. These people can make whatever type of relations they like, even based around the Torah, but they will remain alone, they can not make a real bond. And on the other side, we find the simple present of Jewish souls together in the same place forms a powerful bond and builds spiritual houses, in an exponential fashion, so that a real majority is not necessary even a small group creates a colossal figure.
It is also interesting to note that Shevna is the same letters as HaBaShaN - the Giant Oag, who Moses feared because of his having being circumcised by Father Abraham. Hashem Yisburach had to reassure Moshe that since Oag did not guard the purity of his covenant there was nothing to fear. Oag was not even (at least not completely) a homose*ual, as we know he coveted Mother Sarah.
BaShaN is also acronym for Nachman Ben Simcha, who is the ultimate teacher and rectifier of all of Israel, and the while world. About time.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman Me'Uman!

Spiritual Orga*m

HH

The holy Torah reveals that a person binding his (/her) soul to the One Merciful G-d can have many different experiences. G-d presents Himself in the world in both a feminine and masculine attitude. The feminine presence, is the Divine Presence known as the Shechina which "rests" in the world -- the Glory of G-d, the Jewish People of Israel as a whole are a reflection of the Shechina. The masculine presence, the husband of the Shechina, is the hand and spirit of G-d emanating and projecting from Above. The Tzadik incorporates and plays the role as a chariot and vehicle for the masculine, and directly fertilizes the Shechina, cultivating her and providing her with her every need. Those who have attained such a status will not be needing to read my whimsy words.

Although the Shechina is a feminine presence, that is only with regard to the Spiritual worlds above, but with regard to the worlds underneath it, the Shechina plays a very masculine role providing and taking care of the universe as we know it. Therefore when a person binds himself to the Divine, if he is deserving he will experience the presence of the Shechina, the Shechina will be projecting to him, which means that the person will be on the receiving end, just as a female receives from a male. If the person manages not only to bind himself, but to actually achieve an encounter of complete relationship to the satisfaction of a complete devotion, there will be a spiritual orga*m. For males this will take more time and devotion to master, because men in their physical role are designed to experience the spontaneous gratification which culminates with very tangible expression, which is not going to be forthcoming spiritually. It will take them much time to even realize they have achieved a strong relationship. Whereas women, physically do not so much aim for and definitely do not depend on a dramatic clima*, but rather grow and develop their feelings with intensity, warming and getting hotter, all the while basking in the pleasure of what is being done to/with/for them. Therefore women have an outright advantage in achieving meaningful union with the Divine. They are more at home and natural to this relationship. This could be working reasoning to what our Sages revealed that Sarah's prophecy was superior to her husband's - Abraham (of course this is only with respect to the Shechina, whereas Abraham's main role would be as the tzadik, which attends to the Shechina). When a man to feel tears spurting from his eyes he will not naturally associate that with orga*m, but a woman will revel and delight even as if reacting from physical stimulation.

May the Glory of G-d be revealed to the whole world, may we merit to bask in His Presence!

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman