Fishy Nanach - Fish is single and plural - like Nanach

 

Ilya Ehrenbourg - and fixing pure kindness

On Tuesday, August 5, 2008 I published a short story written by Ilya Ehrenbourg, it is a pretty nice portrait of some of the qualities and beauty of Breslov. This led me to wonder who Ilya was, and the little research I did on him was far from positive so I rather not get into details but you can google him and see what you find. The fact of the matter is, Rabbainu taught in a few places, bringing from the Zohar, that G-d's holy name is aggrandized and glorified much greater when those that are far from holiness recognise and praise Him. Thus when an estranged Jew like Ilya writes so positively about Breslov this is a huge glorification of the The Tzadik, Rabbainu HaKadosh, and thus it is the ultimate glorification of G-d.

Chazal (early Rabbis) taught that the kindness done for the dead is called truthful, because the dead will not be reciprocating the kindness, so the one doing it is doing it in purity. This is very holy and noble. Rabbi Nachman was very involved in rectifying the souls of the dead. We, the Nanach, the true chasidim - followers of Rabbainu, should follow the ways of G-d, the ways of Rabbainu, the ways of the Nanach, and help rectify the soul of Ilya who is now in the Olam Huemes - the world of truth- and he probably doesn't have too much to say for himself (though we would never know for certain), so by reading his promotion for Breslov and showing it to others this will undoubtedly earn him defense and protection up there, and give him power and succor to achieve eternal bliss.

This is the power and the importance of connecting and supporting the Tzadik Huemes - The True Holy Righteous Man, for after everything is said and done, if the person was with the Tzadik, the Tzadik will see to it that he will come to a proper lot.

A similar thing is found in the Talmud regarding Acher, the elite sage who deviated from proper faith. After his death the Rabbis said to one another, was he not one of us, so they saw to it that he was able to enter paradise.

Ilya wrote a pretty nice essay about Breslov, so let it be his ticket to take him up, and probably this alone will be sufficient for him to enjoy what the most righteous of the opposers will never merit.

Here I will post, in the merit of Ilya Ehrenbourg:

NA NACH NACHMU NACHMUN MAYUMAN!

Here's the story:

[Out of the corner of my eye I spotted this book: A Golden Treasury of Jewish Literature, and something told me that for sure Rabbi Nachman was included, and I think it just took me a few seconds to find this title and follow my suspicion that The Zaddik would undoubtedly be Breslov. Upon reading the story I immediately typed it out and completed it right when I had to go. The story I dedicate to Mojo who I was sure would appreciate it. He has since verified his appreciation.]

With difficulty I have at last succeeded in finding a real Zaddik. He is, perhaps, one of the last. His name is Reb Yosele from Skvernovic. He lives in Warsaw, in the neighborhood of the Jewish paupers. A tiny unheated room. I am reminded: "Do not forget to cover your head". This is his only request. The Zaddik is a tall, good-looking Jew of about fifty-five years of age, with a long traditional beard and the kind, yet sad eyes of a village dreamer. He is dressed poorly, and everything around him is poor and shabby. The chairs are broken and the tapestry torn. This Zaddik resembles a great poet who is read only by ten or twenty people. His followers are poor workers from Nalevki.

The Zaddik offers me a cigarette and lights one himself. By the awkward movement of his fingers, and his strenuous puffing, it is obvious that he is not a habitual smoker. Perhaps he only lit the cigarette so as to soften the tension of our strange meeting.However, he soon feels at ease and answers my questions. I ask him about the essence of Hassidism. He answers readily without stopping to think a moment; sometimes smiling ironically, sometimes inspired, like a real poet.

"The Misnagdem consider the 'Law' above all. But soldiers are trained differently in different countries. The English soldiers are taught differently from the Polish. However, soldiers of the world are trained to obey the commands of 'one-two'; the good one forgets everything he has been taught."

The Zaddik caresses his long beard and looks at me questioningly. It seems that he is not certain whether I understood. He adds: "All life is war....

"You ask what is 'Heaven' and 'Hell'? After death a man with strong will power lives his life all over again. The joy from the love and kindness he dispensed through his life is 'Heaven'. And 'Hell'? 'Hell' is shame...

"In order for a man to rise he must first fall. One cannot rise without having fallen. This is the law of life and the law of G-d....

"Poverty is the path to G-d. In the book Zohar it is said that G-d has many attires, but he is always dressed in the prayers of the poor."

My last question: "What is more important, the relation between man to G-d or between man to man?"

The Zaddik smiles.

"At first it seems that his relation to G-d is the more important. For G-d is everything, and man - dust. But when you think about it, especially if you have lived and experienced, you will realize that man's relation to man is the most significant. If a man insults G-d, he has insulted G-d alone. But when a man insults a man, he has wronged both, G-d and man."

Reb Yosele has a score of followers. They always come to him for advice: "What's to be done, the daughter is sick?" or "Soloveichik will not return the ten zlotys he borrowed." His wisdom remains withing the four walls, hidden under a faded cap, bent over an old book.

The Zaddik reminds one of an old master who remembers a secret of an ancient craft, but does not know where to apply it. Reb Yosele still remembers the words of the Besht, but his words nobody understands any more. He cures hearts not with his inherited wisdom but with his title of "Zaddik," and with a kind and generous smile.

The rich Jews go to the better-known Zaddikim. There, they too may expect some honor or benefits; the right to sit with the Zaddik, at one table, or with his influential assistants in some commercial scheme. These Hasidim wear silk talletim (prayer-shawls), their beards are neatly trimmed, and Saturdays, they wear silk caps with borders of yellow fur. They call themselves Hasidim, but if you ask them about the teachings of Besht, they will not be able to answer. For them more important than the joy and ecstasy is - who will sit today next to the Zaddik, Aaron Shmulevich or Hayyim Rosenberg?

There are still other places where Hasidim is yet alive, not its philosophy but spirit - amid the poor of the synagogue of the so-called "Brazlav Hasidim." They have no Zaddik at all. Their Zaddik died long ago - a century and a half ago. His name was "Reb Nachman from Brazlav." He was a great philosopher and poet. His sayings, legends and poetry were recently published in a German translation. This first emergence of historical Hasidism from the borders of the Ghetto was full of belated glory, to the classical astonishment of the descendants. "Whence such daring thought? Whence such poetry? From Brazlav?... Nobody ever knew about it..."

Yes, only his Hasidim knew it. For them Reb Nachman was a great Zaddik. And when he died, they did not take another one in his place. They have chosen for their adviser the memory of this Zaddik-poet. Among the Brazlav Hasidim there are neither rich nor hypocrites. These have nothing to do here, their place is at the table of the living Zaddik. And here? Here are only the paupers of the Nalevki: peddlers, tailors, cobblers.

I enter the synagogue. It is a small room in a worker's house, dimly lit by a tiny electric lamp. It is crowded to capacity, and with difficulty I manage to elbow my way inside. At first it seems as though it were a trade union meeting. But no, here is a different century, a different chronology. Perhaps it is altogether beyond the concepts of our time. Bearded men in dirty caps who toil the whole week selling rags and herrings, pounding out a monotonous dreary existence. But now is Sabbath Eve. They came here to rejoice. And they are happy, not because it has been prescribed to be happy. No, in them is still alive the belief which is already dead outside of this tiny room. They are meeting the "Sabbath-Queen". They clasp their hands and sing. At first, they say words of prayer. But neither the tongue nor the mind can keep up with the gayness of the soul Soon, the words are heard no more, only a gay, wide, soul-captivating melody. The feet will not stand in one place any longer, and they begin to jump. And they dance in this tiny and dimly-lit room. Happiness! Life! I observe the faces and wonder. Who changed them? Who erased from their minds the memory of insults, hunger and "Zlotys"? One can speak here even about Catholicism, Freud or "Mass Hypnotism." But is it worth while? These things can be read by everyone in solid books. Would it not be better now to accept the smile of the Brazlav Hasidim as an extraordinary happiness? Even though it is foreign, inaccessible, but human till the end. The joy of losing oneself in a greater joy, the joy of honesty and forgetfulness, the joy of simple and childish souls. Rejoice!!!...

Na NaCh NaChMa NaChMaN MayUMaN

Yartzeit (anniversary of death) of Nachman Shabsai (Reuvain) ben Tzadok (who passed away this year) and Giula - post from 7/6/10

HH

**** there's a great picture of him on the Hebrew na-nach.net ****

At the azkara (remembrance) last night, some guy named Baruch told over a few stories about N”S.
Once there were a group of guys in Uman by Rabbainu and it was erev Pesach midday and they didn’t have anything for Pesach and they weren’t at all prepared either. The atmosphere was very depressing, until N”S walked in and promised them that they would have 100 kilo of meat, x amount of chickens, x kilos of Matzo etc., new clothing from head to foot etc.. This guy Baruch asserts that before sunset all had been fulfilled, he was there.
Baruch says that in that time period in Uman they often had very little food and N”S would always reassure them that all would be well.
Baruch also told over, I couldn’t hear so well but this is the upshot, that N”S promised him that he would get married that year, Baruch went through some difficult times, N”S came to him in a dream and told him because Baruch had believed him he would in fact get married that year, and so it happened . [it could be that N”S came to him in a dream after the engagement, and told him…].
Nachman Shabsai would frequently tell people, תחשוב טוב יהיה טוב – think good and it will be good.
Someone at my table told me a very typical and common story that happened with him. He was in Meron as his custom to go for 21 days every year for Lag BuOmer. N”S asked him if he could take him to the Maayan (spring) of Shmaya ViAvtalyon, this guy replied that he didn’t have a car, N”S told him don’t worry there will be a car, and just then someone pulled up and asked them if they wanted a ride to the Maayan.


Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman!

Nachman Shabsai OB"M - post from 7/28/09

HH

There are amazing stories about Nachman Shabsai that I heard, they are trying to write them down and make a book B"H.

First I would like to remind you of a previous post, that during the week of the mourning for N"S the Daf Yomi spent 4 days learning about very very holy tzadikim who were extremely fat (Bava Metzia 83b - 86 see Tosfos there).

Here is one story:

   During Sfiras Hu-Omer (if I recall correctly) N"S was hospitalized. He had many many visitors to the extent that minyanim would convene prayers there and eventually the hospital refused to put up with them. One person told me that when he arrived at the hospital to visit N"S and asked the nurse where to find him, the nurse knew his room number by heart, and asked, "what is he some type of admu"r?" An arab man who was in the hospital told one of my friends that he had been prepared to commit suicide until N"S talked him out of it. A few similar amazing tidbits come to mind, maybe I"ll be zoche to write them later.

   The hospital put him on a diet of: cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese, water (and maybe one other thing). Once he asked my friend M"O to get him some wafers, Mordichai told him that N"S had to keep his diet, N"S told M"S: you think I need you to get wafers, Hashem Yisborach can get them for me a different way. Shortly afterwards and arab youth was walking by - eating wafers. N"S asked him if he could have some, without a word the boy walked over and gave N"S the whole bag.

    Later, in middle of the night, a nurse saw the empty bag of wafers near N"S and berated and rebuked him for not keeping his diet. N"S told her that he need lafah (something similar to schwarma) the nurse told him that he was crazy, how was he going to get lafa in middle of the night. N"S told her that H"Y was able to do everything. Just then the phone rang it was an American friend asking if he could come visit. N"S told him for sure, and to bring some lafa, the friend arrived with the lafa and 100 shekel for N"S.

another story:

   N"S once got on a bus and sat in the back. He started complaining that he was hungry, famished. People were disgusted, slowly they left the back of the bus and made their way to the front. One woman began yelling at N"S how dispicable he was, that he should go on a diet.... N"S took it all quietly as the woman let it all out. Before N"S got off the bus N"S began to bless the woman with blessing after blessing....

another story:

   Once at a chasuna (there's a whole story how he got there but I don't remember it well enought to write down, it's something like taking a "special" taxi from Yerushalayim to Beis Shemesh even though he hadn't any money, when they arrived they quickly got the money, M"O who was with him also raised 200 shekel and found that N"S had already paid, N"S took 100 from M"S and gave it to someone as charity (he supported many people and often gave all his money to charity)) he was told that a few feet away there was a free bus that would take him home. N"S said H"Y is everywhere and that he didn't have to budge. In the end someone pulled up right next to N"S and drove him home to the door.

these are just some of many stories that I have recently heard.

Great blessings of Na Nach Nachmu Nachman Meuman!

Rosenthal's memories of Saba Yisroel -- NEW MATERIAL

In תשמו 1986 this guy – (if I remember correctly) Shmuel Rosenthal, who now hangs out by Nekuda Tova (Chanania Ehrman's kolel in Meah She-urim right opposite Neturay Karta), was learning in a baal teshuva yeshiva in Bney Brak (even though he wasn't a baal teshuva…) on Rechov Yerushalayim, and someone directed him to get a blessing from Saba Yisroel who was then residing right around the corner on Rechov Maimon. Upon visiting Saba he realized that Saba could use some help, so he started going over to Saba every day from around 6 pm to 2 am, for about 7 months.

He said Saba used to be up the whole time, he only slept from about 3 am to 4:30 and another hour during the day. Later, Rosenthal added that Saba would sleep a bit every night right before midnight - see below.

Once he saw Saba on the floor doing Tikun Chatzos for two hours, crying intensely, but immediately upon rising he was dancing. Once (maybe on that occasion) he heard Saba crying and sobbing to HY that there was a girl in Haifa, so and so, who needed a shidduch and a boy, so and so, in Jerusalem (I forgot the exact details) who needed a shidduch… after a few months this boy and girl came to Saba as a couple, to thank him (people with me challenged the story teller how he knew that it was this boy and girl etc. but he stuck to his guns, saying that he had heard their names etc.).

Once Saba a line down his leg of infection, and our friend warned Saba against going to the Mikva, but Saba went to a cold mikva, did his 310 dips, and came out completely healed.

Another time Saba had pneumonia and they went to the ER where they had to wait and were there for 5-6 hours, getting out at about 11 pm, they gave him medication which had some good effect. All the way home in the car Saba was saying מקוה ישראל ה' וכו'… and sure enough Saba went immediately to the mikva, did his 310, and when he came out he was completely healthy.

When he was deciding to leave Saba to join Asher Freund (A meforsam… who did a lot of chessed – made many soup kitchens and all types of free services for the poor, and he also taught his followers to scream – really scream and scream – especially in the forest) in Jerusalem, he said Saba said that AF was the real thing, and he was a fan of his.

Once our friend saw a guy come to AF begging him to help him because he was overcome with promiscuity, and AF kicked him out. So our friend went over to AF and said you are **** (in Hebrew “cha...”), how can you reject a Jew, Rabbainu says there is absolutely no despair in the world etc...” and AF sat there and looked at him for a bit, and then exclaimed “You are right!” and AF called the guy back and spoke to him for a bit, one of the things he told him was to say Tikun Haklali every day in the morning after going to the mikva.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

B"H after posting this I had the good fortune of meeting up once again with our new friend and I asked him to review what I wrote to make sure that I got everything right. B"H he gave his approval, and he pointed out that I omitted one point - that in each of the stories above where Saba went to the mikva, he first assured them that he would only dip once, and then once he got to the mikva he did all the 310. Saba did the 310 each time with his head (not just with his finger).

Rosenthal also said that the most important and significant thing to tell over about Saba was how he was always extremely happy and joyous, and how he used to tell people that if only they were happy the could accomplish - pull off - so very much.... (Rabbainu revealed that joy breeds success...).

BH meeting up another time with Rosenthal he told me that he personally recorded three songs that Saba composed and sang from Shir Hashirim, but the tape got caught and lost.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman 


BH after getting to hear these stories, I had the good fortune of speaking again with our new friend and now I got the half stories and the juice... 

Saba once cut himself between his toes from a nail jutting out of a bench by the mikva, and he had to get stitched up by a local doctor, and he got a tetanus shot.

Saba was once visited by the notorious fraud "moharash," and he received him pleasantly - this was in 1986 (We know from Morriss that in America, a few years before, Saba once removed a Likutay Tefilos from the table and put it on the floor, and it was discovered that it was from a printing of the above mentioned fraud). Afterwards Saba's immense dislike for his falsehood became blatant.

Once after Saba recited Tikun Haklali, Rosenthal told him it was time to make a feast of Rosh Chodesh or Shabbos, Saba said fine, but we have to bring the people to faith. Shortly after a bunch of people arrived - people Rosenthal didn't recognize, and Saba began speaking with them about belief in HY. He was telling one of them how there is a Creator, and the person was like; really? where is He etc.. Saba said He is inside of you, your soul is a part of HY.... Later this person repented and became observant, and he credited Saba for bringing him  back to the holy faith.

Many people came just to jeer at Saba or for a quick thrill, and Rosenthal would often throw people out. Saba was never bothered by anyone, even still Rosenthal guestimates that 40% of the times that he threw people out, Saba was happy and relieved. Saba used to great everyone with the greatest reverence and attention. Rosenthal says he regrets leaving Saba, and that before leaving Saba took his hands and asked him to stay. Before he left, Rosenthal warned Yisroel Dagan that Saba needed constant attendance, to get rid of people and to look after his health etc.. But after he left the young French took over and a completely different era unfolded.

Saba used to go the mikva everyday, very rarely missing. He would go at chatzos.

Saba had a very loose stomach, and the food that was brought to him was not sensitive to his needs, which just compounded the matter. Once Saba was bleeding in his stool, and it took him till 4pm until he was able to pray the morning prayer.

Sometimes Gedalia Kenig would have to come over to get Saba to take his medication.

Previously we wrote Saba's sleeping order, now Rosenthal added that Saba used to sleep for a little - around 20 minutes every night before chatzos, so that he could fulfill Rabbainu's directive that the main job of a Jew is to get up (i.e. wake up and start the day) at chatzos.

BH last night - the eve of 14th of Kislev 5777 at the wedding of Avi Pretter I had the good fortune of meeting up again with SR, as the Talmud in Brachos (6b) says that the reward for going to a wedding are "words" - and so I merited to get more vintage stories about Saba. SR told me that Saba was prone to come up with something new to repent on every half hour. Once on Friday night SR went over to help serve Saba the Shabbos meal, and he heard Saba speaking to HY before making Kiddush - "Do You remember the "shehakoal" blessing I made in the morning, I didn't really put intention into blessing You, of course You remember, for it says "ain <there is no> shichichu <forgetting> lifnay <before> keesay <the throne> kivoadechu <of Your glory>" and Saba proceeded to recite the veedoy (confession) clapping his chest, "ushamanoo <we have sinned>, bugadnoo <we have been disloyal>, guzalnoo <we have stolen>...." and continued in this vein of repentance for three and a half hours!


Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

Know Your Warriors

HH

Just saw this little story from Yehoshua Sofer - who goes by the title Abir - as universal master of martial arts - in a system based on the holy letters of the Aleph Beth (you can see videos of him in action on the youtube, and he has weekly classes....) - may HY bless him.

So Y.S. tells over that he would read aloud to Saba from holy books for hours on many nights, and once after reading for some time, Saba was sitting motionless, so he wanted to see whether or not Saba was sleeping, so he tried making a very slight change, instead of saying R' Cheeya he changed the name to that of another holy Sage frequently mentioned together, and immediately Saba sprang up and told him that he shouldn't forgo saying the holy name R' Cheeya, Saba told him all about who R' Cheeya was, many stories, to give him a better idea of who R' Cheeya was and how valuable it is to just say his name. Saba ended by saying, in heaven on judgement day they will ask you מה חמית ומה פשפשת  (questions of how much one merits to fathom of HY and His Torah, in Likutay Moharan volume 2 Torah 7 - Rabbainu says that these are questions pertaining to the highest tzaddik who is in the aspect of Ma"h and "sleeping" see there the story that R' Eliezer was sleeping and R' Yehoshua was awake, and R' Eliezer's sleeping is referring to a very high level of conception of Hashem Yiburach the aspect of the ultimate knowledge of not knowing, the aspect of a son, whereas R' Yehoshua who was awake, was only in the aspect of a servant attaining the knowledge of the absolute Presence of HY), not if you tested R' Yisroel Ber. In this way Saba revealed to YS by an amazing slight hint his high level of the tzaddik who is in the aspect of a son, who is in the aspect of sleeping, as explained in Likutay Moharan.

The Abir has many many more amazing stories he saw and experienced with Saba which he shares in his lessons.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

Saba Yisroel and Meir Maimoni

HH
Now he is a Rosh Kollel in Chatzor (a town near Tzfas), he was frequently by Saba, he would often come with Shemmer (the guy who wrote the books for Uz - zugdon, and BH broke off from this cult leader), and Saba would laugh on their arrival.
Saba revealed to him his previous gilgul as a rabbi in Safed, and possibly even his exact burial spot.
Once he came to Saba wearing a brand new jacket and Saba kept praising it, which was very strange and out of character, so Meir offered it to Saba, and Saba accepted it.
Later when he got home he discovered that at the very time Saba was coming on to his to new jacket, his infant son starting choking on a toy - a chain of plastic fruit, and when he gave the jacket to Saba, the toy dislodged from his throat, and he was saved. When Meir returned to Saba he found his new jacket disregarded.

Meir also heard from Saba who said of himself that he extracted himself from the maitzach (forehead- point of brazenness) of the nachash (snake).

Na Nach Nachma Nachman Me'Uman

רבינו הקדוש כותב עלי ישראל בער האש שלי תוקד עד ביאת המשיח

HH GIVALD song, music by Raanan Nachal n"y. My fire will burn till the coming of Messiah! Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

At the beginning of this video I put a short video of a little fire which raged on the windowsill of the room adjacent to the holy tomb of Rabbi Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman - the fire started by a few little candles which are sold right there in the container and are lit in memory of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, at the time I was standing in the room of the tomb speaking to Peretz Krohn - the Principal and Executive Director of the Jewish Day Schools in Uman, and while I was speaking to him I observed - looking over his shoulder - the fire growing larger and larger until it caught peoples attention, at which point I joined the excitement and filmed the little clip. Later in the day I was approached by Feux who had heard that I filmed the fire and he asked me if he could get the clip from me so that he could put it up on the social media which he promotes with little news tidbits from Uman. So I thought it over and figured that I was only interested in spreading Nanach and for that I can use this clip in a Nanach video, and let my friend capitalize on it's sensational news worth. So I told Feux I'd be happy to give him the clip, just one catch, my phone was about dead - the battery was like at 4% and the phone was broken so that it couldn't recharge, I had already bought a brand new charger for it, to no avail, and I had already bought a new phone that a friend was bringing me to replace this one - so that I could send this phone to get fixed. Feux was unfazed and said that it was no problem, and he takes out of his pocket a samsung power bank, and said he'll just charge up my phone with this. So I smile at him, and explain to him very patiently that the phone won't charge, it's busted and it's about to be sent for repair. Feux however is still unfazed, and says that this is the real thing - a real samsung charger and it will work! So, I smile at him benignly, not thinking for a second that he wasn't completely wasting his time, and offered him my phone, "be my guest... good luck..." - so he plugs my phone in, and bingo, its charging beautifully! In one second it became clear that the chargers I had been using were garbage, and all I had to do was get a decent new charger. And thus the fire of Rabbainu saved me tremendous hassle, the ordeal of buying a new cheap temporary phone which I would be stuck with, getting my phone to the repair, getting it back, and the whole shabang... and this little fire of Rabbainu saved me all that money and trouble... Yishtabach shimo lu-ad!

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

Revenge - a murdered Jew is buried with a knife - and he takes them out one by one

HH


In the time of the Ba"ch, the gentiles were jealous of a successful Jewish merchant, so they murdered him R"L. When they buried him, they put a small knife in the grave, as was the custom for a murdered Jew. Afterwards a gentile saw this murdered Jew chasing after him with a knife, and he killed him, and this reoccurred time and time again, and he was intent on killing all of them... until an apostate Jew figured out what was happening, and the gentiles said that the next day they would dig up the grave and if they found a knife there they would G"F kill out all the Jews. That night the Bach's father came to him in a dream and warned him to remove the knife from the grave, the Bach didn't believe in dreams, but it happened 3 times, so he took note and sent the Chevra Kadisha to extract the knife. They dug up the grave and saw Yosselle with the knife in his hand, and try as they might they couldn't remove it. So they told the Bach, the Bach told them to tell Yosselle that they would learn mishnayos for him and all sorts of such favors, but it was to no avail, Yosselle wouldn't give up the knife! It was nearing daybreak so the Bach came in person, and wasn't successful. Finally the Bach whispered something in his ear, and Yosselle gave up the knife, and they sealed up the grave. That day the gentiles dug up the grave and saw that there was no knife. No one was able to divulge from the Bach the secret which he whispered into Yosselle's ear. When the Bach died he revealed that he promised Yosselle that in return for saving the city, he as the Rav of the city would be buried next to him, and so it was...


Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman

Open Sesame overtaken by Rabbi Na Nach

HH
Y.A. n"y named after his famous grandfather the renown kabalist author of the Sulam, has yearned for many years to come to the holy tomb of Na Nach Nachma Nachman Me'Uman, but the Zionist regime imposed restrictions on him leaving him as a captive in the holy land. This year a lawery told him that to even think of gaining allowance to leave for a few days would entail putting $10000 on the table, procuring guarantors, and who knows what else. But our dear friend has been actively doing hisbodidus on this every day for 4.5 years, and he couldn't hold back. He bought a ticket and went to the airport. By the border control he put his palm in the machine and it refused to acknowledge him, he tried time and time again with no success. So finally he screamed, "Rabbainu I'm coming to you, open up the way!" This time the machine gave him passage, and BH he's sitting right here with me by the holy tomb.
Na Nach Nachma Nachman Me'Uman!

When in doubt ... say Na Nach!

HH
This happened shortly after I heard about the holy Petek. The guy that told me about it introduced me to his friends and invited me to a Shabbos meal. Ehile we were all sitting by the table, I heard his wife ask him what to do has she had forgotten whether or not  she had already made a blessing and she did not know how to proceed, to make the blessing or not. My friend told her that she should say Na Nach Nachma Nachman Me'Uman and not worry about a thing, everything would be fine. Hearing this got my blood boiling! There are laws to follow, specifically addressing what is to be done in such situations, how can he ignore them and say the remedy is to say Na Nach Nachma Nachman Me'Uman?!

As I grew older I began to greatly appreciate this casual advice from my friend. For it is known that Amalek - the arch enemy of holiness has the gematria of "sufaik" - doubt, as does the acronym NNNNM! Amalaik is the first of nations (this weeks parsha - Buluk) and so it is represented in NNNNM, but its end is utter decimation (ibid). Nanach kills the doubt and the sheker! What can a person do when he has a doubt and doesn't know what to do. This is Amalaiks preying grounds, he has this person GF already in his jaws. Comes along Rabbainu and says, my dear little precious Jew, get a grip on yourself see where you heading! Get out fast! Get very happy and excited very quickly! There is a concept (a concept gematria NNNNM) that reverses even the worst to the ultimate best: Na Nach Nachma Nachman Me'Uman! Use it, because You's it. Sing and dance - chant Nanach and be merry. Rosh Hashana be by the Rebbe!

So when in doubt and always for that matter shout: Na Nach Nachma Nachman Me'Uman!

Chizuk (encouragement)

HH

This guy was lying without strength, he'd been sick for some time and no real hope for getting better in the near future, sounds are going off in his head to just give up and give in to the yetzer hura (evil inclination), so he reaches for a copy of Blossoms of the Spring, and asks to be shown what he needs to know or do right now. He opens up the holy book and there in front of him he learns that even the smallest motion that a person does to draw close to the tzadik is infinitely precious. So he gets the message and with his remaining strength sings, or maybe that is a little generous, chants Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman, and little by little he is blessed with a touch more strength to continue productively.

True story.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

Wake up Nanach!

HH this guy made a loud open protest against me this morning at prayers: "What is this - waking me up 2 o'clock in the morning screaming: Who knows one?'...."
He gave the giggles even as I write this.... (poor soul he believes in false messiahs and rabbis).

Faith in Nanach

HH

Heard yesterday from Gavriel Levi Nanach. A.P. was praying, he was just about finished when he suddenly felt a desperate need to go to the bathroom, he quickly removed his tefilin and left them spread out on the table, and went to the bathroom, he returned immediately exclaiming how strange it was that in the end he didn't have to relieve himself at all. So our friend commenced to put on tefillin of Rabbainu Tam, and in the middle he once again felt a desperate need etc. and once again he returned quickly exclaiming how strange it was that he hadn't had to relieve himself at all.

Now he addressed the two sets of tefilin spread out on the table, they had just recently been painted over and it was very hard to differentiate between them, which were of Rashi and which were Rabbainu Tam. After much agonizing contemplation he said Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman and put together one pair and designated it as Rashi, and the other as Rabbainu Tam.

Not too much longer after (maybe a year) A.P. passed on the the World of Truth, there was some debate as to whom would receive his tefillin and one person received the Rashi and another the Rabbainu Tam. Afterwards they realized -- by discerning the threads of the Shel Rosh, that the pair designated as Rashi was in fact the Rabbainu Tam, and the Rabbainu Tam was really Rashi.

Shortly after this Asher Nanach in Los Angeles had a dream, and he called up Gavriel telling him that the Rashi tefilin were pussul! --- Comes out that A.P. by putting his faith in Nanach had saved himself from saying a non called for blessing every day (which is saying G-d's name in vane, which is likened to spilling seed GF), because he put them on as Rabbainu Tam, without a blessing. Saying a blessing on Rabbainu Tam is not a terrible grievance, and in fact some contend that the only reason why we don't make a blessing on them is because we are unworthy... -- but obviously this holy Nanach was!

The Kabbalist Levi (Saadia) Nachmani המקובל לוי (סעדיה) נחמני על הפתק

HH

Morris Shushan told me that he brought the Kabalist Levi Nachmani to Saba, and Saba showed him the Petek. Levi examined it and told Saba a few insights; he told Saba that according to the Petek, Saba would be making a  big trip soon --- Saba listened  to this with great interest and in fact shortly after Saba made his famous trip to America. Levi also said that according to the Petek Saba would live till 106 (Something that Saba said more than once, that he was 106, however the general consensus is that he was actually 96 years old when he passed on, and the date on his identification had been altered to save him from Turkish conscription).
There's more to the story but that's it for now

Lights of hope -- Nanach --- in Auschwitz!!!

HH

So my new friends didn't show up last week, and I was thinking oh well, that's the end of them... HY. Just now I get a call from them, they didn't make it last week because they were invited to participate in the big holocaust memorial with all the celebrities.

So after enduring all the ceremonies in the freezing camp grounds, and spending Shabbos in the hotel hearing all the atrocities that went down, comes time to make havdala, and my friend has had enough of the death and agony, so he sits on the side and pops out his newly acquired Nanach books. He reads the story of the Petek, and begins dancing Nanach (to the best of his knowledge), and he's not sure if he's mad, but he strengthens himself, and before long more and more people join the dancing, and then everyone is dancing (it's like 1000 people), and on the women's side, they are dancing!!!!

Everyone is dancing thanks to Rabbainu.

The guests were so bent from the whole event, and they were about to return to the misery of their professions, chasing the shortcomings of this world, and it was very bleak. They don't know where they are heading, after seeing where the Jews had ended. Suddenly B"H Rabbainu interjects and says you got plenty to be excited about!!! Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!!!

So my friends, are reading to the guests from the Nanach books. The guy is reading the story of the Simpleton and the Wise Man, and this is something that blew their minds, because this is exactly what they were trapped in, all their sophistication. The woman is reading to the women about shmiras habris, and the women who all have sons, are crying for all the calamity they may have caused. And they are all full of gratitude to Hashem for everything now.

Also there was a gentile boy who was stuck with them due to the weather, and he was completely blown away by some of the teaching of Rabbainu, and they were amazed just watching the impact and power of Rabbainu.

So many of the celebrities are crying and laughing, and they are thanking my friends telling them that they have made their lives, as they are about to return to the gloomy world of falsehood. -- How did the media miss out on this???

There's much more, but I told myself at least something otherwise I won't write anything, so B"H for every little bit.

B"H thank G-d for Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the land (Isiah 43:6 - Likutay Moharan Torah 30)

HH

This verse is brought down and expanded upon by Rabbainu in the Torah that I was learning, so no surprise when in the early evening a car pulls up all the way to my somewhat remote humble Azamra Nanach Shtiebel, and a couple with their child come searching for someone who can speak to them in English and tell them about Rabbi Nachman.

Can't take responsibility for complete accuracy and also I have to be brief B"H you should merit to hear the full amazing version.

The father is a chemical engineer who became an attorney, and they knew about nothing more than the fact that they are Jewish. They were living first in Brooklyn where a neighbor with a very large family was moving to Israel and gave the mother a box full of volumes of the holy Zohar, he told her that he discerned that she was special so he was leaving these holy books for her, and even though she couldn't read Hebrew she should spend time just gazing at the holy pages. She took him up on it. The  next year their daughter was born --- 14 years ago.

The mother (who is a direct descendant of the Noda BiYihuda, which she told when she was blown away when off the cuff I recounted Rabbainu's parable about the treasure under the bridge, and for some reason I added that the bridge was in Prague -- they had just been there, and now they found the treasure here NNNNM!!!) at one point began reading the Torah in English and the Zohar in English everynight at midnight. Once about 6 years ago while reading she reached out in heartfelt prayer to the Shechina and was answered personally, part of what she was told was to read the holy Zohar.

About 3 years ago the daughter started being visited in her dreams by a holy rabbi who identified himself as the dancing rabbi! The Rabbi told her that she should dance and do somersaults. The Rabbi also told her that she should go and live in Israel. Specifically the Rabbi came to her in her dreams on her birthday 3 years ago, and on every birthday since. So the girl persuaded her parents and they came to Israel for a month or 6 weeks. They were mainly in Jerusalem and it was uneventful. The next year they came again after the girls birthday and at the end of the visit they were on their way to tsfat, made a wrong turn and ended up at Rashbi. There someone told them that the dancing Rabbi was probably Saba Yisroel, and told them that the next time they came they should go to Tiveria (I didn't understand this guys idea, there are much more Nanach in Meron.... and where exactly in Tiveria will they meet up with the Nanach?). So this time around they came straight to Tiveria and had some Divine help finding and renting an apartment (when they thought they might have to pay $300 a night for a hotel), and they were here for 3 weeks.

Last night they came to holy tomb of Rabbi Akiva and the Ramchal and someone pointed them to my direction knowing that I speak English.

B"H we spoke for about 2 hours, they were completely amazed how so much of what they had so desperately wanted to know is in fact very readily available, except Rabbainu's way is that a person has to first get past all types of impediments and darkness.

B"H this is just the very beginning of the story.

Great blessings of Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

More adventures in the life of Simcha Nanach

BH this morning Airan brought us a full breakfast, and I decided to participate. When it came time for the grace I suggested it should be made on a cup of wine, and B"H the suggestion was taken up, however there was no wine readily available, and I had all about given up on this exemplary expression of blessing, and then Azamra tells me where I can get a cup of wine, and B"H we merited to do the grace on the wine.
About and hour and half later I'm cruising through the daily Chok LiYisroel, and lo and behold, in todays portion of the holy Zohar, we are encouraged and warned that the grace should not be made on an empty table... there should be some bread on the table, and a cup of wine on your right!!!!

So we merited to fulfill the Torah before learning it -- an aspect of Naasseh (we will do) ViNishma (we will then listen)!!!


Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

Fishing Souls -- adventures in the life of Simcha Nanach

HH

on the bus from Chaifa to Tiveria I sat right behind the bus driver, and across the aisle was a woman I'd about 50 years old, she was yenting on the telephone. After a while I made a phone call, and the bus driver turned to me and said, either hang up or go to the back of the bus, so I told the guy I was talking to that I'd speak to him a different time and hung up. The woman was very offended and she said to me something very derogatory about the driver ending with "pardon my french".... So I told the lady that I was happy to accommodate the driver, seeing that we are only in this world for a very limited amount of time it's quite the privilege and opportunity to make life easier for someone. She was really taken by this, and exclaimed, wow where did you learn to have such an attitude?! So I started telling her about the holy teachings of Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman and we were chatting, and she exclaimed: I'm sure glad that the bus driver told us to shut off our phones so that we could talk!

There is a matter (yesh inyan -- numerical value = Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman) that turns everything around to be good!!!

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

Adventures of Simcha Nanach

HH

On my way out of EY to Uman, I arrived late at the airport, and very close to the departure of the flight I was forced to buy a return ticket, B"H I managed although because of the time pressure I settled for a more expensive ticket.

מקיש יציאה לביאה....

On my way out of Kiev to the Holy Land, my flight was 9:45 am, Netz was about 7:50 am, so I got a ride to the airport with Binyomin from W., and we arrived at the airport in time to daven Netz, and then I checked in my suitcase and proceeded to customs, there was a long line, and when I finally presented my passport, lo and behold, once again I was there more than I was welcome, so about 45 minutes before the flight I find myself in their office as they struggle to get the printer working and figure out how to extract money from me. They demanded about 860 grivna -- (last time that came out to about $108, this time, due to the depreciation of the grivna, it came out to about $53. Something to think about...), so i went to the bank, waited my turn, and gave them my credit card, but they said that they couldn't recognize it. So I was stuck, with very little time before my flight. Looking around the airport the only Jews I saw were two bochurim, I asked them if I could borrow the money and pay them back in Israel, but they didn't have money, just a few grivna they had left over, so they donated 50 grivna to the cause. They told me that they had also been looking around for other Jews but couldn't find any. So I circled the airport, with my heat screaming to HY, and with full faith that everything is mamash for the best (maybe the flight was going to blow up???), and I was already thinking about what it would be like to merit to spend more time with Rabbainu, but in any event I had to redeem my passport from the customs, and I didn't want to lose the flight. -- So B"H I spot a guy wearing a beanie sitting at a table with someone that might have been his mother --- it was less than 10 minutes to my flight. So I as him if he speaks English and blurt out my situation in as few words as possible, and without any need of further explanation the guy hands me 2 crisp 500 grivna bills (from a leather portfolio), and the woman another 100. So he asks me if I'm coming from Rabbi Nachman, and I say of course, and he asks me if he could give me names to pray for, I say, forsure, so he hands me a very fancy pen, and I start writing names on a napkin: Eliyahu ben Luba Simcha and Tamar bat Rachel -- may H"Y bless them with all the blessings and salvations of Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman -- they were just warming up -- ready to give me many more names, but said to them sorry but my flight is almost gone, and I raced to the bank, there was a long line, but they let me cut to the front, and after a brief wait I paid, ran to the customs (had to go through security.....), got my visa, and started running for the boarding gate -- that's when I hear my name on the loudspeaker to present myself immediately for boarding, it was still a little distant and I made it there as fast as I could, it was completely deserted except for one attendant, who was kind of surprised that I actually showed up, and she started to ask me why I was so late, but she cut herself off because there was no time and she sent me quickly to the plane -- B"H the plane had delayed the few minutes (plus the extra time before the final departure when they close for good) that I needed.
Yishtabach Shimo Lu-ad -- not only did I make it, I was about 250 (less than $20) richer for the ordeal.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!