WHO WAS REBBE NACHMAN OF BRESLOV?

BH

REBBE NACHMAN'S KIPPAH (BY A PRIVATE COLLECTOR)

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov was the great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov - his mother, Feyga, was the daughter of Adil, the Baal Shem Tov's daughter. Rebbe Nachman's father, Reb Simchah, was the son of Rabbi Nachman of Horedenker, a leading disciple of the Baal Shem Tov.

Rebbe Nachman was born in 1778 and passed away in 1810 - living a total of 38 years. He suffered 3 years from tuberculosis until he passed away.

At age 6, he already began to excel and propel forward in his service of Hashem, reaching by the age of 18 unimaginable levels of contemplation and depth of his knowledge and service of Hashem, as is expressed in his teachings later recorded in the book Likutey Moharan.

Rebbe Nachman is mainly known for his emphasis that there is always hope no matter how severe and dark any situation in life. He stresses this pathway mainly through the vehicles of joy, finding the good points, singing, dancing, and especially and foremost - PERSONAL PRAYER.

Reb Elchonon Spector (d. 1984) - a Breslover chassid of the previous generation - used to explain the verse from Proverbs: "That which is crooked, can never be fixed" - "מעוות, לא יוכל לתקון" as follows: the one who is "not crooked" "מעוות לא" - can rectify. The numerical value of not crooked - מעוות לא  553 - is the same numerical value as Rebbe Nachman's name - Nachman ben Simchah (553). Meaning, that this Tzaddik has the power through his teachings to help rectify any and every situation no matter what.