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Menachem Herman posted an entry
Menachem Herman posted an entry
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Personal Prayer!
There IS a "Secret", but not exactly like the movie says...
An ultimate weapon that any human being could access - not only to improve his lot, but to literally change it - is this - the Hebrew term "Hitbodidut", - in plain English translates as Personal Prayer.
If it were possible...and we only we allowed 2 words to describe WHO Rebbe Nachman is and what the whole Uman concept stands for > it would be Personal Prayer.
He insisted the way to gain clarity, the way to change ones situation, the way we can get unconditional help, even global change, even from the most terrifying situations, is through Personal Prayer. Without it, life is too "big" to go it alone.
In the quiet time during personal prayer we can start with gratitude; for things we see and don't see; once we start counting the thousands of heart beats we use a day, the thousands of breaths we take, and the way our water works work like a charm, among the million other functions our body does without us thinking about it, we have loads to be grateful for and that’s the start.
Try it - for 10 minutes. How?
It's not getting into a meditative state - it's not opening up a prayer book - it doesn't even count if you've prayed the 3 times a day the regular Jewish prayers.
It's finding a quiet secluded spot - if you live in Manhattan and a beach or forest is hard to find - try the roof or the car.
Once you're in a quiet spot, close the phone(s!), turn your eyes heavenward, if the ceiling in the way close your eyes and SEE the sky...and open your mouth.
What should you say?
Well, first a greeting works well - How about:
Hi Father, Hello Aba, Hey Dad, Dear God, How are you today My best Friend, Hello My Best Buddy...what ever works is fine!
Then, just let it all hang out...tell Him about your day, your fears, and your secrets that only you know...try it for 10 minutes.
You will be amazed at the results. You will feel so much better and things will start to change around you. Make this an unwavering priority in your life, everyday, you will see miracles.
Doing Personal Prayer does NOT have to be anyone's business or have to be an issue at all. It is "personal" prayer, so it means you can keep it personal. If a spouse, parent or room mate might give you a hard time - do it under the covers when no one sees! What they will see, is a happy, more settled person, and they will ask, "Hey, what are you doing different lately?"
Then you can spill the beans...!
Menachem Herman posted an entry
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YOUR STORIES WILL HELP OTHERS!
SEND US YOUR STORIES OR QUESTIONS AND WE WILL POST THEM UNDER THIS CATEGORY - ALLOWING OTHERS TO REPLY AND ANSWER TO YOUR POSTS OR QUESTIONS -
Menachem Herman posted an entry
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TO BE UPDATED SOON
Menachem Herman posted an entry
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To the "Uman Experience" Retreat - Exclusive Tours of the Ukraine
"Traveling with us makes your time away from home easy"
"…The Uman Experience service makes Uman and the Ukrainewonderfully accessible to those who otherwise might experience extreme hardship. I am happy to unconditionally endorse the Uman Experience." Rav Lazer Brody, http://lazerbrody.typepad - Israel
"…Traveling to Uman can be daunting under the best conditions. Thank Gd for introducing me to the Uman Experience! From the moment I booked the trip until I left, I felt we were in the best of hands. Receiving updates as the holidays approached made me feel part of the whole happening. Once arriving in Uman, I was with 2 kids, the warm hospitality awaiting us was like we reached the oasis in the desert. Best part of all, were the fabulous Rabbi's who joined us during meals and shared with us the "Uman Experience". We were able to connect, share ideas, ask questions, what can I say...it's a life changing experience…Woodstock is nothing compared to this...Count me in." Asher Moses, www.taximedia.com – London, 2008
"…when my dad asked me come to Uman this year with him, I was really excited, my dad said I would find friends to make this year and we were met with warm friendly smiling faces, it was fun meeting Rabbi Brody, Menachem and his boys, it was like home." Jacob Moses, 10 yrs old – London, 2008
So glad you came by!
Join us for a unique, life changing experience; Uman for Rosh Hashana and trips during the year to various Kivray Tzadikim (Shrines of Jewish Holy men); we a have a broad choice of Retreats, and our trips are perfect for both novice and the seasoned traveler!
If you haven't checked out the difference between a vacation and a Retreat yet - you can read about it in a post on the right hand side > "How is a Retreat Different".
We are proud, at the same time humbled to say, we’ve been working on the Uman Experience Retreats since 2007; our trips have been successful and our guests keep coming back with friends and family! Our in-house catering, simple and delicious, our accommodations safe, clean and comfortable. We take care of you from the minute you arrive to the airport.
The best thing about our Retreats is that they are a retreat - a retreat from the usual...The friendships that continue with many of our guests long after our trips, is simply a bonus, and stories about your trip will be told and retold for a long time.
We have a spiritual leader accompanying us on our tours for guidance, amazing lectures and some good fun. This is our uniqueness, our guests feel at home with spirituality and their physical needs rolled into a complementary package. We are a non political, nonjudgmental group, only interested in you as a person. The atmosphere and lessons shared hold a warm place in each of our hearts; and this is indeed the fortification we need for another year of life’s challenges because as we all know, life is made up of challenges...
A few words of why we've created the Uman Experience:
The old timers to the Uman Experience know how this company has grown from a loving idea of a couple people to an unstoppable force.
New comers, well, Uman isn't on the top "10 Hot Spot" list for vacationing, nor is it centers for fashion, science, or great artists, but you know that already.
We travel to Uman for one reason, to recover from what life has thrown at us, to find an inner peace and strength, to connect to something greater than ourselves; to close our eyes and say, this is it, this is what I have been searching for; a scenario most people think not possible.
We realized, being old timers to Uman - many people would love to visit, but find the trip too scary for aload of reasons - this is where we decided to make it easy, accessible to anyone wanting to experience this kind of a trip.
Rebbe Nachman's force hits people in different ways, as he pulls us close to him, everyone goes through their own personal journey. Some of us connect to the unbelievable high energy that's palpable in the air and ride the wave; some of us open up to a brother or sister we have never met before and let go of a deep secret, some of us find a hidden tranquility we've never known before and realize each new day is a new beginning and we all have a second chance, and some us, just can't stay away.
So let’s get straight to the point.
Life is closing in on us. With critical problems, world financial crisis, kids out of control, wars raging or pending, divorce as the new fad, unbelievable stress, illness, “no time”, medication, alcohol and others; questions of “what for, what’s it all mean, when will I be happy, when will I understand”, and many more plague us.
Critical personal situations are begging for resolution.
Our spiritual guides will help us gain understanding of emuna – faith, and share with you the answers about today’s challenging questions, not feed you pop psychology; answering questions that will allow you to face your challenges with new resolve and new tools.
The whole idea of traveling to Uman and other far away places in the Ukraine seems strange to a new comer! What is it about Uman that yearly attracts thousands upon thousands of people from literally all over the globe from all walks of life? Why visit the grave site of a Tzaddik, why Rebbe Nachman in particular?
A Tzaddik is a saintly individual, who has an unparalleled mastery of the spiritual, which gives him the ability to bridge the physical and spiritual worlds, the answer is - the real answer is, the way we feel and see change once we experience it…
The practice of visiting the graves of the Tzadikim (shrines) is an ancient one. Far back we find that Jacob in the Bible explained to Joseph why he buried Rachel at the roadside instead of taking her to Hevron. “This way she will be of help to her children when Nevuzaradan takes them into exile. They will pass by her grave on their way to exile, and Rachel will come forth to God and weep and entreat for mercy on their behalf” (Rashi, Genesis 48:7).
Rebbe Nachman made a promise that no other Tzaddik in the whole of Jewish history has ever made. Taking two of his closest followers as witnesses, he said: “When my days are ended and I leave this world, I will intercede for anyone who comes to my grave in Uman, recites the Ten Psalms of the General Remedy – theTikkun HaKlali - and gives some charity on my behalf."(Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom #141). Because of his promise, Rebbe Nachman is very much alive today; his ideas are addressed to all "seekers".
We at the Uman Experience encourage all seekers to join us; we are the only Kosher Mehadrin Retreat Guest House in the whole of the Ukraine and in fact in the whole of Europe, we're not talking about the posh hotels that are koshered out for Pesach /Sukkot holidays only; our Retreat will be open as a permanent Guest house all year.
We will take care of the you the minute you arrive. Check out when you'd like to come, get to a travel agent, book a ticket and let us know when you will be arriving, Kiev is the preferred port of entrance into the Ukraine, not Odessa. Once you arrive in the Kievairport, we'll have a mini bus waiting for you, taking the 3+ hour drive to Uman.
We'll be waiting for you at the gates in Uman!
Call us for any questions: +97229918314
Email: umanexperience@gmail.com
Blessings in all your journeys!
Shira and the whole Uman Experience team
.
Menachem Herman posted an entry
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When we plan a vacation, it's usually because we need a break.
Problem is, depending on why we need the break, we not only take ourselves with, but we most likely will spend alot of money on the clothing needed for our trip, a lot of money on the trip itself, and of course, we'll need a nice cash flow with us for "spending", on items we of course don't need, and once back home, will be most likely be forgotten. Nothing wrong with the spending, but is that spending justified? We come home exhausted, needing a vacation from our vacation... Sound familiar?
A Retreat is different.
Our Retreat Guest House named the "Uman Experience", is not only built in a more relaxed design than a traditional hotel, our tours are themed differently. It's a get - a – away for sure, but with a twist, an experience a regular vacation can not give you.
The difference is our Retreat is a time for you; time to re-connect to the person you've always wanted to be; a time for reflection about where you've been and where you want to go; a time for getting back to basics. It's a place for chilling; a place to dress down, t-shirts, jeans and sneakers are perfect. Its simply a place away from the standard nonsense of the world.
Life has most of us twisted in knots; it's the business, the bills, lack of work, over work, tension with our partners, spouses, kids or health issues. We've forgotten how to enjoy simple pleasures, and to be thankful for the simple things in life. We've forgotten what the beauty of nature is, breathing deep in an open field, enjoying the rain, feeling the breeze; visiting one of our holy forefathers graves and connecting on a spiritual level to a higher place and asking for help from above; the feeling of being refreshed and satisfied on simple but delicious meal is a rare experience we will offer, for even food doesn't satisfy us for long in our quest for more... We are looking way-out for someway to get in balance, but the path seems easier with a drink, prescription medication (just to cope and get through a day) and street drugs. Even if we haven't gone that far, life is far from simple for us and we long for a change of pace...
Looking back on our pasts and even our current self, wouldn't it be wonderful to understand ourselves better, what do we really want? Away from the hassles, a Retreat can give you time to think; perhaps it will be just long enough to uncover hidden thoughts and feelings, allowing us to get a glimps of what we what it is we really want out of life.
Finally, we encourage you to accept yourself for who you are and love yourself just as you are; a concept difficult to relate to since we are forever BUSY, too busy to spend on the "ME" – the newest fad is "I have no time", and this fad is sadly a reality for too many of us.
Our Retreat and tours are different:
> Our Retreat "home base" is located in Uman in the Ukraine; in a relaxed setting, that doesn't insist you dress for dinner.
> We offer "different style" tours for different tastes – check our tour selection in the right column here on this page >>>
> Our Retreat, "Uman Experience" is built as private suites. Each suite has a kitchen, balcony and 3 bathrooms. Each suite has 3 roomy, airy, bedrooms that can hold 6 / 8 people for groups; modern Uman is bunk beds. Smoking inside the building is strictly forbidden; outside we have benches and ashtrays.
> Our main floor is the place to mingle and relax; we will eat together, laugh together and get strengthened together in our large comfortable dining room, with extra bathrooms for your convenience.
> We have our own private Mikva (ritual bath) for whoever is interested, and is kosher for woman.
> Cell phones are not allowed in the dining areas or on the trips, keep them closed and only open them 1 time a day (IF you must, to tell loved ones you are ok and having fun!). Wi-Fi is not available.
> We have a non – judgmental atmosphere, and all our guests are required to uphold our ideals.
> We offer simple and delicious meals; all made in our homey kitchen with kosher mehadrin labels; or local produce from the list of Rav Bliech (the head Rabbi of the Ukraine).
> If wished, a chance to be "hands on"; help with kitchen duty, participate in open forum lectures; if participating on one of our retreats that has a well know spiritual guide, you'll have a chance to ask questions that have bothered you; you'll have a chance to work in the garden and get dirty, or not. Maybe you'd rather seriously just relax, take long walks, a well deserved nap, with no one to bother you or start your memoirs you never have time to write; or spend quality time with Rebbe Nachman at the Tzion poring out your heart for whatever ails you -
What ever your need is to Retreat, and we all have a need to Retreat at some point - Join us today, life is short, you owe it to yourself to get back in balance - you owe it to your loved ones.
Menachem Herman posted an entry
Researched and written by Avi Yudkowitz for Uman Experience
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov was the great-grandson of Rebbe Yisrael, the Baal Shem Tov – "Master of the Good Name", founder of the Chassidic movement.
Rebbe Nachman was born on Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh Nissan, 5532 - April 4, 1772, in the Ukrainian town of Medzeboz. He grew to be an outstanding Tzaddik (saint), Torah sage, teacher and Chassidic master. During his lifetime he attracted a devoted following of Chassidim who looked to him as their prime source of spiritual guidance in their quest for God, as the 'Rebbe.’
Rebbe Nachman was a Kabbalist and a mystic of the highest order, and yet at the same time was artlessly practical and down-to-earth. His tales are of princes and princesses, beggars and kings, demons and saints, with deep and beautiful meanings, relevant for all times and all generations. He taught of the need to live with faith, honesty and simplicity.
Rebbe Nachman’s father was Reb Simchah, the son of Reb Nachman Horodenker, who was a leading disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. His mother was Feiga, daughter of Adil, the daughter of the Baal Shem Tov. He had two brothers, Reb Yechiel and Reb Yisrael Met, and a sister Perel. His uncles, Feiga's brothers, were the prominent Chassidic figures, Reb Moshe Chaim Efraim, author of the "Degel Machaneh" Efraim, and Reb Baruch of Medzeboz.
Rebbe Nachman was born at a time when the Chassidic movement was beginning to ebb. A week after his birth, a cherem, "excommunication" was issued against the Chassidim - can't talk to them, can't do business with them, they can't be part of a community). About half a year later, the Magid of Mezritch, the Baal Shem Tov's successor, passed away.
Rebbe Nachman grew up in Medzeboz. While still a young child, Rebbe Nachman himself recognized that he was destined for greatness. At the age of six, he had already conquered the desires of the world! He took it upon himself to not get pleasure from eating and used to swallow his food without chewing in order not to enjoy it. All his deeds were done modestly and were purposely hidden. He disguised his greatness and pretended to act in the ways of a lad so that he wouldn't be discovered. If he would have been born in this generation – he would have been labeled "adhd" and put on Ritalin to conform! (Like so many great thinkers, men and woman that just didn't conform throughout history, but accomplished greatness). He had tremendous diligence in learning Torah and wasn't satisfied with the regular learning curriculum his father paid for. As a result, he chose to pay the teacher himself for each additional page he was taught.
Their home in Medzeboz was a central meeting point for Tzaddikim who would come visit the holy gravesite and living quarters of the Baal Shem Tov. Rebbe Nachman used to listen with his ear on the door to the conversations of the visiting Tzaddikim usually discussing the greatness of the Baal Shem Tov and of his Godly service. Rebbe Nachman used to listen intently and try and follow in the path of his holy grandfather, despite his young age. He often would run to his grandfather's grave even during the coldest nights of the winter and stay there hours on end crying and begging to merit being close to Hashem. He would then ritually dip in the waters of the Mikvah (a rain bath or natural source of water which spiritually cleanses the soul from impurity), despite the freezing temperatures. All this he already began doing at the age of six.
Rebbe Nachman cried regularly when requesting things from Hashem and once discovered he is a descendant of King David, walked with a broken heart and cried much just as King David did while composing Tehillim (the book of Psalms). Likewise, his uncle, Rabbi Baruch of Medzeboz, the great, also regularly walked around with a broken heart.
Rebbe Nachman was exceptionally diligent in his learning and as such acquired deep knowledge of the Talmud, commentaries, the holy Zohar (by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai), Tikkuney Zohar, the works of the Arizal (the Ari Hakadosh, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria Ashkenazi), and all books which discussed character refinement. He said of himself that he studied Reishit Chochmah (a work by Rabbi Eliyahu de Vidas that combines mysticism with lessons in character refinement) a countless number of times. The amount of knowledge he acquired was comprehensive and frightening. He knew all of TaNaCh (Torah, Prophets & Writings) and all four sections of Shulchan Aruch (Code of Laws by Rabbi Yosef Karo). In his lessons, he would stress the importance of diligence and eagerness/quickness in learning and say that he merited knowledge only through diligence and quickness. He added that he had to work hard through self-sacrifice for every detail of Torah and Avodah (Godly service) that he obtained.
In Rebbe Nachman's eyes, to bring people closer to their Creator was the greatest of all attainments. He personally worked with the living, as well as departed souls, to bring them closer to God. In fact, this is one reason he chose to be buried in the old cemetery of Uman, the site where thousands upon thousands of massacred Jews also were buried.
Rebbe Nachman's most stressed theme was prayer. Until the day he died, everything he did revolved around his prayers. He requested that prayers be made of his lessons. He requested to pray to and beg before Hashem even for the small things one lacks. Even though one should mainly pray for assistance in serving his Creator, he still should pray for his small, insignificant needs. One who does not do this, even though Hashem provides him with livelihood and clothing, is living like an animal that is also provided for by Hashem. The correct way to live life is to receive from Hashem through prayers and pleading.
Before reaching Bar Mitzvah (age 13), he compiled the book 'Sefer HaMidot', arranged according to the Aleph Bet (Hebrew alphabet). In the introduction to the book, Reb Noson, his faithful and saintly student, writes: "A most amazing compilation which he put together in his youth, all of the wisdom which he obtained, to understand something from within something else. He combined from all holy books in which he found something relevant to the lessons and traditions and wrote them so that he would remember. Every good and bad Midah (trait) discussed by Chazal (the recordings of the wise men), he copied and placed in the order of the Aleph Bet...so that people could go on the right path and in the light of the righteous. In addition, he added from his own great wisdom many wonderful and precious idioms which are not written by Chazal and were not necessarily previously brought to light. Yet, due to his enormous attained knowledge he understood secrets... All this he put together before his Bar Mitzvah." Rebbe Nachman held this book dear to his heart and often said "this book made me a Jew". He meant that this book was the way that he refined and corrected his characteristics.
Rebbe Nachman married Sashia, the daughter of Reb Efraim of Ossatin, when he was thirteen (as was then the custom). On his wedding day he attracted his first disciple, Reb Shimon. Though older than Rebbe Nachman, Reb Shimon remarked proudly, "I left all the older guter Yidden (good Jews; a euphemism for Tzaddikim), and attached myself to a yunger man (young man)!"
The Rebbe had eight children, six daughters and two sons. Of these, only four daughters survived him. They were Adil, the eldest, then Sarah, Miriam and Chayah. Miriam moved to the Holy Land in 1809 where she passed away childless. Adil, Sarah and Chayah had children. The Rebbe had no children from his second wife, whom he married after Sashia's death from tuberculosis.
Rebbe Nachman moved to his father-in-law's town, Ossatin, and lived there for about five years. There he continued his studies and devotions until he attained unique levels of sanctity and holy spirit as well as being fully conversant with the entire array of Biblical, Talmudic, Halachic, Midrashic and Kabalistic literature. At the age of 18 Rebbe Nachman left his father-in-law's home to live in Medvedevka, where he spent the next ten years. It was there that his greatness first became revealed, and he rapidly gained an ardent following including some distinguished scholars and Kabbalists, some of whom were to become his closest followers: Reb Dov, Reb Shmuel Isaac, Reb Yudel, Reb Aharon the Rav and the octogenarian Rabbi Yekutiel, the Magid of Terhovitza, one of the senior leaders of the Chassidic movement.
From Medvedevka, Rebbe Nachman made his pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1798 despite its being at the center of a major land and sea war between Britain and Turkey against the French. Rebbe Nachman's 14-month trip was fraught with every possible obstacle and he was repeatedly in mortal danger, but he accomplished his goal of walking in the Holy Land. He visited the holy sites in the north, but apparently not Jerusalem. There he was received with honor by the Chassidim living in Haifa, Tiberias, and Safed. In Tiberias, his influence brought about reconciliation between the Lithuanian and Volhynian Chassidim. Despite his capture by pirates on his homeward journey, Rebbe Nachman returned safely to Medvedevka in the summer of 1799.
Rav Noson, the Rebbe's main student and scribe of all his teachings
In 1800, shortly after Adil's wedding, Rebbe Nachman moved to Zlatipolia. There, the Rebbe encountered major difficulties from Reb Aryeh Leib, the "Shpola Zeide," who became Rebbe Nachman's embittered enemy. Two bitter years of relentless opposition led to Rebbe Nachman's moving to Breslov in the summer of 1802. On entering the town he said that his followers would always be known as the Breslover Chassidim, pointing out that the name BReSLoV has the same letters as LeV BaSaR, a “heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).
As much as the Rebbe's move was a necessary flight from controversy, it was also the watershed for Breslover Chassidut. Not far from the city of Breslov, in the town of Nemirov, there lived a certain young man who was to become Rebbe Nachman's closest disciple and Boswell. This was Reb Noson. Coming from a family of Mitnagdim (Jews opposed to Chassidism), Reb Noson was, nevertheless, very impressed by the devotions of the Chassidim and made many attempts to find his niche within the relatively young movement.
If Medvedevka and Zlatipolia were distant and inaccessible for Reb Noson, Breslov was right around the corner. Reb Noson, together with his friend Reb Naftali, immediately visited the Rebbe. They were so inspired by Rebbe Nachman's devotions and teachings that they promptly joined his following and before long became the Rebbe's most intimate disciples. Reb Noson became Rebbe Nachman's closest follower and transcribed almost all his teachings. After Rebbe Nachman left the world, Reb Noson established what has become the worldwide Breslov Chassidic movement. Rebbe Nachman said of Reb Noson: “Were it not for Reb Noson, not a single page of my teachings would have remained”.
In the eight years that followed this fateful encounter Rebbe Nachman radiated fresh Torah with his every word and gesture – a Torah in which the sublime spiritual heights he attained were interwoven with events in the lives of his family and followers against the wider backdrop of the Russian Pale of Settlement and the growing plight of its Jewish population. Rebbe Nachman's Torah discourses, conversations, stories and parables and accompanying episodes in his life were faithfully recorded by Reb Noson.
In early spring of 1803, Rebbe Nachman's daughter Sarah was married. In 1805, Miriam was married. (Chayah married after the Rebbe passed away.) During those years, except for some set times when the Rebbe visited Medvedevka, Tcherin and Terhovitza, Rebbe Nachman remained in Breslov.
Rebbe Nachman had great hopes for his baby son Shlomo Ephraim born in spring 1805, but a year later in summer 1806 the baby died and Rebbe Nachman mourned him deeply. His loss prompted Rebbe Nachman to venture on a new path which found expression in the stories he now began to tell, later printed as Sipurey Maasiot.
In the winter of 1807, Rebbe Nachman set out on a journey to Novoritch, Dubno, Brody and Zaslov. In Zaslov, where the Rebbe spent the Shavuot holiday (June), his wife passed away. Before Rosh Hashanah (September 1807), he married again, this time the daughter of Reb Yechezkel Trachtenburg from Brody. Shortly afterwards, he contracted tuberculosis, which finally took his life three years later.
In 1808, Rebbe Nachman made a journey to Lemberg (Lvov), where he sought treatment for his illness. During that year, while the Rebbe was in Lemberg, the first volume of his major teachings, the Likutey Moharan, was published. He had already begun telling his famous stories and had also revealed his Sefer HaMidot (The Aleph-Bet Book).
Revelation of the Tikun Ha Klalli
After his return from Lemberg, the Rebbe spent the next two years in Breslov. During this period he revealed the Tikkun HaKlali - General Remedy and many far-sighted teachings for the Chassidic group he had founded. The general remedy can override the spiritual harm caused by many sins, or one sin whose ramifications are many. Rebbe Nachman revealed that ten specific Psalms, recited in this order: Psalms 16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 105, 137, and 150, constitute a special remedy for the sin of wasting seed, which defiles the sign of the covenant, and, by extension, all the other mitzvot. Most Breslover Chassidim try to say the Tikkun HaKlali daily.
In April 1810, Rebbe Nachman called two of his closest disciples, Rabbi Aharon of Breslov and Rabbi Naftali of Nemirov, to act as witnesses for an unprecedented vow:
"If someone comes to my grave, gives a coin to charity, and says these ten Psalms [the Tikkun HaKlali], I will pull him out from the depths of Gehinnom!". "It makes no difference what he did until that day, but from that day on, he must take upon himself not to return to his foolish ways”. This vow spurred many followers to undertake the trip to Rebbe Nachman's grave, even during the Communist crackdown.
The tuberculosis continued to consume his body and Rebbe Nachman became very weak and frail. Realizing that his death was near, he began to make arrangements to move to Uman, the place he had chosen in which to pass away. The Rebbe had considered traveling to the Holy Land, but feared that he lacked the strength for so difficult a journey. He also wanted his followers to have access to his gravesite, something which might not prove possible were he to be buried in the Holy Land. Therefore, he chose the city of Uman, where there had been a huge massacre of some 20,000 Jews by Ivan Gunta and the Haidemacks in 1768. Rebbe Nachman said: "There are many Kedoshim (holy martyrs) buried in Uman and it would be good to lie there amongst them".
In spring 1810, shortly after Pesach, a major fire in Breslov destroyed the Rebbe's house. A day later, word arrived that negotiations for welcoming the Rebbe had been concluded and accommodations had been arranged. Hearing the news, the Rebbe's face turned red. He knew that he was being summoned to die.
Rebbe Nachman arrived in Uman on May 9, 1810. During his stay there, the Rebbe talked much about rectifying souls, those close to him as well as other souls. It was here that he issued his famous call: "Never despair!" and exhorted his followers to gather for Rosh Hashanah. Rebbe Nachman spent five months in Uman, during which he had lengthy discussions with three leading proponents of assimilation, who held him in the highest regard. Despite his illness he celebrated Rosh Hashanah of 5571 / 1810 with several hundred followers. During the first day of the festival his situation deteriorated seriously and he coughed up large quantities of blood. Nevertheless, despite his great weakness, he gave his customary teaching on the second evening, speaking for many hours. This was his last lesson.
Rebbe Nachman passed away eighteen days later on 18 Tishri 5571 / 16 October 1810, the fourth day of Sukkot and was buried the next day in the old cemetery of Uman amidst the martyrs of the 1768 massacre.
Annual pilgrimage
His grave has remained a shrine, visited by Breslover Chassidim and many others, from all over the world, ever since.
During the Rebbe's lifetime, thousands of Chassidim traveled to be with him for the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah, and Shavuot, when he delivered his formal lessons. On the last Rosh Hashanah of his life, Rebbe Nachman stressed to his followers the importance of being with him for that holiday in particular. Therefore, after the Rebbe's death, Reb Noson instituted an annual pilgrimage to the Rebbe's gravesite on Rosh Hashanah.
This annual pilgrimage, called the Rosh Hashanah Kibbutz (gathering), drew thousands of Chassidim from all over Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and even Poland until 1917, when the Bolshevik Revolution forced it to continue clandestinely. Only a dozen or so Chassidim risked making the annual pilgrimage during the Communist era, as the authorities regularly raided the gathering and often arrested and imprisoned worshippers. Beginning in the mid-1960s, Chassidim who lived outside Russia began to sneak into Uman to pray at Rebbe Nachman's grave during the year. After the fall of Communism in 1989, the gates were reopened entirely. Today, more than 25,000 people from all over the world participate in this annual pilgrimage.
No other Rebbe has or will take his place
When Rebbe Nachman passed away his followers saw no one to take his place. Instead of appointing a new Rebbe, they continued to turn to Rebbe Nachman’s teachings for inspiration and guidance, continuing to look to him as “The Rebbe.” The Breslover Chassidim have done so ever since, studying his writings and endeavoring to follow his teachings in their day-to-day lives. In this sense Rebbe Nachman is still the leader of the Breslover Chassidim.
Though Rebbe Nachman passed away nearly two hundred years ago, his flame burns brightly and continues to bring light and happiness to thousands upon thousands of people. Rebbe Nachman himself said: "My fire will burn until the Mashiach comes". May this be speedily and in our days, Amen.
Rebbe Nachman breathed new life into the Chassidic movement by combining the esoteric secrets of Judaism (the Kabbalah) with in-depth Torah scholarship. He attracted thousands of followers during his lifetime and his influence continues until today. Rebbe Nachman's religious philosophy revolved around closeness to God and speaking to God directly, without intermediaries. The concept of hitbodedut is central to his thinking.
Rebbe Nachman emphasized that each person should speak to their Father in Heaven in their mother-tongue and with simplicity. A person should request things from Hashem just as they would from their father. When he was very ill, he asked his grandson to pray for him. His grandson asked for his pocket watch. Rebbe Nachman laughed and gave him the pocket watch. The lad then yelled to the sky "Heal my grandfather!" Some Chassidism that witnessed the event laughed at the child’s simple ways, but Rebbe Nachman rebuked them and said that such is the way to request things from our Father in Heaven - with simplicity.
In his short life, Rebbe Nachman achieved much acclaim as a teacher and spiritual leader, and is considered a seminal figure in the history of Chassidism.
His contributions to Judaism include the following:
He rejected the idea of hereditary Chassidic dynasties, and taught that each Chassid must "search for the Tzaddik ('saintly/righteous person')" for himself — and within himself. He believed that every Jew has the potential to become a Tzaddik.
He emphasized that a Tzaddik should magnify the blessings on the community through his mitzvot. However, the Tzaddik cannot "absolve" a Chassid of his sins, and the Chassid should pray only to God, not to the Rebbe. The purpose of confiding in another human being is to unburden the soul as part of the process of repentance and healing, not to start a cult.
In his early life, he stressed the practice of fasting and self-castigation as the most effective means of repentance. In later years, however, he abandoned these severe ascetics because he felt they may lead to depression and sadness. He told his followers not to be "fanatics". Rather, they should choose one personal Mitzvah (commandment) to be very strict about, and do the others with the normal amount of care.
He encouraged his disciples to take every opportunity to increase holiness in themselves and their daily activities. For example, by marrying and living with one's spouse according to Torah law, one elevates sexual intimacy to an act bespeaking honor and respect to the God-given powers of procreation. This in turn safeguards the sign of the covenant, the brit milah ("covenant of circumcision") which is considered the symbol of the everlasting pact between God and the Jewish people.
He urged everyone to seek out his own and others' good points in order to approach life in a state of continual happiness. If one cannot find any "good points" in himself, let him search his deeds. If he finds that his deeds were driven by ulterior motives or improper thoughts, let him search for the positive aspects within them. And if he cannot find any good points, he should at least be happy that he is a Jew. This "good point" is God's doing, not his.
He placed great stress on living with faith, simplicity, and joy. He encouraged his followers to clap, sing and dance during or after their prayers, bringing them to a closer relationship with God.
He emphasized the importance of intellectual learning and Torah scholarship. "You can originate Torah novellas, but do not change anything in the laws of the Shulchan Aruch!" he said. He and his disciples were thoroughly familiar with all the classic texts of Judaism, including the Talmud and its commentaries, Midrash, and Shulchan Aruch.
He frequently recited extemporaneous prayers. He taught that his followers should spend an hour alone each day, talking aloud to God in his or her own words, as if "talking to a good friend." This is in addition to the prayers in the Siddur (prayer book). Breslover Chassidim still follow this practice today, which is known as Hitbodedut (literally, "to make oneself be in solitude" / meditation). Rebbe Nachman taught that the best place to do Hitbodedut was in a field or forest, among the natural works of God's creation.
He taught, "The purpose of knowledge is that we should not know (anything)" (Likutey Moharan II, 83.
Neither he nor his followers had the desire to speak about miracles. When he did perform one, he considered it almost an embarrassment, being thankful and relieved if the whole incident was quickly forgotten. To him, the real miracle was helping someone to become a simple God-fearing Jew and a true "servant of God." He considered this a rare and precious accomplishment, entrusting this mission to his followers.
All of his attainments were acquired through immense effort. He scoffed at those who chalked up his spiritual level to his ancestry. He believed in the ability of any Jew, no matter what he or she may have done, to rise to the level of Tzaddik. All that was needed was patience and the willingness to do the work. In spite of his vision and depth of understanding of those who came to him, he never pushed his opinions on them.
Rebbe Nachman's main lessons and discourses were collected and published as Likutey Moharan, by his foremost disciple, Reb Noson. Rebbe Nachman himself authored Sefer HaMidot, a collection of aphorisms on positive and negative personality traits, including spiritual guidance on how to be a good Jew. Sipurey Maasiot is the collection of his thirteen mystical stories. His lessons are universal and can be understood on the most basic as well as the highest mystical level. Reb Noson also compiled the primary biographical work on Rebbe Nachman, Chayey Moharan, as well as Sichot HaRan, a book of Rebbe Nachman's short teachings and sayings.
"Tzaddikim are greater after their passing than when they were alive" (Chullin 7b). The power and ability that the Tzaddikim possess to rectify souls is even greater after they leave this world. Shortly before his passing, Rebbe Nachman expressed his desire that people travel to his gravesite for Rosh Hashanah, about which he said, "There is nothing greater." Rosh Hashanah is considered to be the "head" of the year. Since decrees pertaining to the entire year are issued on Rosh Hashanah, it is the best time to mitigate or "sweeten" any harsh decree.
During Rosh Hashanah, it is possible to spiritually ascend into the very "head" of Creation, to a level that encompasses the source of all individual judgments. Since every individual decree ultimately emanates from this all-inclusive place, a Tzaddik who is able to rise up and enter into this level has the power to "sweeten" all decrees without having to work through each one individually. There are people who, because of the depths to which they have fallen, are unable to be helped during the rest of the year. However, Rebbe Nachman stated that on Rosh Hashanah he could help even them. During this time he was able to achieve and rectify certain things that he was not able to do the rest of the year.
He said to his followers, "My Rosh HaShanah is a great innovation, and God knows that I did not inherit it from my fathers. God Himself gave me the gift of knowing what Rosh Hashanah is. Not only do all of you depend upon my Rosh Hashanah (the entire world depends upon my Rosh HaShanah" (Chayey Moharan 405).
Menachem Herman posted an entry
Just a quick note - we're in studio 18hrs a day working to finish the album "Calming Waters" -
Its a master piece i think, gotten wonderful reviews on the few tracks we've sent out for a critique - have had a challenge with this album, it has to be calm, and calm we aimed for...
It will be out soon - doing the last of the mixing now - will let you all know as soon as it is -
Love, Menachem
Menachem Herman posted an entry
B'H
The old timers to the Uman Experience know how this company has grown from a loving idea of a couple people to an unstoppable force.
New comers, well, Uman isn't on the top "10 Hot Spot" list for vacationing, nor is it a center for fashion, science, or great artists.
We travel to Uman for one reason, to recover from what life has thrown at us, to find an inner peace and strength, to connect to something greater than ourselves; to close our eyes and say, this is it, this is what I have been searching for; a scenario most people think not possible.
Rebbe Nachman's force hits people in different ways - as he pulls us close to him, everyone goes through their own personal journey. Some of us connect to the unbelievable high energy that's palpable in the air and ride the wave; some of us open up to a brother we have never met before and let go of a deep secret, some of us find a hidden tranquility we've never known before and realize each new day is a new beginning and we all have a second chance, and some us, just can't stay away.
Once our mind is made up to go to Uman, reality does kick in. It's a third world area, full of cheats, mafia and danger. The issues become real of where to stay, where to eat and what to do next. That's were we come in.
As part of the Uman Experience family we can honestly tell you, we work hard all year round planning, traveling back and forth preparing for your visit. On top of that, we have our own in-house caterer, creating his culinary delights to keep us fed; all your needs are taken care of for you the minute you arrive. Best of all, and of course this sets us apart from being just a 5 star place to crash and rest our weary bones, we have our loving Rav and mentor as part of the Uman Experience family, Rav Lazer Brody. He is with us for guidance, amazing lectures and some good fun. This is our uniqueness, spirituality and physical needs rolled into a complementary package, our guests feel at home; we are a non political, nonjudgmental group, only interested in you as a person.
Whats the one thing men struggle with when leaving wives and children behind for Rosh Hashana? It's leaving them behind...!
Well, start planning your family's trip, because we will welcome your whole family as we will be open all year round after this year's Rosh Hashana!
After this years Rosh Hashana trip, we will be open as a permanat Guest house to families, couples, groups, large or small, all those seeking a home atmosphere with guided tours, cooked meals, a home away from home that is safe, unique and beautiful!
(Updates for trips year round will come out on a monthly bases, B"H or on request, VIP trips available as well.)
Our Uman Experience Estate is comprised of:
A beautiful gated environment; although a minute walk to the Tzion, we are located on a quiet side street with a 24hr. guard.
Our estate is built as private suites; each suite has 3 bedrooms. Bedrooms are outfitted with large comfy mattress and closet room for each person; bedrooms are airy, each with his own bathroom. Each suite has a kitchen and balcony, (suite kitchens will be open for tea and coffee only during Rosh Hashana, not for cooking).
Our main floor is the place to mingle, relax and meet like minded people; we will eat together, laugh together and get strengthened together in our large comfortable dining room, with extra bathrooms for your convenience.
Our estate houses our own private mikva and will not be open to anyone not with our group.
One of our staff will be at the gate to greet you, and send you in the direction of your room, help you locate the synagogues if it's you're first time, and be available for any questions.
Price - $ U.S (for all the days)
Official accommodation Price - $747. / person (travelling without a group)
Uman Experience Family group price - $675. / person (We will fit everyone into a group!)
Small child sleeping with parent, eating children meals - $90.
VIP room (1 person), $4050.
Flights - we do not deal with flights - but we will guide you to airport pick up & return from Uman.
Price includes:
* Entrance any time from from Monday Sept. 6th - Tues. Sept. 14
(for guests staying longer, please discuss)
* A bed with linen, 1 pillow, 1 quilt
* Light meal served erev (before) Yom Tov, Wed. Sept. 8
(guests arriving Monday or Tuesday, there is local food to purchase).
* Home cooked meals with our in-house chef, brought all the way from Israel cooking up a storm for you with his culinary delights, for the 2 days of Chag - Wed. night through Friday
* Additional full home cooked Shabbat meals
* Malavah Malka meal @ the end of Shabbat, Saturday night, Sept. 11 (before the fast in the morning)
* Suite Kitchens will be open 24 hours for coffee, teas and snacks
* Kiddush items, Havdalah items
* Brand new private on premises mikvah
* We will be joined by Rav Lazer Brody - who will inspire us during meal times, explaining what it means to be with Rebbe Nachman on Rosh Hashana and much more.
The dining room will be closed to outside people.
Blessings in all your journeys!
Menachem Herman posted an entry
Student Rock & Soul!
In just 10 days, Menachem Herman will be doing an Emuna-rock concert in London, an experience you won't forget. Menachem is not only Jewish music's leading performer, souling us with his electric guitar, he's one of the best in the world who has played with the world's best musicians. Don't waste time, because tickets are going fast. Something a little different for this Lag B'Omer!