Nachman of Breslov | |
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Title | Breslover Rebbe |
Personal life | |
Born | Nachman of Breslov 4 April 1772 (Rosh Chodesh Nisan 5532) |
Died | 16 October 1810 (18 Tishrei 5571) |
Spouse | Sashia, daughter of Rabbi Ephraim of Ossatin[1] |
Children | Adil Sarah Feiga Chaya Miriam daughter (died in infancy) Yaakov Shlomo Ephraim |
Parents |
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Religious life | |
Religion | Judaism |
Nachman of Breslov (Hebrew: רַבִּי נַחְמָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב Rabbī Naḥmān mīBreslev), also known as Rabbi Nachman of Breslev, Rabbi Nachman miBreslev, Reb Nachman of Bratslav, Reb Nachman Breslover (Yiddish: רבי נחמן ברעסלאווער Rebe Nakhmen Breslover), and Nachman from Uman (April 4, 1772 – October 16, 1810), was the founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement. He was particularly known for his creative parables,[2] drawing on Eastern European folktales to infuse his teaching with deeply kabbalistic yet universally accessible remedies, pieces of advice, and parabolic stories. He emphasized finding and expressing one’s uniqueness while steering away from despair in a world he saw as becoming more and more uniform. Through Martin Buber's translation, his teaching is thought to have influenced some 20th-century writers, including Franz Kafka.[3]
Rabbi Nachman, a great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, revived the Hasidic movement by combining the Kabbalah with in-depth Torah scholarship. He attracted thousands of followers during his lifetime, and his influence continues today in Breslover Hasidism and non-Hasidic movements.[4] Rabbi Nachman's religious philosophy revolved around closeness to God, speaking to God in normal conversation "as you would with a best friend", and being happy. The concept of hitbodedut was central to his thinking.[4]