The Kloiz, Part 1

From the Hamber to the Megametor A Cursory History of the Breslov synagogue in Uman, and its importance to Breslover Chassidim, from Rebbe Natan’s time until today.

 

Rosh Hashanah 1811. Sixty people — sixty! — gathered together in Uman for the first Rosh Hashanah following Rebbe Nachman’s passing. Uman, the city the Rebbe chose as his final resting place from which to work tikun haolam for the coming generations.

 

Sixty people, not more. Yet, this was enough to encourage Reb Noson, this was enough to show him that the Rebbe’s instruction to join him in Uman to pray on Rosh Hashanah would be fulfilled for generations to come.

 

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“There will come a time when the police will have to provide traffic control for the thousands who will come for Rosh Hashanah.” – Reb Avraham Nachmanson, ca. 1900

 

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The eve of Rosh Hashanah 5752. In the span of just a few short days more than 10 planes full of people have landed at Kiev International Airport, just from Israel alone! Other groups have arrived via Moscow: from England, France and Belgium. From the United States, Canada, South America, Australia and… By land and air and sea, they all converge on Uman. Every one of them is glad to be there — this is the day they’ve been waiting for!

 

On Rosh Hashanah itself more than 2000 people would pray together in the Megametor, a huge factory that was converted into a synagogue. There the huge congregation lifted its eyes to Heaven and proclaimed: GOD IS KING!

 

One of the essential parts of the tikkun of Rosh Hashanah with Rebbe Nachman is where the Breslovers gather to pray — in a Breslover synagogue, or has it always been called, the Kloiz. There where they meet and pray, they provide the “material” for Rebbe Nachman to work with to m’takein (fix) what needs to be fixed. The Rebbe himself said, that as much as he is able to fix on an ordinary day, he can fix and accomplish the most on Rosh Hashanah. 

 

The Kloiz, or, as it was nicknamed by Breslovers of old “the factory of Judaism,” was considered by Reb Noson as a crucial element in perpetuating Rebbe Nachman’s teachings. He often praised the words spoken to him by one Reb Mendel of Ladizin, “Reb Noson! If you don’t build a beit knesset for us Breslovers, you haven’t done anything.” At one point Reb Noson realized himself that the kibbutz (gathering together) for Rosh Hashanah would be impossible if a beit knesset was not built.

 

“You’ll have to remove the old to make way for the new!”

 

Now, as the new Kloiz is moving toward completion, let us take a quick trip down memory lane to visit some of the places where Breslover Chassidim have prayed the last two hundred Rosh Hashanahs. While we’re doing so, keep in mind that this building is the fulfillment of a dream long had by Breslovers for generations.

 

For the very first Rosh Hashanah after Rebbe Nachman’s passing, the Breslovers had decided to pray in the hamber, a large enclosed patio, of one of the homes that Rebbe Nachman had stayed while in Uman. Reb Noson had certain misgivings about this choice. He understood that the Rebbe wanted his chassidim to mix with other Jews. So, as mincha got under way, Reb Noson took himself and headed for the main synagogue in Uman, Shomrim Laboker. When the others saw that Reb Noson left, they followed him. For ten years the kibutz was held in the Shomrim Laboker synagogue.

 

For Rosh Hashanah 5582 Reb Mordechai, one of the prominent members of the Uman Jewish community invited the Breslover Chassidim to pray in his large home. As Reb Noson wrote, “God took pity on us and sent Reb Mordechai to invite us into his home. He was very generous, clearing out two rooms for our use and providing us with tables, benches, candles, and everything we needed.” For the next five years the kibbutz was held in Reb Mordechai’s house until it became too small to hold all the worshipers. In 5587 (1827), the Breslovers had no choice but to meet in the hamber.

 

“By 5590 it was just impossible to continue there,” writes Reb Noson. “We were very upset and were looking for a place to rent. God had something prepared for us. He sent us an individual whose new home was being finished. He wanted his new home inaugurated by the holiness of the prayers from kosher, God-fearing Jews. That is where we prayed.”

 

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So it was, that Breslover Chassidim wandered from place to place to pray on Rosh Hashanah.

 

Finally, after all the setbacks and delays, a movement began to build a permanent Breslover Kloiz. As we quoted above, Reb Mendel of Ladizin said, “Reb Noson! If you don’t build a beit knesset for us Breslovers you haven’t done anything.”  Reb Noson replied, “If so, you be the first to contribute.” Reb Mordechai, poor as he was, ran home and quickly returned with his last two rubles. He was delighted to give them to Reb Noson.

 

Reb Noson, though, being quite aware of Reb Mordechai’s situation did not want to take the money. However, Reb Mordechai insisted and even begged Reb Noson not to take away this mitzvah from him until Reb Noson finally agreed. Later, when Reb Noson would go fundraising for the Kloiz he would tell those who were well off, “That poor man gave away everything he owned — shouldn’t you?!”

 

In later years Reb Noson would often say, “I’m not sure what built the Kloiz more, the money of the rich people or the longing of the poor…”

 

In Cheshvan 5592 the foundation was laid for the Kloiz. The building took two years to complete. Often it was Reb Noson himself who supervised the work. In 5593 the kibbutz met in the home of a Reb Zalman.

 

To be continued.

 

 

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Rabbi Nasan Maimon is head of the Breslov World Center. Reprinted with kind permission of http://www.breslov.com/