The Breslever Daily Agenda, Part 3

Daily Agenda, Part 3

These are the last nine of the twenty-seven pillars of Jewish life based on the teachings of Rebbe Nachman, as transmitted to his student Rebbe Natan. This was written and compiled by Rabbi Yitzchak Breiter, of saintly and blessed memory, one of the great Breslever Chassidim who died a martyr’s death in the nightmare of the Nazi holocaust, may Hashem avenge his blood.

19. Charity

Separate charity from all the money you earn, irrelevant of how much it may be. Donate the money for any orthodox Jewish cause. It is an outstanding mitzvah to support the true tzaddik’s disciples and others who are interested in his approach to Torah. Publishing his teachings is a very worthy pursuit, too. Our intent is that his works be available to all of the Jewish people at very low cost, and be commonplace in the shuls and houses of study all around the world.

It is fitting to give at least 2% of one’s earnings for such causes but 10% is a much worthier goal to strive for.

20. “Hafatza” – Disseminating Rabbi Nachman’s Teachings and Ideas Throughout the World

This is the foundation and central task, especially now — at the epoch of Mashiach. If every Jewish home had at least one publication of the true tzaddik, it would be that much easier to draw close to the “True Path of Life.” Therefore, this is the greatest goal and purpose there is. This job must be handled by the most dedicated disciples — the holy of the holy, and they must occupy themselves with it in purity, with every last ounce of their strength.

We must all seek out ways to increase the circulation, and spread the Rebbe’s great fountains of wisdom to the entire Jewish world — in order to inspire all of our brethren back to their Father in heaven.

21. Sanctifying the Seven Lamps

A person should sanctify himself by not looking in the wrong places, and by turning his ears to the words of the sages. He should call to mind the fact that G-d is constantly keeping His patience with us, and follow His example by showing mercy on those he has a right to be angry with, thereby sanctifying the nose. (In Hebrew, the word “af” (אף) means both nose and anger. It is known that one can tell another’s disposition by looking at his nose.” [Rashi on Exodus 15:8]) Sanctify your mouth by speaking words of Torah and prayer, and guard yourself from evil talk. This will cause you to merit a plentiful allotment from above, and thoughts of great holiness. This is also hinted at quite clearly in the Torah. When G-d instructed Moses and Israel to build the Tabernacle in the desert, He said: “Build Me a Temple that I may dwell in them.” [Exodus 25:8.] — In them, not merely in it. The menorah was one of the vessels which stood in the Temple, and it had seven lamps, symbolic of a person’s own seven lamps: the two eyes; the two ears; the two nostrils and the mouth. These seven have to be lit each day with the fire of piety, just as the seven lamps of the menorah were lit each day by the High Priest.

22. Joy

Try to be constantly happy and bubbling with life. Turn all depression and stupor into joy and enthusiasm. Accept everything with love, and don’t allow yourself to fall into despair. Instead, encourage yourself with your good deeds and special qualities when something spiritual bothers you. If the cause of your troubles is physical, then find comfort and joy in the mere fact that the suffering is not worse than it is. [See Likutei Moharan 195 and 282] If you fall from your level of serving G-d, then renew your trust in the great tzadikim and keep starting over and over again, as if you never failed or even started serving G-d before. Encourage yourself to believe that the purpose of all of your previous failures was only to give you the occasion to begin anew.

If you really struggle to always start over again after every failure, then G-d will surely help you and protect you from falling any more. Make it a habit, as well, to serve G’d by singing, by being happy, and by clapping your hands and dancing — especially while you pray and learn Torah.

23. Repentance

Examine all of your deeds and words — and even your thoughts, in order to find hints which will arouse your soul to serve G-d. Hold your peace with those who curse and insult you. Your silence will subdue the evil which resides in the blood — thereby securing atonement for all of your sins, changing them to merits.

24. Loving Your Friends

Nurture a deep love for the whole Jewish nation, especially those who have been found worthy of becoming disciples of the true tzaddik. Love everyone according to his way, and speak of life’s goal and purpose with all those who are open. Every single Jew has a certain spark of good unique to themselves, so try to gain wisdom from everyone.

25. The Afternoon Prayers

Pray slowly, with joy and with feeling. These prayers will help you elevate your whole day’s work back up to G-d, and will help you gain encouragement for tomorrow, inspiring you to serve G-d to perfection.

The afternoon prayers are especially fitted to this, as hinted at in the Torah. “. . . And he (the priest), shall lay the burnt offering (corresponding to the afternoon prayers), upon it (the altar).” [Leviticus 6:5] It is explained in the Talmud: “With this sacrifice, the whole day’s Temple service was completed.” [Tractate Yoma 33a] It says in another verse: “When the sun sets, the person shall be clean.” [Leviticus 22:7] This reveals that the afternoon sacrifices had the power to bring a person to perfection, and the afternoon prayers as well — since they were instituted as the substitute for the sacrifices when the Temple was destroyed.

26. Rosh Hashanah

All those who hold of the true tzaddik must make a gathering on the New Year and pray to G-d with a strong bond to the tzaddik. This will cause everyone there to receive great enlightenment. Their souls will be worthy of tremendous corrections, bringing them to intimate closeness with G-d — corrections which are impossible to obtain at any other time of year.

Rabbi Nachman said explicitly: “Gohr main zach iz Rosh HaShanah” — “My whole foundation is Rosh Hashanah.” [Chai Moharon] Your presence at such a gathering will cause the tzaddik’s light to shine upon you for years and years. Therefore, you must break through all problems, and struggle ceaselessly to come to a Breslov Kibbutz (gathering) for Rosh HaShanah. However, if lesser problems present themselves, such as — a lack of money, the bother of traveling the long distance, or the need of placing your status aside, then do everything in your power to attend the Kibbutz. There is nothing greater than being worthy of this very special occasion. Rabbi Nachman said it is terribly important to be with him on Rosh Hashanah — whether or not you eat, whether or not you sleep, and whether or not you pray, as long as you are with me Rosh Hashanah.” [Chai Moharon; Godel Yakoros Rosh Hashanah Shelo, 2]

27. The Land of Israel

Pray and beg G-d for the desire to live in Israel. At the very minimum, try to walk a distance of six feet in the Holy Land during your life.” [Six feet (four amos) constitute a person’s own domain, as revealed by the sages] This will help you merit the attribute of patience and will enable you to rapidly ascend the spiritual heights — one level after the next.

‘Eretz Yisroel’ is essentially spiritual, but Rabbi Nachman’s teachings always emphasize simplicity, and he wanted his disciples to move there as well as to acquire its holiness spiritually.

He once said: “Before a person comes to the level of ‘Eretz Yisroel,’ it is said of him: ‘A limp man should not praise himself” [Kings I 20:11] After emerging victorious though, one is then called a man of war.” [Likutei Moharan 20]

Living in Israel will help you absorb the ways of holiness, and it is one of the greatest accomplishments you can attain in this world.

May it be the Almighty’s will to guide us all in the paths of the true tzaddik — a life of joy and piety. And may it be His will to allow His awesome light to descend upon us and upon all of Israel — that we be worthy of witnessing the final redemption speedily in our days, Amen.

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Breslev Israel extends sincere appreciation to Rabbi Benyamin Pilant of www.breslov.com