What Am I Doing in Uman? Q and As about Rebbi Nachman and Uman Rosh Hashanah
Q: Why do I need Rebbi Nachman? Aren't there other tzadikim? Can't I connect to Hashem by myself?
A: When we received the Torah at Har Sinai, Hashem gave the first two commandments directly to each and every Jew. However, we told Moshe Rabbeinu that we were too afraid for our lives to continue receiving prophecy in such a direct manner. Rather, we told him, you should go up Har Sinai and bring the Torah down to us. This was because Moshe Rabbeinu had purified his physical being, fixed all of his character traits and so completely connected himself with the Almighty, that he could be a vessel to receive the Torah, and give it over to us. And he was not the only leader of Israel to do so.
The first Mishna in Pirkei Avos says that Moshe Rabbeinu gave over [the Torah] to Yehoshua, and Yehoshua to the Elders, and the Elders to the Prophets, etc. So the tradition was passed down throughout the generations until today. The Sages also say that we must follow the direction of the leader of OUR days. That means that it is not enough to just study the Written Torah of Moshe Rabbeinu, nor just the Mishna composed by Rebbi, or the Talmud compiled by Rav Ashi, or even the Shulchan Aruch of the Beis Yosef. We need the leaders of our generation to tell us exactly what today's halacha is. But there's one problem, even if we know "what" to do, where do we get the inner strength to actually perform the Mitzvos to the best of our ability, to pray with focus and inspiration, and to study the Torah day and night? And very often, we can hardly bring ourselves to follow the basic halacha to begin with!
For this we must also look to the leaders of our times for guidance. Therefore, the indication of the tzadik of a generation is someone whose teachings are able to help each and every Jew get closer to Hashem and keep His Torah. To the Jew who's already very inspired and learned, he can show how much farther there is to go. And to the lost soul, no matter how far he's fallen, even to the worst sins imaginable, he can reveal to him that Hashem is with him and he can do teshuva. In recent years it has become evident that Rebbi Nachman is our Tzadik. Even though he's no longer living, his teachings are becoming more and more relevant to overcoming today's difficulties and struggles. At a time when we feel like true love for Hashem and a deep connection to the Torah are so far beyond us, Rebbi Nachman is able to bring Hashem and the Torah even to the lowest place that we may find ourselves in. This is much like Moshe Rabbeinu who was able to bring the Jews of his time back to Hashem and teach them Torah, despite the many sins they did in the Sinai desert. Rebbi Nachman's Torah is inspiring hundreds of thousands of Jews from every single background and upbringing, and is spreading at an unprecedented speed. Uman Rosh Hashanah has become one of the greatest pilgrimages since the Beis Hamikdash! It's not only "through" Rebbi Nachman can we connect to Hashem, because an intermediary is idolatry. However, we need his inspiration and guidance in order to overcome today's obstacles to connect to the Torah and serve Hashem with our whole heart and being.
Q: Why does Rebbi Nachman say to come to him specifically for Rosh Hashanah?
A: Rosh Hashana is a time of Judgment when Hashem looks carefully at everything we've done and decrees what will come to us in the following year. Our job is to try to "sweeten" the judgments by thinking good about ourselves and others, being happy, and trying to start over with a new enthusiasm for serving Hashem. This is why it's called "Rosh" Hashanah (Head of the year), since it is time for us to improve our thoughts by thinking more positively. In addition, the Tzadik is called the "Rosh" of the Jewish people, because he leads us much like the head leads the body, and helps us fulfill our purpose and be good Jews.
Since Rebbi Nachman reached such a level of purification and sanctification of his thoughts that he eradicated all evil from his mind, he is our Rosh, so to speak. He is able to find the good in every single Jew, no matter his situation, and when we come to him for Rosh Hashanah, he is able to show us how to see this good in ourselves. When we see it in ourselves, Hashem also focuses on our good. This "sweetens" the Judgment, so that we should have a year of "apples and honey."
Q: What can Rebbi Nachman do to help us since he has already passed away?
A: The Arizal teaches that there is a vast difference between the death of a commoner to that of a tzadik. Death, in general, is the separation between the soul, which ascends to Heaven, and the body, which disintegrates in the ground. This is because the body is not pure enough to hold the added spiritual light which the soul receives when it ascends to Heaven. However, when a tzadik dies, he doesn't "pass away" so to speak. Because he was able to completely sanctify his body, part of his soul remains connected to his body while the other parts ascend to places only Hashem knows. This is the meaning of what the Sages say that after a tzadik's death, he is called "alive". Because he is in the higher worlds and still connected to this one, he is able to do more than he could in his lifetime, not in physical manifestation but in a spiritual one. Thus, Rebbi Nachman is able to heal our broken souls, awaken our sleeping minds, and fill our hearts with love for Hashem and other Jews. Even though we can't practically see "how" he's doing this, the result is clear before our eyes. There is no place in the world where Jews from so many backgrounds come together in such love and unity, to return to Hashem together and to serve Him with joy and inspiration.
Q: Is there benefit to going to the gravesite itself?
A: Rebbi Nachman says that the grave of a tzadik is similar to the Even Shesiah, the foundation stone of the world where the Holy of Holies in the Beis Hamikdash stood. The Even Shesiah is the place where the physical and spiritual worlds unite, and from there Holiness and Purity spread out throughout the world. The Sages teach us that there are ten levels of Holiness in the world, starting with the Land of Israel, which is holier than the rest of the world. The next level is within the walls of Jerusalem, then on the Temple Mount. The level of Holiness continues to increase as you enter the the Beis Hamikdash until it finally climaxes with the Even Shesiah. Thus, the further that one is able to go, the higher the level of connection to Hashem he could receive.
So too, by making the trip to Uman we are already entering a much higher level of rectification, similar to entering the Land of Israel. We see this with our own eyes by the teshuva and inspiration that we see in ourselves and in others. It is an incredible opportunity, however, to go further and visit the Tziun (building over the grave), to enter into the Beis Hamikdash so to speak, and if possible, to put our head down on the grave itself and connect ourselves to our Source. Since the gravesite of the Tzadik is a place of incredible unity between the higher and lower worlds (as explained above), it has a similar spiritual power as the Even Shesiah to bring us close to Hashem. Needless to say countless Jews have experienced a profound awakening at such a Holy place and at such a Holy time! That is not to say that we should expect this to happen, rather to be open to the possibility of change.
Q: What do I do when I'm there?
A: While at the Tziun, it is very good to study Rebbi Nachman's books, to say Likutei Tefillos written by R' Noson based on Rebbi Nachman's Torah, and of course to say Tehillim and Tikun HaKlali. Rebbi Nachman says that anyone who will give a "pruta" (small donation) to charity in his name, and recite Tikun Haklali at his gravesite on the day before Rosh Hashanah, he will save them from Gehinom (Hell). How could such a small act have such a profound effect? We must understand what Tikun Haklali is. Tikun Haklali consists of ten chapters of Tehillim, each one correlating to one of the ten expressions of song and praise for Hashem (Hallel, Hodu, Bracha, etc). Through reciting them with them with joy, we can bring ourselves out of our depression and sadness which is the root of all sins. Only when we feel desolate and alone, without anyone who truly understands what we're going through, do we go against Hashem's will. However, by praising Hashem through the words and songs of Dovid Hamelech, we strengthen our hope in His goodness and compassion, and we bring ourselves to true happiness and closeness to Hashem. Then the evil inclination has no power over us and we are saved from Gehinom. In addition, even if it's beyond our ability to understand, we must try to have faith in Rebbi Nachman's promise to help us, just in the merit of doing these simple mitzvos.
Rebbi Nachman also says to do a confession before him on the day before Rosh Hashanah. By admitting our sins in front of the Tzadik, we are able to let go of them and see that we really are good people underneath it all. Then we can move on to a new year and a fresh start.
However, perhaps the most powerful way to connect in Rebbi Nachman's Tzion is by talking to Rebbi Nachman...
Q: How can I talk to Rebbi Nachman? Isn't it idol worship to talk to the dead?
A: Rebbi Nachman told his daughter that just as she can talk to him now, so too she can talk to him after his passing; the only difference being that while alive, he is the same room talking with her and afterwards he will be on the other side of the wall. Therefore, we can talk to the Tzadik just like we would talk to a living Rabbi or therapist (whose job is usually not to say much anyhow!). We can tell him what we're going through: our troubles with our livelihood, our families, and our health. Most importantly how we feel too far away from Hashem, and how we have no inspiration to pray and study Torah. We feel numb to spirituality. All
R' Nachman is able to heal our broken souls, awaken our sleeping minds, and fill our hearts with love for Hashem and other Jews. Even though we can't practically see "how" he's doing this, the result is clear before our eyes.
this and anything else we can tell him and ask for help.
Although he can't talk back to us, he is able to hear us, understand us, and answer us in other ways. Perhaps afterward, we open his book or talk to a friend and have a sudden realization of the answer to our question.
None of this is considered idolatry unless we consider the Tzadik a separate entity from Hashem, God forbid. However, when we recognize that he is the greatest messenger for the Almighty after his passing even more than before (as explained above), then who better to talk to?!
Q: I'm so uncomfortable in Uman! I can't get any sleep, the streets are filthy, and I can't get a good shower. How could I possibly connect to Hashem and do teshuva?
A: Rebbi Nachman says: whether you eat or don't eat, sleep or don't sleep, pray [with focus] or not pray [with focus], just be with me for Rosh Hashanah. From here we see the secret to connecting to Rosh Hashanah in Uman. Rosh Hashanah is the day that we crown the King. Imagine such a coronation: all the musicians playing, a massive feast, everyone is dancing and rejoicing. They're wearing their finest clothes. The King's adviser goes around collecting all of the wondrous gifts for the King and they watch as he places the crown on the King's head. It would be the highlight of the century!
But it's not so simple. Because of the massive amount of people, the sewers are overflowed. It's pouring rain and everyone is soaked from head to toe. The fancy clothes that one wore to coronation are covered with mud and excrement. The shuls are so packed it is impossible to get a seat, and forget about getting a good night's sleep with the partying going on all night. So there is one person who's absolutely joyful and ecstatic about the King's celebration, and another who is about to lose his mind and can't wait until it's finally over. What makes the difference? The one who's sad is only looking at himself: he feels tired and sick, dirty and hungry. He doesn't see how he is able to contribute at all to the King's celebration because he's dosing off through most of it. His self-absorption causes him to see only the external, physical reality of the event. On the other hand, the one who's happy is thinking about the King and what an incredible moment it is for the entire country, and how his taking part in the celebration is adding so much to the King's honor and glory. Even though he's not a nobleman and doesn't have any particular distinction, his simple presence adds to the entire event, because he too has an incredible gift which the King's Adviser will certainly bring to the King's palace.
So too, Rebbi Nachman tells us: try not to think about ourselves. Not only of the quality of our physical comfort but even the quality of our service of Hashem. Although we certainly must try to do our best, whatever the outcome may be, we must be happy with it. Because at the end of the day, just being at the coronation serves an incredible purpose in itself and is a reason to rejoice. The Tzadik can take even the most confused and distracted prayer and turn it into a jewel on the King's Crown, but we have to let go of our ego and allow him to do so. Every single one of us is crucial for Hashem's honor, and through simply being close to the Tzadik, he's able to take every mitzvah, bracha, and kind word to another Jew, wrap it up in a beautiful package and bring it as an invaluable present to the House of Hashem.
Based on the Torah of Rebbi Nachman of Breslov zt'l and his primary talmid R' Noson zt’l, as given over by R’ Nisan Dovid Kivak, Shlita. For further comments and questións, you may contact: [email protected]
