The following was submitted to YWN by the Breslov Research Institute:
In the last few years the issue of re-locating Rebbe Nachman’s kever (grave) to Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel) has been bandied about a number of times. Usually, those who suggest the move are vociferous, well-meaning, but ignorant of Breslov tradition and, often, not even affiliated with Breslov in any way. Various reasons, many of them quite reasonable and sensible, are put forward as to why re-interring the Rebbe would be a good idea. More on this below.
However, I have yet to see in any article reporting on the proposed re-location a discussion, or even a mention, of the following:
1. Who owns the grave?
2. Who is responsible for the grave?
3. Where in Eretz Yisrael would it be re-located? Jerusalem (if so, which cemetery)? Meron? Tzfat?
What is most shocking is that the following point is totally ignored. What did Rebbe Nachman himself want in regard to his final resting place? Did he ever say where he would like to be buried? If so, did he give a reason? Or did it “just happen” that he died in Uman and so was buried in Uman?
Reb Noson, Rebbe Nachman’s closest and foremost disciple, writes the following in his autobiography, Yemei Moharanat (§66; emphasis added):
“[The Rebbe] was buried on Wednesday, the fifth day of Sukkot. Countless times in his life we heard from his holy mouth that he chose to be buried in the city of Uman. He told many people that he thought Uman was a good place to be buried because of the many martyrs there. This is why he moved to Uman a half-year before his passing. God helped him and ‘does the will of those who fear Him’ (Psalms 145:19). [The Rebbe] came in peace and was laid to rest in the place prepared for him from the Six Days of Creation, to engage there in fixing the world (tikkun haolam) for generations, for anyone who comes to him there and says the [Tikkun HaKlali], per his guarantee.”
This is echoed in a number of chapters of Chayei Moharan (translated as Tzaddik), just a few of which I will quote here.
“He was buried the next day, Wednesday, in the place he chose for himself while alive … He thought it good to be buried in Uman because there had been a great sanctification of God’s Name there … and because of the martyrs….” (§191).
“Many times he [Rebbe Nachman] told me [Reb Noson] and many others, how good it would be to be buried there” (§217 [end]).
So, on one hand it is quite clear that Rebbe Nachman wanted to be buried specifically in Uman, specifically in the cemetery with the martyrs. On the other hand, Rebbe Nachman did mention that he had thought of being buried elsewhere, Lemberg (Lvov, Ukraine) and Eretz Yisrael? Nu? So doesn’t it make sense, now that Jews from all over the world travel to Eretz Yisrael, millions of Jews live in Eretz Yisrael and the overwhelming majority of Breslov Chassidim live in Eretz Yisrael that Rebbe Nachman should be in Eretz Yisrael?!
The answer to that is again, what did the Rebbe himself want? In addition to the above “written Torah” which states clearly that his ultimate choice was to be buried in Uman, “the place prepared for him from the Six Days of Creation,” there is “oral Torah,” a mesorah (oral tradition) that Rabbeinu zal wanted to remain buried in Uman until the coming of Mashiach.
Now the reasons we mentioned two paragraphs ago are good and there are other good reasons we could add. But since Rebbe Nachman wanted to remain buried there until Mashiach arrives, he certainly also had good reasons. And just as his reasoning was far superior to ours, his reasons are far superior to ours. To put it a bit more succinctly and bluntly, one Rebbe Nachman is smarter than a million of his chassidim (and other Jews) combined.
In fact, there was a very good opportunity to bring Rebbe Nachman to Eretz Yisrael during the presidency of Jimmy Carter. The local government wanted to build an apartment building on the site of the cemetery. Through the yeoman efforts of many of the great contemporary rabbis and Agudas Yisroel of America, the issue was raised at a meeting between then President Carter and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. Baruch Hashem (thank God) the cemetery and Rabbeinu zal’s kever were saved.*
In one of the strategy sessions that the rabbis had in deciding on how to deal with the crisis, Reb Moshe Feinstein, of blessed memory, said to Reb Michel Dorfman, of blessed memory, “Perhaps this is a good opportunity to bring the Rebbe zal to Eretz Yisrael?” Reb Michel, representing the elders of Breslov and the Breslov community answered, “We have a mesorah that Rabbeinu zal is to remain there till Mashiach comes.”
The mesorah Reb Michel mentioned was common to all the Breslover leaders of that time: Reb Levi Yitzchak Bender, Reb Shmuel Shapiro, Reb Eliyahu Chaim Rosen and Reb Tzvi Aryeh Rosenfeld. It is the mesorah of the Breslover leaders of today, Reb Yaakov Meir Schechter, Reb Tzvi Cheshin, Reb Moshe Kramer (no relation to Breslov Research Institute director, Reb Chaim Kramer).
Those privileged with the responsibility of bearing and transmitting a mesorah do not tell us what they think or want. They tell us what Rabbeinu zal said and wanted. And we Breslover Chassidim tell the world what the Rebbe wants: until Mashiach comes, Rebbe Nachman’s kever stays in Uman.
*One of my colleagues was closely involved in this episode. God willing he will one day share the details with the general public.
(Source: Breslov Research Institute)
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12 Responses
The fact that Rabbi Nachman tries to make aliya shows that Uman was only second choice. Moreover, moving his kever will prevent the journeys from Eretz Yisrael against Halacha and bring in tourist money to Israel.
It will take away the whole fun of going. If he’s in EY, he would just be another tzadik, who would go to him?
I am not a Breslover chossid and where Rebi Nachman lies is of no personal interest to me. However the sweeping statement that “moving his kever will prevent the journeys from Eretz Yisrael against Halacha” is just total nonsense with no basis in Halachic reality. The memory of Rebi Nachman and his desire to be interred in Uman, which seems clear from the extremely well written piece YWN has published, should be respected. Not everything in the world has to revolve around money. Israel will survive just fine without this tourist income.
Against halacha?! Show me where in Shulchan Aruch it says not to leave EY in order to travel to kivrei tzadikim in general, and to ones rebbe in particular. You will not find it. On the contrary, the travel itself is a mitzvah, for one who is traveling there on sukkos is osuk bemitzvah and is potur from a sukkah.
#1 Avi K – First of all, I am not a Breslover and in truth don’t agree with their derech. However, I must agree with Rabbi Kramer in regards to moving Reb Nachman’s ztl kever.
Here are some arguments:
1. You say, “The fact that Rabbi Nachman tries to make aliya shows that Uman was only second choice.” The Chafetz Chaim also made every effort to move to Israel as well. Are you also arguing that they should re-inter him here as well?
2. You complain about the “journeys from Eretz Yisrael against Halacha”. What about the journeys to the kevers of the Chofetz Chaim, the Gra, and dozens of Admorim, Zichronim Livracha? The halacha is not based on how many people leave. It is based on whether there is a heter to leave or not. Just the contrary, it is probably more permissable for a Breslover to leave Israel than for us. There is a heter to leave to go visit your Rebbe. Every Breslover feels that R’ Nachman IS his Rebbe. What about us? How many of us feel that the Chofetz Chaim IS our Rebbe? Certainly we are Michabed him and his daas and learn his seforim. However, if I asked you who is your Rebbe would the first thing that comes out of your mouth be “the Chofetz Chaim”? Ask a Bresolver chossid. He will not say “Reb Yaakov Meir Schechter”, “Reb Tzvi Cheshin”, or “Reb Moshe Kramer”. He will say “Reb Nachman!”
3. Reb Moshe already asked them a long time ago about moving his kever to Israel. Not only did he except their taanah, he even went out of his way to help secure that his burial site stay in tact! So who are we to demand differently?
4. There is another reason I see why it would not be a good idea to re-inter Reb Nachman in Israel, but it’s not for here to say. Just trust me that we should respect their wishes to leave his holy remains in Uman.
With that said and done I would like to address Rav Kramer, shlita.
Lichvod HaRav,
Please tell us, where did Rav Nachman ever state that Klal Yisrael should come to his kever for Rosh HaShana! As far as I have read (and I believe it was you that wrote this) he stated that anyone who is a TRUE chossid of his should make great effort to spend Rosh HaShana with him. That does not imply in any way that he expected Ganz Klal Yisrael to daven at his grave on Yom Norayim! Can you imagine the tremendous Chilul Hashem if everybody in Israel would be yorid to Uman for R”H? Such a biziyon to Kedushas HaAretz and Hashem Yisborach! (Please don’t waste your time trying to bring riyot to the contrary. This is a davar pashut).
As you know many gedolim have come out against going to Uman for R”H. Do you mistakenly think they are also talking to Bresolver chassidim? They only mean non-Breslovers who have no tziva from Reb Nachman.
In short, I believe that it is this pigam that the Breslovers are causing (to try to influence non-Breslovers to leave E”Y to Uman for R”H) that is resulting in the nisiyon of having to move his kever to E”Y. Midda K’Midda. Lack the chasivus of E”Y, Hashem will force you to be machshiv it!”
Perhaps at the time he died, it was a formidable task to travel to Eretz Yisrael, and Rav Nachman saw through Prohesy, that one day millions will come to his Kever for Rosh Hashana, so he decided to be burried in Uman (2nd choice) as opposed to Eretz Yisrael (1st choice).
Either way, Rav Nachman’s body should be reinterred in Eretz Yisrael, the land of Kedusha, and let the throngs of people who wish to daven by his Kever come to Israel and pray at his Kever here!
On a personal note, my Father was reinterred in Eretz Yisrael because I and my Mother made Aliya, so we took him along. Of course he was burried Al T’nay, but at the time we did not even dream of moving to Eretz Hakedusha.
Looking back, it was very stupid to live in America, in NY, where I spent my entire life just chasing my tail. Now, B”H I am back home where all Jews belong in Eretz Yisrael, a land that Hashem personally gave to each and every one of us a portion of, living a higher quality of life, and being able to fullfill all of the Mitzvos without any distractions.
Come here and see for yourself!
Yissi
just shake the magic 8 ball and i’ll tell you what i want
Thank you, Breslov Research Institute, for penning this article. People who are not familiar with Breslov do not necessarily understand what would pull so many to Uman every year, when Eretz Yisrael is Eretz Hakodesh. This article educated me. Yasher Koach.
Please, what is the year of the Rebbe’s niftar?
The only way to bring Reb Nachman to EY would be to bring all the thousands kedoshim in that cemetery with him.
1) It is oser to go to a bais hachaim on yom tov.
2) His chassidim are advertising “a night with Reb Nachaman” so I think they should ask him directly.
“In addition to the above “written Torah” which states clearly that his ultimate choice was to be buried in Uman…”
The “written Torah” contains Torah, Neviem, and Kesuvim. Last I checked Reb Nachman’s seforim are not included.