Reb Nachman was five years old when the Gra issued his cherem in 1777. putting this into perspective for all of us to grasp better:- Rav Nachman was 4 years old at the Declaration of Independence and a 16 year old teenager when President George Washington took the Oath of Office in Lower Manhattan.
Supposedly the Ashkenazim actively avoided kabbalistic customs & instead learn ??? ??????? in compliance with the ???? ?????