Nathan of Breslov leads the first annual…
September 1811 CE
Rebbe Nachman, a great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, had breathed new life into the Hasidic movement by combining the esoteric secrets of Judaism (the Kabbalah) with in-depth Torah scholarship.
He had attracted thousands of followers during his lifetime, and his influence continues today through many Hasidic movements such as Breslov Hasidism.
Reb Noson was personally responsible for preserving the teachings, stories and everyday conversations of his mentor, and for promulgating the Breslov movement after Nachman's death in 1810.
While the Rebbe was alive, Reb Noson was his official scribe, carefully recording his teacher's words.
Because many of the Rebbe's lessons were delivered on Sabbaths and Jewish holidays, when it is forbidden to write (according to Halakha, "Jewish law"), the material had to be written down late.
However, Reb Noson has a phenomenal memory and was able to recall many lessons almost word-for-word.
He would then show the manuscript to the Rebbe, who would make any final corrections.
Some lessons were dictated line by line by Rebbe Nachman to Reb Noson after the Sabbath or Jewish holiday in Yiddish, and Reb Noson would translate the lessons into Hebrew.
In his later publications, Reb Noson will carefully note whether a lesson was edited and approved by Nachman himself, or was a less formal anecdote not specifically approved by him.
He also makes a clear distinction between the Rebbe's actual words and any comments he himself wrote.
After Rebbe Nachman's death on October 16, 1810, Reb Noson had moved to Breslov and began to be known as Nathan of Breslov.
He becomes the leader of the Breslover Hasidim—but not the Rebbe, because Rebbe Nachman did not appoint a successor or establish a dynasty.
Instead, Reb Noson throws all his energies into strengthening the Breslover movement while maintaining his own rigorous schedule of Torah study.
He has purchased a printing press and publishes all of Rebbe Nachman's writings, as well as all the remembered conversations he and others had had with Nachman.
Reb Noson will also write many original discourses and teachings, some of which will be published during his lifetime.
He will correspond with Breslover Hasidim throughout Ukraine, and visited them several times a year.
Reb Noson is also responsible for making Uman, Ukraine, the city in which Rebbe Nachman is buried, into a focal point of the Hasidut.
He will continue to lead the annual Rosh Hashana pilgrimage to he grave site until his death in 1844.
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