online tzaddik

reb gedaliah on rav avraham sternhartz

In 1979, Reb Gedaliah Aharon Kenig, zt"l, traveled to the United States to publicize the building of Kiryat Breslev in Tsfat, marking a new entrance for many into a previously closed Breslev world in Jerusalem. After speaking about the soul's longing for closeness to HaShem, the interviewer, by way of a translator, asks Reb Gedaliah what drew him to Breslev Chassidut. Reb Gedaliah then describes his teacher, Rav Avraham, and in an unprecedented disclosure, reveals his deeper connection to Rav Avraham.

Can you tell us a little bit about when you first experienced this kind of longing as a young man? Did it come through meeting great teachers?

Like every human being, a lot happens to them in their younger years. There are wars to be fought, there are wars between the body and soul of a person. I have also fought many wars, and when I saw my downfalls, my heart was in pain. I was searching for light in all the Jewish books. This gave me strength until God helped me to find the teachings of Rebbe Nachman, where I found wellsprings of understanding and wisdom which gave me the power to survive and grow.

Could you tell us a little bit about your mentor, Rav Avraham Sternhartz, so we can know what a great Rabbi is like? Perhaps you can describe the way he lived and the way he was.

Rav Avraham Sternhartz was the one who brought me close to the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev. He was born to Reb Naftali Hertz, the son of Reb Shachne, who in turn was the son of Reb Noson, the closest disciple of Rebbe Nachman. He was immersed in the teachings of Breslev from his birth onward and was constantly watching and observing the customs and behavior of Breslever Chassidim. He had a phenomenal photographic memory, and spoke about things he remembered from the time he was one year old. So you can imagine his level of understanding, being part of the family of Reb Noson, and raised amidst the closest followers, as well as having the Tcheriner Rav as a grandfather. He possessed tremendous diligence in Torah learning, and he was a great servant of God through his prayers and good deeds. When he was young, he never slept for more than four hours a night, and these were not four consecutive hours, but rather snatches here and there. There were times that he didn't sleep at all, or half an hour, or one or two hours. Everyone was astonished by the unbelievable strength and power of his mind. There is one day in the year, on Purim, where Jews have the mitzvah to become intoxicated. On Purim, he was given a very large amount to drink, but as much as he drank, he never became intoxicated. It was from this Jew that I had the merit to learn for 17 years. He put me, as we say, on my feet.

Was there a special moment in which Rav Avraham told Reb Gedaliah that he would have to take over his work? And how did Reb Gedaliah feel at that time?

There was a time when I told him my understanding of a certain teaching in Likutey Moharan, one of the works of Rebbe Nachman. There were some very important Chassidim sitting there, and at that time, he said to everyone that my understanding of Rebbe Nachman's teachings should be the definitive explanation. The last day of his life, a few hours before his passing, there were many people gathered around him. But then everyone left. I arrived about an hour before his passing, and at that time, I was the only one left in the room with him. I was there at the moment his pure soul left his body. Rebbe Nachman teaches in Likutey Moharan, that if one is present at the time when the soul of his teacher leaves his body, he receives the ability to give over his master's teachings.

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harav elazar mordechai kenig: on desire

The Baal Shem Tov had an only son and daughter. He greatly praised the level of his daughter, Udel, since all day, her heart was directed Above. Her only yearning and desire was to please God. Every Jew should merit such a high level, that his heart be constantly directed towards God.

There is a fundamental element to serving God called ratzon, desire. One’s desire to come close to God and please him should always be strong and powerful. Although everyone desires to do what God wants, not all desires are equal. Within one person, even during each moment, there are tremendous differences and distinctions in desire. Nonetheless, the guiding principle is constantly to desire and yearn for God.

Reb Noson says that it is impossible to describe in writing the greatness of one’s desire and yearning to do the Will of God (Likutey Halachot, Arev 3). He explains that the entire reason a soul is forced to descend from the upper worlds into this physical world is only for the sake of desire. It is only here that one can merit complete and perfect desire.

seeking the good point

 

There is a single point in the universe that attracts us with an irresistible force. It is a place of ultimate desire and yearning, where Man and God merge, the “meeting place.” It is here where all existence is nullified, since it is from here where the entire Universe burst forth. It is the place of teshuva, which precedes the Creation of the world. It is an all-inclusive point, encompassing all souls and is the essence of being realized during hitbodedut, the practice of speaking to God in your own words. This same point is the good point within yourself and others. It is the point of Truth, the Tzaddik, the Shechina. There are many names for it, but ultimately, it is the same point. The “good point.”