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reb gedaliah on the perfection of man

The following is a translation of a talk given by Reb Gedaliah over a New York radio broadcast in 1979 on Rebbe Nachman's role in tikkun olam, repair of the world through the perfection of man.

Everyone desires to attain perfection. We have spoken about the name Adam as being the term for the perfect Man. Many have attempted to attain this level through many different exhausting ways, but few knew the secret of the right path. Fewer still were those who merited to actually travel the entire distance in order to reach perfection. Rebbe Nachman merited to completely traverse the path to reach the ultimate goal—the perfection of Man. He struggled and toiled to reveal this secret to all of mankind, teaching us how to attain it in the easiest and most practical way possible, appropriate for every generation until the coming of Mashiach. Don't think that Rebbe Nachman was interested in introducing a new sect or group into the world, amidst the many that presently abound. Instead, he can be seen as a teacher for everyone—one who knows how to direct the footsteps of mankind to come to the proper goal. He can be seen as a personal guide to each one of us individually, helping us to find our correct place in the world.

Reb Noson, the main student of Rebbe Nachman, referred to this in the beginning of his introduction to Rebbe Nachman's stories. He wrote, "Whatever he was, his name has already been given, and it is known that he is Man–Adam" (Ecclesiastes 6:10). In other words, the very name of Adam that was already was given to the first Man in Creation, now can be ascribed to Rebbe Nachman, who merited to complete the Form of Man. Through his deeds and dedication to his family, students, and all of mankind, he showed that he embodies the true concept of Adam, the perfect "Man."

Rebbe Nachman was born in 1772 in the Ukrainian town of Medzeboz, in the house where his great grandfather, the Baal Shem Tov had lived. He lived to the age of 38 1/2 years, and left this world in the year 1810, in the city of Uman. There, he is buried. I always say, and teach my friends to say: "Fortunate are you, Land of Russia, blessed is your earth that has resting within it, the pure and holy body of the Light of Lights, Rebbe Nachman of Breslev, who illuminates the entire world with compassion." He left behind blessing: Generations of straight and noble souls, students filled with the wisdom and knowledge of God—servants of God, pure in their fear and love. He left books filled with deep, yet simple guidance as well as stories written in easy and simple language, but also containing the deepest secrets of life. They are all meant to let us know how to remain strong and immune from the evil in this complicated world, and how to benefit from the beauty of the Divine Light hidden in it, so that Creation and Creator can be unified completely.

As students of Breslever Chassidim, our entire purpose in life is to follow in the footsteps of our Rebbe, so that we too may merit to be included in the name Adam—the perfect Man. So few have achieved it, yet a number of those who did are buried in Tsfat and its surrounding area. In addition to them, Rebbe Nachman is the man who not only merited to attain this level himself, but with perfect intention, brought this favor and blessing to us, as well as to the Jewish people and all humanity.

TZADDIK Magazine archive, Shavuos 5761 / 2000

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.

Click here to hear the original broadcast.

reb gedaliah aharon kenig: limits of the mind

We are called by the name Man (Adam) by virtue of our intellect and wisdom. It is impossible to separate intellect from the concept of Man. Without intellect, the concept of Man does not exist, since knowledge is what defines Man. Because of this, we possess a will and desire to know everything. Therefore, Man and intellect are one and inseparable. In this light, Rebbe Nachman writes in Likutey Moharan 62: "The truth is that it is a great mitzvah to sharpen the intellect in order to understand perfectly and completely what God has limited to the human mind." It is important to pay attention to exactly what Rebbe Nachman expresses in his golden language. He writes, "...what God has limited to the human mind." This means that man's intellect is limited. The obligation upon man to sharpen his intellect is only according to his ability, i.e., his measure and limit. He should not attempt to reach beyond this limit. If he does, it will result in what is called "breaking of the vessels." The idea of "breaking of the vessels" means destruction and collapse. The mind of man is like a vessel made to receive the light of the intellect in measure. But if we go beyond the measure, this vessel, the mind, comes to a breaking point, collapses and is ruined. It then loses the ability to receive anything more.