Q&A: Rabbi Nachman and His Teachings
Rabbi Nachman and His Teachings
Question
Hello Rabbi, what is the Rabbi’s view of Rabbi Nachman and his teachings?
Is there anything of substance there?
Does the Rabbi think he really was a righteous man / Torah scholar?
Are all the statements like “I am the river that purifies from all stains” and the like just plain megalomania, or is there something to them?
The Rabbi said that, for example, Har HaMor and Chabad are a kind of cult, but that they have some positive aspects. What are the more positive aspects of Breslov as a movement / of Rabbi Nachman?
Thank you for the answer, and many thanks for all the Rabbi’s classes online.
Answer
This is too general a question. In general, it doesn’t speak to me, and usually, in my opinion, it’s mostly empty verbiage, nonsense. But in such a broad body of writing, you will always find some sensible things.
Indeed, it is apparent that he was a megalomaniac and not entirely psychologically balanced. People have written about this more than once.
Breslov is definitely a kind of cult, although there are different kinds of Breslovers, and there are also people who study his teachings who are not Breslovers.