Kicking into Redemption Mode 3

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In Israel, with so many people from so many different places living in such close quarters, you can have a Hassidishe family...

Living next to a Litvish family....

Who's living next to a Rambamist /or Yemenite...

Who's living next to an Ethiopian who follows his traditional ways...

Or an Ethiopian who became mainstream national religious...

Who's living next to a convert! lol!

Rabbi Bar Hayyim is of the opinion that we can't all continue with all of our respective "exile modes"- the practices that was followed while everyone was scattered in various parts of the world. Here we are in a new country and everyone is still trying to hold on to European garbs, European traditions, Ethiopian methods, Litvish ways, etc. Each one thinking they are superior than the other one. He teaches that its time to meld and become ONE. A more unified oneness -complete with a new prayer book with the Exile type things removed (like longing to live in the Land changed to being glad there are Jews living in the Land), new traditions (such as eating kitniot - "legumes" like rice and beans that Europeans don't eat around Passover because they act in some ways like leavenable food or may potentially have some wheat grains mixed in). But to say that there is no unity now --there is! However, Rabbi Bar Hayyim means more of a united "march" toward a more redemption mode of being. A messianic era.

This is mainly Mr. Blackfirewhitefire's realm along with various esoteric learnings. He wears blue in his tzitzit/fringes -the old way (whereas the majority of people wear all white fringes), and an assortment of kippas (yarmulke/head cover).

The attraction of Rebbi Nachman, for me was his Joy appeal. The art of seeing holiness in things that would ordinarily be thought of as mundane. His straight forwardness in stating that some so-called rabbis may just be out for honor, prestige, etc and to be wary. His combination of higher learnings and simple teachings.

When I first read his books I was shocked at his straight forwardness. I was wondering when will they ban his books. Then I learned his books had been banned already! Now they are allowed to be sold.

I sense that Rebbi Nachman is the most honest teaching that I've heard yet. Though, he has a way of spinning things for the positive, I can see the truths that he is saying in his work. And for some reason, from his Likutey Moharan books I totally see the situation of BFs in there. Its like plain as day. But I know no rabbi would translate it as such --not yet, maybe?. But he is the only one who speaks of dark curly hair and its significance (besides the Holy Zohar)--in a non-negative way I might add. Its nice that those books have the commentaries on the bottom but I try not to rely on that to steer my brain where the commentor wants me to go; I try to read strictly what Rabbi Nachman is trying to say. It's already stretching my imagination so much and helping me to entertain new ideas of my own based on his words.

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov is popularly known for:

(1) teachings about Joy and dancing

(2) teachings about seeking out the "tzaddik" of the generation; i.e. the righteous one -not necessarily the most popular one, in fact more than likely he WON'T be the popular one

(3) Hitbodedut -talking to God as if He is a friend sitting right next to you

(4) Guarding the brit - sexual purity


People were fired up against Breslov teachings in the pre WWII era. If you were caught reading, teaching, speaking Breslov, you suffered. The books were banned back then. No one would hire a Breslover, marriages was discouraged to Breslovers. Life was hard. Even Rabbi Nachman and his student Rabbi Nathan had it hard.

Anyway, so a group creative a whole movement called Breslov. And it became just another strand of Hassidic types of movement. But I don't buy into that. I really think "breslov" is more of an "add on" thing. Its whatever you are and then add on Rebbi Nachman's teachings. Once it begins to be a whole group thing, I get wary because from what I understand from reading his books, its an individual thing.

So it became a new form of Hassidic movement called Breslov. And, just like the other groups there was hierarchy, ranks, rebbes - the leaders of a group, in which all the followers tend to flock for get-togethers, etc.

Enter Israel Saba and his "note from heaven."

To be continued...