mentalblog.com comments:
Could someone please tell more about Reb Levi Yitzchok Bender? Thanks.
See here: (under The Fourth Generation heading):
http://www.breslov.com/vaad/leaders.html
Agav,
In the biography of R' Odesser, it vaguely mentions the famous 'tezetel around which the whole 'nach nach' movement started. I guess revisionism does not only plague Chabad.
My first exposure to Chabad sprang from my need to find some sort of religious community I could identify with ... and Chabad was available and willing to fill my needs (no surprise). I didn't grow up in any sort of orthodox or chasid environment (not in the least) and I couldn't (still can't really) tell a Lubavitcher from a Breslover. Shocking, I know, but that's the way it is.
Of course my Chabad rabbi introduced me to Tanya (which I studied and still study) as expected. My interest was more widespread, though, I didn't limit myself to that alone, and one day I picked up a copy of Likkutei Moharan in a local religious bookstore. I had no idea who R' Nachman was but, in perusing the first few pages, I became interested. In reading it further I found a tremendous affinity and affection for R' Nachman and a more diaphanous spirituality, which I didn't really find in Tanya, and which I found drew me in very deeply and very personally.
Anyway, years ago my Chabad rabbi would visit me every week in my office (I own my owned business) for private study. When he asked me for suggestions regarding material we could study together I (in my ignorance) suggested Likkutei Moharan. He agreed (!) and we studied R' Nachman together for quite a while. Now, my rabbi admitted that he was not very familiar with the Moharan's teachings but he never indicated at any time that there was any sort of dispute between the Breslover teachings and those of Lubavitch ... and I didn't know enough at the time to ask.
Frankly I'm still somewhat aghast when I learn that there is any sort of friction among these two. I'm unfamiliar with the sociological, educational and/or cultural differences between them (as I come from completely outside either community) so all I have in hand to compare are the spiritualities that they teach ... and frankly at base I don't see much difference between them.
I guess I simply remain ignorant.
TA,
Nice illustration. The Sears's missed you.
Schneur,
You point is well taken, but if you were to take a mainstream Lubavitcher BT, and a mainstream Breslover BT, I am pretty sure you would know which was which without being told. Therefore there must be differences that are at least somewhat significant.
Lipovitzer,
I didn't get it - what is the revisionism?
The real kasha is the differences between serious students of each school of hasidism.
It would be interesting to organize small semi-public groups and invite speakers from the 3 main hassidic groups like Bratzlav, Chabad and chagas to discus these issues with a moderator.
Religion is so intertwined with identity that you need to wonder the bridge you may build may be too narrow for use.
Schneur,
Was the "kasha" pun intended?
And: http://asimplejew.blogspot.com/
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Reb Levi Yitzchok Bender was the central figure in the Meah Shearim Breslover kehillah from around 1949 until he passed away in 1989. Prior to that he lived through the Stalinist years in Uman and elsewhere in the former USSR.
Quote (more or less): "When I appear before the Beis Din shel Ma'alah, at least there is one thing I will be able to say for myself: for thirty years I lived under the Communists, and I never stopped believing in the Eybishter!"
Reb Levi Yitzchak was a chashuver Yid. They don't make pople like him now a days. I merited to see him in Jslm in 1971 many times.
He had no throne , wore simple clothing was a modest amn, took the municipal buses for transport.
I nver heard him talk divre kanaauth either.Unlike a few other Breslover leaders he had no posturing, did not play to the crowds. he was who he was. An erliche yid
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