Breslov II - Dispute in Tsfas over growing influence of Breslov

YNET reported

Storm: They hurt Rabbi Nachman

Haredi world in turmoil over pamphlet published by Rabbi Yermiah Cohen of Safed, in which he accuses idolized Rabbi Nachman of Breslav of insanity, attacks his followers, calling them 'sinners and those who cause the masses to sin.' Counter attack follows swiftly

Over the years, numerous controversies and heated arguments have rocked the hassidic world. In time, the assorted haredi sects learned to get along with each other, more or less. Apparently, however, old resentments die hard, as evidenced by the latest scandal involving Breslav hassidism.

The first shot was fired by Rabbi Yermiah Cohen, head of the Or HaYakar Yeshiva in Safed, with the publication of a pamphlet attacking Rabbi Nachman of Breslav, who passed away 196 years ago, at age 38. The reaction was immediate. By last night, the walls of haredi neighborhoods were plastered with blistering condemnations of Rabbi Cohen, signed by the heads of the Breslav community in Safed, as well as other leading rabbis.

“How can we stand still when God’s angels are insulted and His words are scorned and His prophets are defamed with words of vanity, lies and slander,” read one such notice.

Another sign was even harsher. "Evil has descended from the north. Soul-searing blasphemy, profanity and pollution against God and His messenger emanated from a man of evil deeds known as Yermiah Cohen of the city of Safed. Let the lips that dared to haughtily and scornfully utter lies against the world's righteous ones be silenced."

'Sinners who cause the masses to sin'

Even in the early days, Breslav chassidism was controversial and susceptible to attacks from major hassidic personalities. In his pamphlet, Rabbi Cohen repeats the old accusations.

He notes that in the past, "Breslav chassidim were insignificant. They barely managed to bequeath their master's teachings to their own children and were saddled with excommunications and ostracisms. It was said about them that 'it is a good deed to repulse, hunt and confound them'. Also, their books were burned and trampled."

Rabbi Cohen even quotes from one excommunication attempt, attributed to the Savraner Rebbe, in which Breslav chassidim are referred to as "sinners and those who cause the masses to sin".

In the pamphlet, Rabbi Cohen scorns the newly religious who embrace Breslav and describes how "even before each newly religious individual opens his eyes, he discovers that his hands are full of multicolored booklets".

He criticizes the chassidic custom of traveling to Uman for Rosh Hashanah and claims that they "waste a lot of money… for naught".

In addition, he accuses Rabbi Nachman of Breslav of insanity and quotes incessantly from Rabbi Nachman's writings as proof. Rabbi Cohen cynically writes that should one "choose to defend (Rabbi Nachman), what can be said? That (Rabbi Nachman) was righteous but somewhat arrogant? One can only say: He did not err intentionally. Rather, mental sickness caused him to hallucinate."

With respect to the behavior of Rabbi Nachman's followers, Rabbi Cohen remarks, "an outsider can see how ludicrous it all is".

'Once it starts, it becomes more extreme'

According to one rabbi of the Or HaYakar Yeshiva, when Rabbi Cohen realized that Breslav hassidism was growing and gaining momentum, he decided to confront the phenomenon. This rabbi claims that Rabbi Cohen's discourses "were not meant for general consumption. It was in the framework of an internal course in the Yeshiva. Also, it was only addressed to certain specific students and not everyone."

The Or HaYakar rabbi explained to Ynet the reasoning behind the attack on Rabbi Nachman.

"There is the paved road which is clear: Torah study and other paths that have been accepted for years. But all of the sudden, this type of awakening? Seclusion, less learning, and once it starts, it becomes more extreme. The student no longer carries standard religious texts but only one of Rabbi Nachman's works. This is not the paved road that the head of the Yeshiva and his teachers received. Each person does what they want in their own homes, but either you are here and continue in the path or you are not here."

The rabbi is well aware that Breslav is the most widespread chassidic sect in Safed. “There are many of them. Some are crazy or insane,” he avowed. When asked if Rabbi Cohen is now concerned about walking around the city, the Or HaYakar rabbi replied negatively. “Although there were students who thought about guarding or remaining on alert, as far as he himself is concerned, he walks around freely.”[...]