Israel – An Israeli rabbi has come out against the increasingly popular custom of married men traveling to the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslav in Uman, Ukraine for the Rosh Hashanah holiday without their families. There is no justification for leaving one’s family to take the trip, Rabbi Ratzon Aroussi told Arutz Sheva.
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“We must extend blessings to every movement that brings Jews back to Torah, each in his own path, particularly in these days of repentance,” he said. “However, we must speak the truth: the unity of the family is above everything else. It is a very precious thing in halakhah [Jewish law].” He quoted a passage from the Talmud in which a rabbi told his student, “If you have a family, stay with your family.”
The same spiritual benefits can be had in Israel, he continued. “Do we not have tombs here? The forefathers of our nation are buried here, why go abroad? What about the Tomb of the Patriarchs, Rachel’s Tomb, the tombs of the great and mighty of our nation… ?”
This Rav is right… Why do we keep giving money to anti-Semites in Ukraine? Spend it on our own people.
He is so correct.
This is more of a fad. It is a terrible thing to say, but most of the people who go are lost puppies. Seeking some higher spirit but don’t know what. There should be absolute no reason to go. The excuse for going is that R’ Nachman ZT”L promised that those who come to him will not die without tshuva.
It was written in seforim from before the war, that “people want to live a good life of doing everything and then want to go to a tzaddiks grave of whom promised they won’t die without tshuvah. Live with tshuva and you wont have to go to these graves”.
It’s about time that the gedolim come out with an issur to go to Uman for Rosh Hashanna. For the past 2,000 years we have not been davening in a bais olam
on yom tov. This new minhag of going to Ukraine from Eretz Yisroel thinking
your tefilos will be accepted there rather than in Eretz Yiroel is mamash kefira.
If only a fraction of the money spent on travel etc.would be given to tzedaka instead, There is no doubt the tefillos will be accepted. This new minhag was
established by amei haaretz and unfortunately some talmidei chachamim jumped
on the band wagon.
Every good thing there is people that criticize it thats how it works , how bad Is it that 30,000 Jews get together and pray and celebrate rosh hashana, I was there and we”re all standing erev rosh hashana 30,000 Jews and we”re all screaming from the top of our lungs shma yisroel, don’t you thing hashem loves it,and why Uman because R Nachman tz”l told us to come to him on rosh hashana no different who u are,if you”re the biggest tzadik or a בעל עבירה
The nuts will always find something nutty to do. If we do away with Uman, they will simply find some other outlet.
this was Reb Nachmans wish,that his followers to be at his kever for Rosh Hashana. It is very unbefitting for one rabbi to tell another group not to listen to the wishes of “their” Rabbi.! Its not his buisness to mix into other peoples shlom bais.when a lady marries a breslover they know what comes with the teritory and the men go with their blessings.No difference to any girl marrying a ben tora knows her husband is going to kollel & she is going to work.Or like any other chosid traveling to his rabbi for R”H. where is this “Rabbi” when the men travel to Hong Kong on “buisness” for 2 weeks leavinf the family behind?!
Bh that last 11 tears I didnt miss a rosh hashana,when I got married I decided I’m not going anymore,but my great אשת חיל told me, listen you’re going, you’re going to ask for all of us,and she’s not a brestlover at all
Alot of my friends were criticizing me regarding going to uman, at first I was thinking maybe they’re right ,then I relized that the whole year round after work when my wife needed me,like to help her bath the
kids,help her to put the kids to sleep, take her for a walk, while I was doing this,my friends that criticized my going to uman, had every second night mans night out, one night bowling the other night playing pool,then one night eating out,and then one friend had to go to Vegas for business so he needed company so he took along two friends for a week,so then I told them u know the whole year you guys miss weeks,here they go there,here they go there , I miss only 2 night the whole year, and on this 2 days I’ve them in mind the whole day,I don’t stop praying for them.
I’m sure no doubt that this rebbi also had at least once in his lifetime a reason that he had to leave his family for a couple of days, uman is our business trip we go shopping there,we ask for health,nachas,parnasa,and everything we need,and we’ve u guys in mind,we’ve in mind the whole klal yisroel even those that criticizes us,and hopefully even this year will moshiach come and we won’t go to uman, instead we”ll to Jerusalem together with Reb Nachman.
To all the negative posts-
Rabbi Nachman has a beautiful parable that can be used to shed light on what’s happening today in Uman.
There was once a deaf person who can to a town and he saw a strange sight. People dancing in the streets smiling, laughing, jumping around.. This person thought everyone was completely crazy! Why dance and jump in the streets like this? It was not normal behavior. Then someone came over to him and showed him the big band playing music- and he understood.
Uman on Rosh Hashana is a ruchniyus experience that words cannot describe. You need to go there and hear the music.
Have any of the negative poster’s been there for themselves? Why not ask the 25k+ people who actually experience it every year to get their opinion.. There’s a reason they all come back- and enthusiastically bring new freinds.
In my opinion, people who prefer spending time with company other than there family-who are not good enough for giving them a good time-definitely have issues. There are all kinds of circumstances of course, but I’m referring to the average husband. This also goes for husbands who never step into their homes before midnight (not because they’re learning or working, but because they’re whiling away with each others).
To #3- Who decided who is a second tier Rebbe and who is a real big Tzaddik?
To #5 and #7 - This is no fad or new minhag. Read up on your history before you make such ridiculous comments.
Chassidim have been traveling to Uman for Rosh Hashanah since 1810. In the years before communism thousands of people came every year. There was a hiatus after the holocaust because of the commies for a few decades, but Breslover chassidim always talked about their making the trip if they were able to.
Guys, this has NOTHING to do with your tefilos being accepted more in Uman or dying without Teshuvah. Please don’t make things up.
This is about a Tzaddik who was niftar 200 years ago who asked that his talmidim (and their talmidim as is evident in his sefarim and understood by his talmidim who knew him) daven together in Uman even after his petirah. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Look who is making money and follow the trail. Originally you could rent a room for $25 or $30 for the time you stayed there. Today it is very expensive, plus you have to give $20 to register. I know people who go every year and some people who travel once or twice; it is a great feeling to daven together with some many people; however man of the people who go there steal money to get there. The Yeshivas in Ukraine do not let this people in because of the thief of property.
I as a Boro park heimisha very successful businessman was in Uman three times for rosh hashana back in the mid 1990s. In those days only about seven thousand gathered. I experienced life saving miracle first time there. I was delayed an extra day on my return trip to new york ,only to be greeted by a series of phone messages on my answering machine upon arriving home. The police and media were looking for me. Upon returning the calls it was made clear to me that someone with a gun was looking to kill me the very day I got delayed. Instead he killed his ex girl friend and himself with the gun. This was my first experience of my first trip in uman. I don’t go now but sponsor others as I am middle age and not adventurous and prefer staying in fancy hotels. I salute all those that go and have seen many prayers answered in the zchus of this tzaddik. The energy in Uman is very powerful as some of the worlds greatest hidden tzaddikim show up there. I can write a book on some of the elderly taddikim in their nineties who’s life revolves avodas Hashem that send chills just watching their round the clock avoidah. I have been all over to kevorim but nothing made a greater impression on me than my visits to Rebbe Nachmans kever.
I don’t know what Talmud R abbi Rstzon Assouri I quoting and some of the comments made here. First of all Rebbi Akiva left his family to go learn and he says that people can go to kevorim in Israel , as if its ok to leave your family if you go to the meoros hamachpaila
There are many normal people traveling to uman every year and to say that he’s a second tier Rabbi is a very ignorant statement if you know the history of chasidus.
I think that they daven in a shul next to the tomb.
Today in basicly every chasidus , chassidim travel to their Rebbis with or without their wives . Belz Viznitz satmar gur …….
Just because someone came out against Judaism doesn’t mean we have to congratulate him. All he wants is people should be traveling to him.
There are enough issues in our community that need improvement we don’t have to go as far as uman to find them
Agit gebentched yur , and I’m not a breslover
Why would you expect these meshugaim to listen to Gedolei Torah? The Gedolim should ban everyone else from associating with them, as most people don’t realize what a terrible influence they are.
I as one who has been to Uman for Rosh hashanah can tell you that he who did not see uman rosh hashanah never tasted the thrill of yiddishkeit.
Breslov chassidus places great emphasis on going to the kever of the Rebbe for Rosh Hashannah. For real Breslover chassidim, it’s no different from what any other chassid of any other sect does to comply with the minhagim of that sect. The problem is all those who are NOT real chassidim of the Rebbe going to Uman.
brelov chassidim should continue their annual pilgrimage, but they should stop shlepping with them all these thousands of people who create a chillul hashem
btw, who is this rabbi? never heard of him
They spend so much for travel, lodging and food, then all year complain about money!!
Here is a point of view which I guess you guys haven’t thought.
If you have a serious court case I’m sure you would hire the top attorney to be on you side, right? Well on Rosh Hashona we all have the court case in Shomayim as we say in davening “to live or to die, to rich or to poor” don’t you want the top lawyer on your side? With this being said Rabbi Nachmen promised to be on your side if you come to him.
It does help to know that thousands of Yidden have a yeshuah there year after year that I myself have witnessed.
I’m addition to all that we all need a tikun for Aveiros, Rabbi Nachmen promised if you the tikun erev Rosh Hashona at his kever you will indeed have a tikun!
So yes we should be with our family every family is ok when daddy travels for a business trip….this is not just for business, it might just include the yeshua every member needs.
A git g’benched yur!
Only in Uman do you see unity among Jews. You see satmars,kenneseth members,yeshivas people,settlers, sfardic and hungarian all together.
Rabbi Nachman of Breslav testified about himself that in his life he never once violated the Kedushas H’Bris, even with the corner of his eye.
The day Rabbi Ratzon Aroussi can testify the same about himself, and then speak out against going to Uman for Rosh Hashana, I would consider his opinion. Until then, I would strongly urge any person of even great stature not to stand up against the Tsadik Yisod Olam, lest they forfeit a portion of their Olam Haba.
In either event we should continue making the trip to Uman every year for Rosh Hashahna, so that when we pray on the high holidays “Z’chor Bris” or “Zocher habris” we can rely on Rabbi’s Nachman’s promise with his Tikun Haklali.
V’hamaivin Yovin
the rabbi in isreal wants all that money to go to him
Where did Reb Nachman daven on yomim noro’im?
What about all the kevarim trips in Europe? do we not have kevarim in the US. How about we give that money the cost of the trip to tzedaka and sit and learn during the time you would take off traveling in Europe (while going to some kevarim in the US as well)?
I have been for the past 3 years to Uman & my life changed! I became spiritual! and so did thousands of others, with long payos, dreadlocks, shtrimels, bekitchas, ponytails, Afro’s, chasidim, ashkanezim, sefardim, from Israel, America, England, France, Australia and from all over the world and on all stages of Yidishkeit keep on going back to a place and tzadik that changed their life.
Those who complain, please don’t let the yetzer hora use you as a weapon against tshuva, Uman is the biggest TSHUVA FACTORY in the world, between 30,000 to 50,000 Jews pray, beg, cry, sing, dance with unity for the entire time of their journey! just join us and see for yourself why we go and I believe you’ll understand and come again next year (If we won’t be home with Moshiach yet)
Rosh Hashana has always been a Yom Tov that the men used to travel to their Rabbi for Rosh Hashana. like we klall yisroel can’t use prayers by tzadikim. And about giving money to antisemites, what about all those money that is being spend during the year for vacations to Florida, Bahamas & upstate during the summer. Why when it comes to spirituality, people have a problem with money.
I hopped this Rabbi’s eyes will open up!!
Every year, thousands of men leave their families and travel to Rebbe Nachman’s gravesite in Uman, to spend Rosh Hashana with “the Rebbe.”
Why? What’s so special about Rebbe Nachman’s gravesite?
Before Rebbe Nachman passed away, he called for two of his closest followers, Rabbi Aharon, the rabbi of Breslev, and Rabbi Naftali of Nemerov, and asked them to act as witnesses for an unusual vow. He proclaimed, “If someone comes to my grave, gives a coin to charity and says these ten Psalms (the Tikkun Haklali), I will pull him out from the depths of Gehinnom. It makes no difference what he did until that day, but from that day on, he must take upon himself not to return to his foolish ways” (Tzaddik #229 ).
This declaration was revolutionary. No other tzaddik had – or has- ever made such a promise. And because of the magnitude of this promise, R’ Nachman’s followers still yearn to pray at the gravesite in Uman!
“Tzaddikim are greater after their passing than during their lifetimes” (Chullin 7b).
When we pray at the gravesite of a tzaddik, on a certain “soul level” that tzaddik is there with us. Rebbe Nachman taught that the burial site of a tzaddik is as holy as ISRAEL
Just for your info. The greatest Breslov Chusid of our times, Reb Yacov Meir Schachter Shlit”a, never goes to Uman.
Why do people need to pray at graves for “special connection” to God? I find it suspicious and borderline idolatrous. You see these men hug and kiss tomb stones like the Chinese around Buddha statues. I’m sure most of them lose focus on directly praying to Hashem when they think some grave has magical and holy powers. One time I saw two Breslavs arguing over what Rabbi Nachman “is telling them.” One was screaming his lungs out that Rabbi Nachman wants to be reburied in Israel and the other was screaming his lungs out that he wants all the Jews to come visit him in Uman.
Response to #47 about R’ Yakkov Meir Shechter:
a)I am glad you can pasken who is the greatest, I would leave that for HaShem
b) He tells almost everyone who asks him to go to Uman and will not reveal the reason to anyone why he doesn’t go. He has also been there once during the year even though he never leaves Eretz Yisrael and from what I heard a Mosod was willing to pay him 1 million dollars to come to the US and he wouldn’t. One could summarize perhaps that it is worth a million bucks to go to Uman!
Maybe this article is quoted out of context. But from what is written here, this is total amorutsus. This is no explanation up here for anything he is saying. Whilst,on the other hand, there is so much explanation in existence about the purpose and reasoningbehind the journey to Uman.
It is absolutely no news at all, that yo tov is a time to be with family, if you have one.
Besides, what time IS there on rosh hashono, if you are davening the whole day, like you should be? Ones mind should also be totally totally absorbed in teshuva and t’filla during eating as well, and the timings may not be so convemient to wife and children, unless you are a person who likes his comforts at all costs and goes to quick minyonim. I digress! so in truth, there is absolutely nothing to discuss in this article as nothing is being said. Only a rabbi speaking his own personal mind, based on nothing.
Yes! YOU might give explanations and scources, but that is YOUR article. THIS article in VIN has nothing, however.
just curious – do any of those who are writing send their wives and families upstate for the entire summer for no reason –
In Likitie Moran Reb Nachman mentions the greatness of coming to him for Rosh Hashana, and the greatness of his power on that day.
Great tzadikim as The Choza of Lublin, The Koznitzer Magid & many more gave הסכמה on the sefer Likitie Moran.
The Choza writes in the הסכמה, a letter באצבע אלוקים got to me from one of the big ones & calls Reb Nachman
חביבי וידידי, הרב המאור הגדול, איש קדוש, מופת הדור, נר ישראל, פטיש החזק, עמוד הימיני
He writes about the sefer, its full of יראת אלוקים, wisdom’s. I went it good through, I like it very much, they are אמת לאמיתו & דברי אלוקים חיים. Such a big person doesn’t need me for an הסכמה but I did it for the love for truth.
If such a tzadik asked, come to me for Rosh Hashana I have a great power on that day, & 40,000 to 50,000 Jews with unity from all types of walk of life, levels of observance from all over the world comes back with their kids & they bring every year more & more friends. They all do tshuva, pray, scream, cry, beg, dances, & eat together. And they all say the same thing! YOU CAN’T EXPLAIN IT, YOU GOT TO WITNESS IT TO GRASP IT!
DON’T WRITE NEGATIVE TEXTS, GET A TICKET & HAVE THE MOST SPIRITUAL ROSH HASHANA EVER!
Reb Nachman said just like the redemption of Egypt was through עצמות יוסף, the Yam Suf didn’t want to split until it saw the bones of Yosef. The same will be with our final Geula will only be via עצמות יוסף which in our days are Kivrai Tzadikim
1) Rav Arusi shlita is not a Breslover rov. He is telling his oilam not to go because they have no shaychus to Uman and Uman is not what it once was beruchnius.
2) No one has the right to call Reb Nachman a second-rate rebbe chas vesholom even if, like I, you do not follow his teachings.
These men who go away for Yom Tov should not be surprised when their children turn off from Yidishkeit because they had no one to go to shul with.
Whoever is against Uman is simply missing out as almost anyone who has ever been there will tell you and many who came “only for one time” once you experience a Rosh Hashanah by Reb Nachman, you wont be able to daven anywhere else, simply nothing compares. Don’t take my word, try it out and see. Mi Yiten Eiver K’Yano U’Feratza Kadish Umana!
Also, Rav Arusi shlita is considered the leading rav of the Teimanim in E”Y. He was Rav of Kiryat Ono.
A very interesting thread. Just a few comments I’d like to make.
1. Why are there no gedarim against Avoda Zara. Although I imagine the vast majority daven directly to Hashem, I’m sure many (I’m aware of many) who have davened to the Tzadik. This can be Doresh el hameisim, or even Avoda Zara!
2. Judaism isn’t just about spirituality. There are many religions that cater for that. Judaism is a balance of the two.
3. We have a relationship directly with HaKadosh Baruch Hu. ומי גוי גדול אשר לו אלקים קרובים אליו כה’ אלקנו בכל קראינו אליו. Anywhere the Shechina rests doesn’t need any form of malachim or system to bring up the Tefila. e.g. during the study of Torah or Tefilla with a minyan (This is why Be’rich Sh’may is in Aramaic – which malachim don’t ‘get’). This looks as though the Amida bifnei hashechina is secondary to the tzadik.
4. Davening next to a cemetary? in the Ukraine? When we are zoche to Eretz Yisrael. עיני ה’ אלקיך בה תמיד מראשית השנה עד אחרית השנה
5. Just because something feels good doesn’t mean it is. Cohanim aren’t allowed to drink before avoda, עבדו את ה’ ביראה
Cont….
6. The level of respect for the dead is (for some) higher than that of the living. Rabban Gamliel instituted plain shrouds to make it more affordable for the living. During the time of the gemara most burials were in caves with remains put on top of one another.
7. With the greatest respect to the tzadik, how could he guarantee something in this world regarding the next. Even Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai was crying before his death because he had no idea where he would be taken after he passed away. Even Eliyahu hanavi told Elisha that he couldn’t guarantee his request but rather it would depend on Elisha’s stature.
Why are these adhered to more than HaKadosh Baruch Hu’s own guarantees throughout the Torah?
8. What is the modern obsession with segulas, shortcuts, etc. We daven to serve Hashem, to stand before Him, make our requests and most importantly to build a relationship with Him (that’s why the manna fell every day instead of once for the 40 years).
9. With the exception of Kalev ben Yefune visiting kivrei avos I’m not aware of any other instances of actually davening at kevarim before a few hundred years ago.
I have been going to Uman for four years and would give anything for it. However I do agree that it is not for everyone. Many of us who go use the time to reconnect to the tzaddik yesod olam and renew our commitment to his derech and teachings (for ex:hisbodedus) and to learning his seforim. This is a very valuable aspect of the trip.
Going to Uman is actually a sacrifice for the men as well. We leave the comforts of home etc. No one would go to Uman, Ukraine for a vacation.
Also, the davening in the main shul there (the kloiz) is literally all day long. There is just a two hour break from when mussaf is over till mincha starts I was so inspired to see grown men with beards literaly sobbing and crying with tears at the kever. It is really meorer people to tshuva.
Like most precious things, it is guarded by the negativity people feel toward it.
i would like to say to all off you who speak against Uman and Rebbe Nachman have no idea what their talking about! my father has been going to Uman for the past 22 years twice a year and i never spent RH with him but for me and for the rest of my family its the best thing that ever happened to us !!! he brings back with him so much bracha, hatslacha, simha, emunah, and positive air in our home!!! i personally think its great and i encourage everyone to go !!! and for those who think money is an issue believe that Hashem will always give you money to go do a mitsva no matter how far it is !!! and maybe you don’t agree with this trip and its not befitting for you but for 40,000 other man it is so if you don’t mind keep your comments to yourselves and let everyone serve Hashem like they want to ! Remember “shivim panim la Torah”!
Check up likutei halachos hilchot matana on what the inyan of going to kivrei tzadikkim is and then all of you shut up
1) I have never been to Uman; and in spite of all those who tell me here what I am missing I do not intend to go.
2) I live in Beer Sheva. Several times I have encountered Breslovers, dancing in the street and more particularly on top of a van. They looked ecstatic. I do not intend to ever climb up on the roof of a van and start dancing.
Oops I posted that before I was finished.
Breslov chasidim don’t have a dress code or specific levush. It’s a pnimiyus/internal chassidus. I was surprised to see many of the old chassidim I encountered while walking the mea shearim neighborhood in uman. I never thought they were Breslov, just mainstream yerushalmies.
In any case, ticket prices to uman just went down, if your looking into it….