Chaim Kramer in Through Fire and Water ends off Rebbe Noson’s life story with these words:
Reb Noson felt that he had nothing of his own, but that all his vitality was channeled to him through the Rebbe. If Rebbe Nachman was Moshe, and “the face of Moshe was like the face of the sun” (Bava Basra l75a), then Reb Noson was his Yehoshua, and Yoshua’s face was like the face of the moon” (ibid.). The moon has no light of its own, only what it receives from the sun. The Breslover Chassidim could only ever have one Rebbe. Reb Nosson’s role was to be his main follower, and to show others how to follow Rebbe Nachman – through carrying out his teachings in practice in order to come to ‘eternal good. It is impossible to gaze at the sun without being blinded, but one can look at the moon and enjoy its reflected light.
As principle follower, Reb Noson “gives” Rebbe Nachman to all. NoSoN means “he has given!” To spread the Rebbe’s teachings, Reb Noson faced endless obstacles and unremitting opposition. His every step was weighed down by trials and tribulations. But his unflinching trust in God, his unwavering faith in Rebbe Nachman, his unbending willpower, his refusal to let his difficulties overwhelm him – all enabled him to build an everlasting Chassidus. As Reb Noson put it, “Isn’t it true, Yankel? God always helps one to finish!” Reb Noson’s legacy remains for us for all Jews in all the generations – until Mashiach comes, speedily in our days, Amen (Tovos Zikhronos #8, p.l41).
Enjoy this lecture in honor of Rebbe Noson’s Yartzeit given in Lakewood, NJ a couple years ago.
With all respect, getting the fine details of the performance of the brit milah in order to learn about bringing sadness into joy was rather stomach-turning. Especially as I’m a woman, this was extremely difficult to listen to, to understand in any concrete way, or to try to picture. Maybe this was a good illustration when Reb Noson used it in the 19th century (among men only, I assume), but maybe consider another metaphor for public consumption. Clearly the main idea is very important, but now it’ll be hard for me to contemplate it without getting this picture in my mind. Ew.