5 Towns Jewish Times: Siyum Dinner Article

On Sunday evening Oct. 28, the Breslov Research Institute (BRI) will host a gala Grand Siyum Dinner at Terrace on the Park to mark the long-awaited completion of the English edition of the Likutey Moharan, the compendium of teachings by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov.  Work on the fifteen-volume project, representing over 6,500 pages of translation and commentary, has taken thirty years.  While BRI has published over 100 titles in the last 33 years, the English rendering of Likutey Moharan is by far its most significant and labor-intensive achievement.

Chaim Kramer, director of the Jerusalem-based Breslov Reseach Institute, said, “This evening will be a fast moving, multi-tiered event, along with some very special people to help us commemorate it – including Elie Wiesel, Rabbi Moshe Weinberger of Woodmere’s Aish Kodesh and Rabbi Jonathan Rietti.”

While previous BRI events have downplayed a spotlight on honorees, this siyum dinner is an exception, with Mr. Seymour Stein, Rabbi Gil Bashe, Mr. David Assoulin, Mr. Stan Kopel, and the late Manny Plotsker a”h being recognized for their major contributions to the advancement of BRI’s several core projects.  Kramer notes that he himself was introduced to Breslov thought by Tzvi Aryeh Rosenfeld z”l, who played a major role in bringing Rebbe Nachman’s teachings to the shores of North America. He also was the first to send Americans to pray at Rebbe Nachman’s tziyun in Uman.  (Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan z”l was among the many personalities influenced by Rabbi Rosenfeld’s teachings from Rebbe Nachman.)

Speaking to radio host Gavriel Sanders in a recent interview, Chaim Kramer explained that the Likutey Moharan is no ordinary compilation of “vertlach”.  “Rebbe Nachman’s teachings have substance, impact, and transforming potential for the layman and scholar alike.  His lessons from 200 years ago range from very simple to profoundly complex.  But they all distill to a common theme based on how each of us can know and serve Hashem closely, daily, practically,” Kramer commented.

BRI’s Grand Siyum Dinner at Terrace on the Park will attract a wide spectrum of Jews from the Tri-State area, across North America and from abroad.  Persons interested in attending this one-of-a-kind event can obtain more information on the Web at www.breslov.org/siyum or by calling 800-332-7375. Email inquiries may be sent to [email protected].