The life and times of Rabbi Zvi Aryeh Rosenfeld – the Breslov Pioneer of America.
Rabbi Rosenfeld was perhaps best known as the brilliant Breslov leader of the last generation, the person primarily responsible for bringing Breslov Chassidut to American shores. He is also credited with having opened the locked Soviet door to Rebbe Nachman’s gravesite in the 1960s.
But Rabbi Rosenfeld was, first and foremost, a phenomenal educator, one of the first kiruv activists in the United States. On a number of occasions, irate parents filed complaints against him for “brainwashing” and “kidnapping” their children. Yet despite threats of violence, and despite being subjected to humiliating police searches, he persevered in his vital work, and the boys and girls under his tutelage flourished. He taught them how to keep Shabbat, understand Chumash, learn Gemara and prepare for their bar- or bat mitzvah. He even helped them find a shidduch.
His students — most of whom are now older than he was at the time of his untimely passing, on 11 Kislev 5739 (1978), at the age of fifty-six — still consider him their rebbi.
To write a biography that adequately portrays the essence of Rabbi Rosenfeld, z”l, is impossible. It has taken over 10 years of research, interviews and many rewrites.
Rabbi Rosenfeld was perhaps best known as the brilliant Breslov leader of the last generation, the person primarily responsible for bringing Breslov Chassidut to American shores! above: Rabbi Zvi Aryeh Rosenfeld z”l in the USA with his students
Part of the obstacles came from Rabbi Rosenfeld himself, who in his ethical will said, “When I am gone, never refer to me as a tsaddik or a gaon.” This is a a very difficult guideline for us to uphold.
It is our great pleasure to announce that the Breslov Research Institute will be releasing the completed biography of Rabbi Rosenfeld z”l, iy”H, on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. It will contain a full history of his life, insights into other Gedolim he was in contact with, hundreds of great quips and stories, as well as his precious divrei Torah. It also contains many special photographs which were never seen before.
To really know who Rabbi Rosenfeld was, one must also know what he taught — and lived! He was a walking Likutey Moharan; every aspect of his life — every thought, word, and action — was connected to the words and path of Rebbe Nachman. We therefore also incorporated Rabbi Rosenfeld’s divrei Torah into this account of his life.
It is truly an incredible tribute to the rabbi who was the ultimate rebbi and a best friend to so many.
