Q: As far as practice goes, how is Breslov different from Chabad? Do they place importance on similar things? Do Breslovers use the Siddur Tehillas HaShem or a different one?
A: The most noticeable differences are [1] when they daven (pray) Shachris — Breslovers daven as early as possible, even with a sunrise minyan, whereas Chabadniks daven later in the morning, often not starting till after 9AM; [2] Chabdniks have a uniform look/wardrobe, whereas there is no dress code in Breslov, although most Breslovers do dress in a chassidic style.
Breslovers daven whatever nusach their fathers’ davened or what they learned when they returned to Judaism. Some use Tehillas Hashem, some daven Nusach Ashkenaz, most “standard” Nusach Sfard (or Sfardi for the Sfardi Breslovers).
Hope this helped.
9 comments
This is a great question and a helpful answer. I’d like to say that from what I understand, Chabad has a greater emphasis on minhagim and following the practices of the Lubavitch Rebbe and his ancestors, both outwardly and inwardly. Also, whether advised or not, there is much discussion about chumras among Chabad Chassidim. Also, the Rebbe Maharash spoke about L’Chatchila Ariber-when you come to an obstacle, you should right from the start, jump over it!
To me, Breslov hisbodedus seems the complete opposite. Obstacles (I’m writing here of obstacles in the form of averas or midos flaws) are to be taken apart, operated on, and with help from Hashem, destroyed at some level, transformed at another. While Chabad also acknowledges that a sin can be transformed into a mitzvah, Breslov gives a practice to achieve this.
It seems to me that Rebbe Nachman emphasizes a focus and awareness on the process of correcting the self and personal neshama while still being very involved in kiruv, which the Rebbe urged his Chassidim to do.
I see Breslev Also having a dress code, but it is Not coded, The Breslev of Russia in the past century or the Ashkenazim Breslev In Israel. but the dress was Hassidic, Siddur Is by Mesora but chabad Have a clear direction to Use Ariza”l that was coded By Reb Schneor Zalman, Liadi
There are a number of differences, a few of them off the top of my head:
We recite tikkun chatzos Chabad does not. We generally daven Yom Kippur Katan, Chabad doesn’t. When putting on tefillin Lubavitch makes the shin above the elbow where generally Breslov does not.
To make a long story really short, the Baal HaTanya wrote the shulchan aruch harav which they follow where as R” Nachman gave instructions to follow the shulchan aruch.
The main difference is Breslov speak in direct conversation with the Hashem spontaneously about everything and Chabad only meditate but no conversation that is left for only the The Tzadik the Rebbe. Breslov promises kamonynmamash. Just like me R Nachman promses to bring each one to his level through hitbodedut by Chabad the Zadik is it the hassidim by doing his orders and somewhat sacrificing their spiritual are merged with the Tzadik. No doubt R Menachem Mendel Schneerson roshey tevot Mamash. Got what R Nachman promised but Breslov Chasidim cant be contained
@Holyman: ironically, this is exactly what Lubavitchers say is the difference between Chabad and Chagas Chassidus: that in Chagat, Chassidim connect to Hashem via connection to their Rebbe, and that is the strength of their connection, whereas Chabad Chassidus teaches you to cultivate a connection on your own.
A significant difference between Chabad and Breslov is that Breslov focuses on hitbodedut as a mode of arousal of a person’s desire to connect to Hashem, whereas Chabad focuses on hisbonenus, which is not focusing on oneself – because as explained in Tanya and probably Maamorim, we don’t really exist – but rather thinking about the greatness of Hashem Yisbarach in order to arouse love and fear of G-d in order to follow His dictums. Chabad also incorporates the concept of Cheshbon Nefesh, which seems a bit more like hitbodedut in that it is about evaluating past thought, speech, and deed and resolving for the future how to better all that. However, according to Chabad Chassidus as written in Perek 26 (I’m pretty sure that’s the perek) Tanya, it should not be done too frequently, whereas in Breslov, hisbodedut is very much encouraged, and frequently.
I love both of your works, to teach me Torah and for me to understand, both our great, my rebbe Nachman commentary on Torah has help me o much, but I can’t say anything negative on either but rabbi thank you for helping me to understand.
The first distinguish is the mitzvah practices that Rebbe Nachman and the Rebbeim of Chabad say to do daily. Breslovers must do Hisbodedus and learn halachot everyday while chabad has chitas/ chumash, tehillim, tanya which our daily cycles of all 3. The Lubavitcher Rebbe also implemented daily rambam (which helps significantly with background knowledge of any gemara a Jew will learn.) Chabad follows Sefer Minhagim/ Shulchan Aruch HaRav which has certain different halachic rulings than Ashkenaz shulchun aruch. The halachic approach of chabad is to combine halacha and kabbalah. Rebbe Nachman said to follow shulchan aruch but a sephardi would be able to follow any sephardic authority he chooses and doesn’t necessarily have to follow the rama hakodesh. the chassidus is the main difference; tanya is an all encompasses guide to service of hashem. The main chassidus of chabad are the maamarim which are extremely deep. They are very interwined with cabalistic knowledge and the mama rim of the lubavitcher rebbe and the previous rebbe are the most practical. Rebbe nachmans chassidus is extremely deep but in very simple language that makes it accessible to anybody. He says secret about almost everything in judaism/ life. Sefer hamiddos hell discuss what to do when one is afraid, or what to do if one has enemies. He speaks the significance of eating bikedushah/ in holiness etc. The main difference in the chassidus (again tanya is really different than all chassidus of chabad its the written torah of chabad chassidus v.s. the maamrim which are the gemaras you can only truly appreciate chabad chassidus through the maamarim) the difference it that chabad’s approach is much more cabalistic and changes the way you look at everything while breslov is much more grounded and shows you the secret behind even the most simple things.
Wow yes
….have been learning simultaneously from both branches
HASHEM is in all
Within our hearts
There is no divisiblity
The fire of the Baal Shem
Burns in all directions
At once.
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