Home News and EventsBRI Current Projects The English Likutey Halakhot Project!

The English Likutey Halakhot Project!

by breslov.org
Every “ruble” counts!!! – starting at $18
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The time has come!!! Now you can make Reb Noson’s Likutey Halakhot accessible to each and everyone in the whole wide world, and we at BRI will continue with our new flagship project.

 The Origins of Likutey Halakhot

On Shabbat Chanukah in Breslov in the year 5565 (1804), Rebbe Nachman taught Likutey Moharan lesson 54.

After delivering the lesson, he said to his followers:

“I have already given you a good, pure power of imagination, and you are capable of developing original Torah ideas. What I myself grasp through wisdom, you can now grasp with your imagination.”

Following this, the Rebbe instructed Reb Noson to begin developing his own Torah insights. Since the Rebbe was still alive, Reb Noson wanted to focus his energy on absorbing every precious word of his Rebbe. While it would be several years until Reb Noson committed his own ideas to writing, Reb Noson had now been given license to develop his own original thoughts based on Rebbe Nachman’s teachings.

Reb Noson went on to develop some of the most profound, original and penetrating Torah thoughts ever to be revealed to the Jewish people.

likutey halakhot

The Importance of This Work

Faith without practice is not true faith. Practice without inner conviction can be dry and lifeless. While the laws of the Shulchan Arukh are the “body” of Jewish practice, Chassidut and Kabbalah are the “heart” and “soul” of Jewish faith. In Likutey Halakhot, Reb Noson fuses body and soul to breathe new life into the Jewish people for all generations.

Rebbe Nachman once praised Reb Noson as having the gift to “explain the profound secrets of mysticism to little Jewish children” (Tzaddik #363). Each of Reb Noson’s discourses in Likutey Halakhot radiates the light of one of Rebbe Nachman’s lessons or stories on a law, or group of laws, in the Shulchan Arukh. With references spanning the entire body of Biblical, Talmudic, Midrashic and Kabbalistic literature, Reb Noson shows that far from being dry relics of an outmoded ritual code, the laws of the Shulchan Arukh are vital spiritual pathways. They can be grasped and followed by every Jew on his own level, from the saintliest and most scholarly to the simplest and most ignorant, and even to the lowest Jew who has lost his way.

Reb Avraham Chazan wrote: “I heard from my father z”l (Reb Nachman Tulchiner), that one should devote more time to learning the works of Reb Noson than those written by Rebbe Nachman himself. In our times, when everyone is going through so many challenges in both the physical and spiritual realms, one should focus mainly on the works of Reb Noson. This is because Reb Noson has the ability to bring down the Rebbe’s exalted teachings, arousing and strengthening even coarse people like ourselves, who have fallen into the deepest depths. In any case, every single word of Reb Noson emanates from the Rebbe himself. (Kokhavey Or, Introduction)

We Need Your Support

Reb Noson once wrote to his students, encouraging them to support his project:

“Even to buy a pair of silver candlesticks or a string of pearls costs a lot of money. How much more so the merchandise we are talking about, which has much greater value!” (The Collected Letters of Reb Noson #397).

The “merchandise” in question consists of the magnificent Torah discourses that Reb Noson composed over a period of more than 35 years. With awesome dedication, Reb Noson diligently worked not only while at home but even during his frequent travels. He continued amid the worst trials of the “Years of Oppression”, and even while in prison!

Reb Noson has given us a priceless treasure. While countless Jews have benefited immensely from the original Hebrew work, the English-speaking world eagerly awaits the opportunity to open this vast Torah treasure chest and experience the same spiritual transformation.

Reb Noson lives on through his teachings! Together, we can help him continue his life’s mission and connect a new generation of English-speaking Jews with this great spiritual masterpiece.

We at BRI are preparing 4 teams of Talmidei Chachamim to produce and publish the Likutey Halakhot with English translation and elucidation BEZ”H. Each team will be working on one volume of the Shulchan Arukh:

  1. Orach Chaim
  2. Yore Dei’ah
  3. Choshen Mishpat
  4. Even HaEzer

Each group consists of:

  1. Translator
  2. Elucidator
  3. Annotator
  4. Editor
  5. Project Coordinator
  6. Proofreader
  7. Typesetter

This huge project costs us $180 per hour for each individual team working together.

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Every “ruble” counts!!! – starting at $18

After Rosh HaShanah 1821, Reb Noson began searching for premises that would be large enough to accommodate the growing influx of chassidim who came to Uman for Rosh HaShanah, but it became increasingly difficult to find anywhere suitable. Reb Noson feared that the crowded conditions might deter people from coming in the future, to the point where it might even put an end to the annual Breslov Rosh HaShanah kibbutz.  So many came for Rosh HaShanah, 1829, that Reb Noson saw that there was no choice other than to build their own kloyz. It was a formidable task, not only because of the funds involved but also because of the opposition they were likely to encounter. For some time, Reb Noson wavered about accepting responsibility for the enterprise. He was finally convinced to do so by one of the poorest of the Breslover Chassidim, a Reb Mendel of Ladizin.

Reb Noson had come to Ladizin to rally support from the Breslovers there. Reb Mendel said to him: “Reb Noson, if you don’t take charge of building our own shul, you won’t have accomplished anything.” Reb Noson knew this to be true, and immediately said to Reb Mendel, “If so, you be the one to start the mitzvah — give a contribution towards the building.” Reb Mendel earned his meager living with the work of his own hands.

He ran home, took two rubles — his entire savings — and brought them to Reb Noson. Knowing how poor Reb Mendel was, Reb Noson refused to take the money. Reb Mendel started crying. He pleaded with Reb Noson to have pity on him and not deprive him of the great merit to contribute for such a worthy cause. Reb Noson could no longer refuse (Sichos v’Sipurim p.142).

In order for everyone to have the ability to be a partner in this tremendous project of the Likutey Halakhot, – each according to his desire – we offer a particularly attractive partnership in which anyone, but literally anyone, can join.

Donations begin at $18 per month. You can decide whether to donate $18, $36, $54, $72 or any other multiple of $18.

You determine your level of participation.

Click Here: Anyone can be a partner!!!

Earning your World in an Hour! – starting at $180

“Rebbi (Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi) once wept and said: “A man can earn his world in an hour” (Avodah Zarah 17b).

This refers to one’s eternal world. A person can acquire his eternal reward in one hour, through a single deed that he fulfills with self-sacrifice.

In the above quote, Rebbi is referring to literal self-sacrifice; however, Rebbe Nachman explains in Likutey Moharan II, 46, that when a person parts from his wealth which he accrued through great effort, and gives it to charity, he is actually sacrificing a part of himself. This is all the more so regarding charity that inspires all people to draw closer to Hashem.

We are now calling on you to partner with us for the sum of just $180 a month, to cover one hour of work toward the huge, transformational English Likutey Halakhot project. This includes all the work of the writers, translators, editors, graphic designers and several scholars who study and labor over the material, discussing it together, in order to reach a final product that is as clear and accurate as possible, while still being easy to understand for all.

We need a total of 140 partners, and you could be one of them! (We are seeking monthly support for this project, trying not to burden anyone with yearly payments.)

By joining us in the 180$ partnership level, you will also be given a dedication in the book you have helped sponsor.

To Join click HERE:

Foundation Sponsorship – 7,200 = 40 monthly hours

Pillar Sponsorship – 3,600 = 20 monthly hours

Supporter Sponsorship – 1,800 = 10 monthly hours

Super Friend Sponsorship – 720 = 3 monthly hours

Special Friend Sponsorship – 360 = 2 monthly hours

Appreciated Friend Sponsorship  – 180 = 1 monthly hour

מאמרים קשורים

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