Early years
Rebbe Nachman was born on Rosh Chodesh Nissan 5532 (spring 1772) in Mezhibuzh, in Ukraine, the town of the Baal Shem Tov. His mother, Feiga, was a granddaughter of the Baal Shem Tov, so Rebbe Nachman was the Baal Shem Tov's great-grandson. His father was Reb Simcha.
From a young age he served Hashem with great intensity. He would go out alone to the fields and forests to speak to Hashem in his own words, a practice he later taught as hisbodedus. He married young, as was the custom, and lived for some years in his father-in-law's home, and later in Medvedevka, where followers began to gather around him.
Eretz Yisrael
In 5558 (1798) he set out for Eretz Yisrael, a long and dangerous journey. He reached the Land around Rosh Hashanah 5559, spent some months there, including in Tiberias, and returned in 1799 amid the war that Napoleon's campaign brought to the region. He later said that everything he had attained came from being in Eretz Yisrael. (Details of his route differ between accounts.)
Breslov and R' Nosson
In 1802 he settled in the town of Breslov (Bratslav), and there Reb Nosson of Nemirov became his student. R' Nosson wrote down the Rebbe's teachings, talks and stories, and after the Rebbe's passing he published them and led his followers.
His teachings
Likutei Moharan, the Rebbe's main work, gathers the Torahs he gave, recorded by R' Nosson; Part I was printed in his lifetime and Part II after his passing. The Sippurei Maasiyos are his thirteen great stories, full of hidden meaning.
Again and again he taught simple faith (emunah), joy, speaking to Hashem every day, and never giving up. “It is a great mitzvah to be happy always” (LM II:24), and “the whole world is a very narrow bridge, and the main thing is not to be afraid at all” (LM II:48). His followers remember his cry “Gevalt! Do not despair!” (Gevalt, zeit aich nit meya'esh!).
He also revealed the Tikkun HaKlali, the “general remedy”: ten chapters of Tehillim (16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 105, 137, 150) to be said for the healing of the soul (see LM II:92).
Uman
Ill with tuberculosis, he moved to Uman in 1810. He passed away there on 18 Tishrei 5571 (October 1810), during Sukkos, aged 38, and was buried in Uman. He asked his followers to be with him for Rosh Hashanah, and to this day tens of thousands travel to his resting place in Uman every Rosh Hashanah.
His followers never appointed a successor. His teachings, his books and his stories are his living legacy, and they are learned by many thousands today.
There is no authentic portrait of Rebbe Nachman, so this page has none. Written with the help of AI from well-known facts about the Rebbe's life; if anything here looks wrong, please let us know at info@breslovai.com.