Early years
R' Nosson (Nathan) Sternhartz was born on 22 Shevat 5540 (January 1780) in Nemirov, in Ukraine, the son of Reb Naftali Hertz, a well-to-do merchant. He was known as a gifted young scholar, and he married young into a family of rabbis.
With the Rebbe
In 1802, when Rebbe Nachman settled in nearby Breslov, the young R' Nosson came to him and became his closest student. He wrote down the Rebbe's Torahs, talks and stories, and the Rebbe chose him to record and arrange his teachings. Almost everything we have from the Rebbe reaches us through R' Nosson's pen.
After the Rebbe's passing
After the Rebbe passed away in 1810, R' Nosson devoted the rest of his life to spreading his teachings. He published the Rebbe's books, later setting up a printing press in his own home in Breslov (around 1821). He did not take the title of Rebbe for himself: for him, the Rebbe remained Rebbe Nachman. He kept the Rebbe's followers together and established the yearly Rosh Hashanah gathering at the Rebbe's resting place in Uman.
In 1822 he travelled to Eretz Yisrael. In 1834–1838 Breslover chassidim suffered harsh persecution; R' Nosson was arrested, his property was taken and he was made to leave Breslov for Nemirov. He returned to Breslov in 1838.
His own great works, above all Likutei Halachos and Likutei Tefillos, explain the Rebbe's teachings and turn them into prayer.
His passing
R' Nosson passed away in Breslov on 10 Teves 5605 (December 1844) and was buried there. His student R' Nachman of Tulchin carried on his work.
There is no authentic portrait of R' Nosson, so this page has none. Written with the help of AI from well-known facts about his life; if anything here looks wrong, please let us know at info@breslovai.com.
Works of R' Nosson
First-printing dates are given only where reliable sources agree. Much of his work was printed only after his passing.
- Likutei Halachos ליקוטי הלכות
- His great work, in eight volumes: discourses that follow the order of the Shulchan Aruch and explain each halachah in the light of the Rebbe's Torahs.First printed: the first volume in Iasi, 1843, in his lifetime; the other volumes followed by 1861, printed by R' Nachman of Tulchin.
- Likutei Tefillos ליקוטי תפילות
- Prayers he wrote on the Rebbe's Torahs, turning each lesson into a prayer, as the Rebbe taught to make Torah into prayer (see LM II:25).First printed: the first prayers in Breslov, 5582 (1822); the complete book of 158 prayers, 5587 (1827).
- Alim LeTerufah עלים לתרופה
- His letters, hundreds of them, many to his son R' Yitzchak: warm, practical encouragement in serving Hashem.First printed: Berdichev, 5656 (1896), collected by R' Nachman of Tcherin.
- Kitzur Likutei Moharan קיצור ליקוטי מוהר״ן
- The practical advice of each Torah of Likutei Moharan, put into short, simple form.First printing: date not given here, as accounts differ.Likutei Moharan Part I · Part II
- Likutei Eitzos ליקוטי עצות
- The Rebbe's advice gathered from his teachings and arranged by topic, A to Z, from Emes and Emunah (truth and faith) to Temimus (simplicity), for those who find Likutei Moharan hard.First printing: date not given here, as accounts differ.
- Shemos HaTzaddikim שמות הצדיקים
- A list of the names of tzaddikim through the generations, since the Rebbe taught the value of mentioning the names of tzaddikim.First printed: Mohilev, 5571 (1811), together with Sefer HaMiddos.
- Yemei Moharnat ימי מוהרנ״ת
- His own memoir: his life, how he came close to the Rebbe, and his journey to Eretz Yisrael.First printed after his passing, in two parts: 1876 and 1904.
- Chayei Moharan חיי מוהר״ן
- His record of Rebbe Nachman's life, travels and conversations.First printed: Lemberg, 5634 (1874), edited by R' Nachman of Tcherin.Works of Rebbe Nachman ›
- Sichos HaRan and Shivchei HaRan שיחות הר״ן · שבחי הר״ן
- His record of the Rebbe's talks and sayings, and his account of the Rebbe's early devotion and journey to Eretz Yisrael.First printing: date not given here, as accounts differ.
R' Nosson also wrote down, arranged and published the Rebbe's own books: Likutei Moharan, Sippurei Maasiyos, Sefer HaMiddos and the Tikkun HaKlali.
