עוֹד אָמַר לְעִנְיַן הִתְבּוֹדְדוּת, שֶׁהָיָה דַּרְכּוֹ זַ"ל
Even One Word
Rebbe Nachman urged daily hisbodedus. Even if one can say only a single word, it is very good: say it again and again, even for days, until Hashem has mercy and opens one's mouth, for speech has great power. He wished his followers could spend the whole day in hisbodedus; since not everyone can, at least an hour a day, and for one whose heart is firm with Hashem, the whole day, as the Sages said: would that a person pray all day long (Berachos 21a).
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הַמָּקוֹר · Original text
עוֹד אָמַר לְעִנְיַן הִתְבּוֹדְדוּת, שֶׁהָיָה דַּרְכּוֹ זַ"ל לְזָרֵז מְאֹד בָּזֶה לִהְיוֹת רָגִיל מְאֹד בְּהִתְבּוֹדְדוּת, לְפָרֵשׁ שִׂיחָתוֹ לִפְנֵי הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם.
וְאָמַר: שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁאֵין יְכוֹלִין לְדַבֵּר כְּלָל, אֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁמְּדַבְּרִין רַק דִּבּוּר אֶחָד, גַּם־כֵּן טוֹב מְאֹד.
וְאָמַר: שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ אִם אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְדַבֵּר רַק דִּבּוּר אֶחָד, יִהְיֶה חָזָק בְּדַעְתּוֹ, וִידַבֵּר אוֹתוֹ הַדִּבּוּר כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה פְּעָמִים בְּלִי שִׁעוּר וָעֵרֶךְ, וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם יְבַלֶּה כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה יָמִים בְּדִּבּוּר זֶה לְבַד גַּם זֶה טוֹב. וְיִהְיֶה חָזָק וְאַמִּיץ, וְיַרְבֶּה לְדַבֵּר אוֹתוֹ הַדִּבּוּר פְּעָמִים אֵין מִסְפָּר, עַד שֶׁיְּרַחֵם עָלָיו הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְיִפְתַּח פִּיו, וְיוּכַל לְפָרֵשׁ שִׂיחָתוֹ:
וְאָמַר, שֶׁהַדִּבּוּר יֵשׁ לוֹ כֹּחַ גָּדוֹל מְאֹד, כִּי הֲלֹא יְכוֹלִין לִלְחֹשׁ עַל קְנֵה־שְׂרֵפָה שֶׁלֹּא תּוּכַל לִירוֹת. וְהָבֵן.
וְאָז כְּשֶׁדִּבֵּר מִזֶּה, דִּבֵּר הַרְבֵּה מֵהִתְבּוֹדְדוּת, וְהֶאֱרִיךְ מְאֹד בְּשִׂיחָה נִפְלָאָה בְּכַמָּה מִינֵי לְשׁוֹנוֹת, וְחִזֵּק אוֹתָנוּ וְזֵרֵז אוֹתָנוּ מְאֹד מְאֹד בָּזֶה, לְהִתְחַזֵּק לְהַרְבּוֹת בְּהִתְבּוֹדְדוּת וְשִׂיחָה בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין קוֹנוֹ.
וְאָמַר: שֶׁרְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָנוּ כָּל הַיּוֹם כֻּלּוֹ הִתְבּוֹדְדוּת, וּלְבַלּוֹת כָּל הַיּוֹם עַל זֶה, אַךְ לָאו כָּל אָדָם יָכוֹל לְקַיֵּם זֹאת. עַל־כֵּן בְּהֶכְרֵחַ לְצַוּוֹת לָהֶם שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָהֶם עַל־כָּל־פָּנִים אֵיזֶה שָׁעָה הִתְבּוֹדְדוּת, כִּי גַּם זֶה טוֹב מְאֹד.
אֲבָל מִי שֶׁלִּבּוֹ חָזָק בַּה', וְרוֹצֶה לְקַבֵּל עָלָיו עֹל עֲבוֹדָתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ בֶּאֱמֶת, רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ כָּל הַיּוֹם הִתְבּוֹדְדוּת. וְהִזְכִּיר אָז מַאֲמַר חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ברכות כא): וּלְוַאי שֶׁיִּתְפַּלֵּל אָדָם כָּל הַיּוֹם כֻּלּוֹ:
Hebrew text: Likutei Moharan Tinyana - rabenubook.com via Sefaria (Public Domain) · Sefaria. Names of Hashem are written in the customary form.
Transcripts
1-minute recap
Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah ninety six: even one word.
Rebbe Nachman urged speaking to Hashem in hisbodedus every day. Even if you can say only one word, that too is very good.
Say that one word again and again, even for days, until Hashem has mercy and opens your mouth.
For speech, he said, has very great power.
He wished we could spend the whole day in hisbodedus. Since not everyone can, at least an hour every day.
Our own reflection: one honest word, said again and again, can open the whole heart.
Explainer
Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah ninety six. Rebbe Nachman's encouragement for daily hisbodedus, even with a single word.
Rebbe Nachman would strongly urge his followers to be regular in hisbodedus, pouring out their words before Hashem every single day.
And he said: even when you cannot speak at all, even when you can say only one word, that too is very good.
If you have only one word, be firm in your mind and say that word over and over, without limit, even if it takes many days. That too is good. Be strong and brave, and keep saying it, until Hashem has mercy, opens your mouth, and you can pour out your heart freely.
He said that speech has very great power. After all, with a whisper one can stop a gun from firing. And he added: understand this.
That day he spoke at length about hisbodedus, in many different ways, encouraging us greatly. He said his wish was that our whole day would be hisbodedus. But not everyone can do that, so he had to ask for at least an hour of hisbodedus a day, for that too is very good.
Yet one whose heart is strong with Hashem, and who truly wants to take on the yoke of His service, should make the whole day hisbodedus. As our Sages said: would that a person pray the whole day long.
Our own reflection: don't wait to have the right words. Start with one word, and keep saying it. Hashem opens mouths.
Full shiur
— Part 1: Even One Word —
Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah ninety six. A short shiur in one part: daily hisbodedus, the power of a single word, and a whole day with Hashem.
Gold is Rebbe Nachman's own words, from Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah ninety six. Grey is a verse or teaching he quotes. Green is our own explanation. The Hebrew is the public-domain text from Sefaria; the English is our own paraphrase.
He also said, on the matter of hisbodedus, for it was his way, of blessed memory, to urge very strongly to be very regular in hisbodedus, pouring out one's words before Hashem every single day. And he said: even when one cannot speak at all, even when one speaks only a single word, that too is very good.
And he said: even if he can speak only one word, let him be strong in his mind, and say that word many, many times, without limit or measure. And even if he spends many days on this word alone, that too is good. Let him be strong and courageous, and say that word countless times, until Hashem has mercy on him and opens his mouth, and he can pour out his words.
And he said that speech has very great power; for one can whisper over a gun so that it cannot fire. Understand this.
And then, when he spoke of this, he spoke much about hisbodedus, and went on at great length in a wondrous talk, in many different ways of speaking; and he strengthened us and urged us very, very much in this, to be strong to do much hisbodedus and conversation between oneself and one's Maker.
And he said that his wish is that our whole day would be hisbodedus, spending the whole day on it; but not every person can keep this. Therefore he had to instruct them to have at least some hour of hisbodedus, for this too is very good.
But one whose heart is strong with Hashem, and who truly wants to accept upon himself the yoke of His service, blessed be He, his wish is that he should have the whole day hisbodedus. And he mentioned then the saying of our Sages, of blessed memory: would that a person pray the whole day long.
Our explanation. Speech has great power. Even a single word, said again and again with determination, keeps the door open, until Hashem has mercy and opens the mouth to say more.
Our explanation. Rebbe Nachman's ideal was a whole day lived in conversation with Hashem. For those who cannot, at least an hour every day. Both, he says, are very good.
Our own reflection, not a quotation. Don't wait for the right words. Start with one, and keep saying it. Hashem opens mouths.
This has been Likutey Moharan Tinyana, Torah ninety six.
Sources for this Torah
Texts used
Hebrew: Likutei Moharan Tinyana (Part II), Torah 96, edition 'Likutei Moharan Tinyana – rabenubook.com', public domain, via Sefaria — https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Moharan%2C_Part_II.96
English: our own paraphrase of the Hebrew, written for these videos. It is not copied from any published translation.
Verses and teachings of the Sages appear only as Rebbe Nachman quotes them inside this Torah.
How the text is shown
The Divine Name is shown as ה' and voiced as Hashem. Other Names are written in the customary form (אֱלֹקִים, קֵ-ל, קָהּ, שַׁ-דַּ-י, אֲדֹ-נָ-י, אֶקְיֶ-ה, צְבָקוֹת). No full Name is written or voiced.
Parenthetical source references inside the printed Hebrew are left off the screen to save space; the citation line names the source instead.
Long paragraphs are shown in consecutive pieces. Every Hebrew word on screen is from the edition above; nothing is reworded.
Cards labelled EXPLANATION (green), and every line marked 'our own reflection — not a quote', are our own words, not quotations.
Every on-screen quotation in the full shiur, by part
Part 1 — Even One Word
Scene 3 · LM II:96 §1 · paragraph §1.1, §1.2
עוֹד אָמַר לְעִנְיַן הִתְבּוֹדְדוּת, שֶׁהָיָה דַּרְכּוֹ זַ"ל לְזָרֵז מְאֹד בָּזֶה לִהְיוֹת רָגִיל מְאֹד בְּהִתְבּוֹדְדוּת, לְפָרֵשׁ שִׂיחָתוֹ לִפְנֵי הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם. וְאָמַר: שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁאֵין יְכוֹלִין לְדַבֵּר כְּלָל, אֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁמְּדַבְּרִין רַק דִּבּוּר אֶחָד, גַּם־כֵּן טוֹב מְאֹד.
EN (our paraphrase): He also said, on the matter of hisbodedus, for it was his way, of blessed memory, to urge very strongly to be very regular in hisbodedus, pouring out one's words before Hashem every single day. And he said: even when one cannot speak at all, even when one speaks only a single word, that too is very good.
Scene 4 · LM II:96 §1 · paragraph §1.3
וְאָמַר: שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ אִם אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְדַבֵּר רַק דִּבּוּר אֶחָד, יִהְיֶה חָזָק בְּדַעְתּוֹ, וִידַבֵּר אוֹתוֹ הַדִּבּוּר כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה פְּעָמִים בְּלִי שִׁעוּר וָעֵרֶךְ, וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם יְבַלֶּה כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה יָמִים בְּדִּבּוּר זֶה לְבַד גַּם זֶה טוֹב. וְיִהְיֶה חָזָק וְאַמִּיץ, וְיַרְבֶּה לְדַבֵּר אוֹתוֹ הַדִּבּוּר פְּעָמִים אֵין מִסְפָּר, עַד שֶׁיְּרַחֵם עָלָיו הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְיִפְתַּח פִּיו, וְיוּכַל לְפָרֵשׁ שִׂיחָתוֹ:
EN (our paraphrase): And he said: even if he can speak only one word, let him be strong in his mind, and say that word many, many times, without limit or measure. And even if he spends many days on this word alone, that too is good. Let him be strong and courageous, and say that word countless times, until Hashem has mercy on him and opens his mouth, and he can pour out his words.
Scene 5 · LM II:96 §1 · paragraph §1.4
וְאָמַר, שֶׁהַדִּבּוּר יֵשׁ לוֹ כֹּחַ גָּדוֹל מְאֹד, כִּי הֲלֹא יְכוֹלִין לִלְחֹשׁ עַל קְנֵה־שְׂרֵפָה שֶׁלֹּא תּוּכַל לִירוֹת. וְהָבֵן.
EN (our paraphrase): And he said that speech has very great power; for one can whisper over a gun so that it cannot fire. Understand this.
Scene 6 · LM II:96 §1 · paragraph §1.5
וְאָז כְּשֶׁדִּבֵּר מִזֶּה, דִּבֵּר הַרְבֵּה מֵהִתְבּוֹדְדוּת, וְהֶאֱרִיךְ מְאֹד בְּשִׂיחָה נִפְלָאָה בְּכַמָּה מִינֵי לְשׁוֹנוֹת, וְחִזֵּק אוֹתָנוּ וְזֵרֵז אוֹתָנוּ מְאֹד מְאֹד בָּזֶה, לְהִתְחַזֵּק לְהַרְבּוֹת בְּהִתְבּוֹדְדוּת וְשִׂיחָה בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין קוֹנוֹ.
EN (our paraphrase): And then, when he spoke of this, he spoke much about hisbodedus, and went on at great length in a wondrous talk, in many different ways of speaking; and he strengthened us and urged us very, very much in this, to be strong to do much hisbodedus and conversation between oneself and one's Maker.
Scene 7 · LM II:96 §1 · paragraph §1.6
וְאָמַר: שֶׁרְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָנוּ כָּל הַיּוֹם כֻּלּוֹ הִתְבּוֹדְדוּת, וּלְבַלּוֹת כָּל הַיּוֹם עַל זֶה, אַךְ לָאו כָּל אָדָם יָכוֹל לְקַיֵּם זֹאת. עַל־כֵּן בְּהֶכְרֵחַ לְצַוּוֹת לָהֶם שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָהֶם עַל־כָּל־פָּנִים אֵיזֶה שָׁעָה הִתְבּוֹדְדוּת, כִּי גַּם זֶה טוֹב מְאֹד.
EN (our paraphrase): And he said that his wish is that our whole day would be hisbodedus, spending the whole day on it; but not every person can keep this. Therefore he had to instruct them to have at least some hour of hisbodedus, for this too is very good.
Scene 8 · LM II:96 §1, on Berachos 21a · paragraph §1.7
אֲבָל מִי שֶׁלִּבּוֹ חָזָק בַּה', וְרוֹצֶה לְקַבֵּל עָלָיו עֹל עֲבוֹדָתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ בֶּאֱמֶת, רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ כָּל הַיּוֹם הִתְבּוֹדְדוּת. וְהִזְכִּיר אָז מַאֲמַר חֲכָמֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: וּלְוַאי שֶׁיִּתְפַּלֵּל אָדָם כָּל הַיּוֹם כֻּלּוֹ:
EN (our paraphrase): But one whose heart is strong with Hashem, and who truly wants to accept upon himself the yoke of His service, blessed be He, his wish is that he should have the whole day hisbodedus. And he mentioned then the saying of our Sages, of blessed memory: would that a person pray the whole day long.
Hebrew phrases in the Explainer
Scene 2 · §1.1: לִהְיוֹת רָגִיל מְאֹד בְּהִתְבּוֹדְדוּת, לְפָרֵשׁ שִׂיחָתוֹ לִפְנֵי הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם.
Scene 3 · §1.2: שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁאֵין יְכוֹלִין לְדַבֵּר כְּלָל, אֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁמְּדַבְּרִין רַק דִּבּוּר אֶחָד, גַּם־כֵּן טוֹב מְאֹד.
Scene 4 · §1.3: יִהְיֶה חָזָק בְּדַעְתּוֹ, וִידַבֵּר אוֹתוֹ הַדִּבּוּר כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה פְּעָמִים בְּלִי שִׁעוּר וָעֵרֶךְ,
Scene 5 · §1.4: שֶׁהַדִּבּוּר יֵשׁ לוֹ כֹּחַ גָּדוֹל מְאֹד, כִּי הֲלֹא יְכוֹלִין לִלְחֹשׁ עַל קְנֵה־שְׂרֵפָה שֶׁלֹּא תּוּכַל לִירוֹת.
Scene 6 · §1.6: שֶׁרְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָנוּ כָּל הַיּוֹם כֻּלּוֹ הִתְבּוֹדְדוּת,
Scene 7 · §1.7: וּלְוַאי שֶׁיִּתְפַּלֵּל אָדָם כָּל הַיּוֹם כֻּלּוֹ:
Hebrew phrases in the 1-minute recap
Scene 2 · §1.2: אֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁמְּדַבְּרִין רַק דִּבּוּר אֶחָד, גַּם־כֵּן טוֹב מְאֹד.
Scene 3 · §1.3: עַד שֶׁיְּרַחֵם עָלָיו הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְיִפְתַּח פִּיו, וְיוּכַל לְפָרֵשׁ שִׂיחָתוֹ:
Scene 4 · §1.4: שֶׁהַדִּבּוּר יֵשׁ לוֹ כֹּחַ גָּדוֹל מְאֹד,
Scene 5 · §1.6: עַל־כָּל־פָּנִים אֵיזֶה שָׁעָה הִתְבּוֹדְדוּת,