THE ESSENTIAL
RABBI NACHMAN

Translated by Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum

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Wherever I go, I am always only going to the land of Israel . I am only here in Breslov temporarily.

Chayey Moharan #156

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From level to level

A true Israelite is one who constantly advances from level to level. Each advance to greater holiness can be accomplished only through the holiness of the land of Israel . Likewise our prayers ascend only through the land of Israel .

When a person reaches the level of the land of Israel , he is worthy to be called "a man of strength and valor". Before one attains this level, "Let not he that girds his armor boast like he that removes it" (I Kings 20:11 ) . However after winning the battle, he does indeed deserve to be called "a man of war".

Likutey Moharan I, 20

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Houses and apartments.

What do I mean by the land of Israel ? I mean the actual country of Israel with its houses and apartments!

Chayey Moharan #15

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Why go to Israel ?

The only motive for going to the land of Israel should be spiritual: to draw closer to God. One who goes there with this intention will certainly benefit. Merely by setting foot in the land, he will become absorbed in and transformed by its holiness. For this reason even one who walks four cubits in the land of Israel is assured that he will inherit the world to come ( Ketubot 111a) . But if a person's motive has no connection with devotion to God and purification from evil, how will the land of Israel help him? It will vomit him out "as it vomited out the nation that was before you" (Leviticus 18:28 ) .

Likutey Moharan I, 155

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Longing

Pray that God should give you longing and desire for the land of Israel , and then you will succeed in getting there. Pray also that He should plant yearning for the land in the hearts of all the Tzaddikim.

Likutey Moharan I, 155

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Charity for Israel

Charity given for the land of Israel is greater than charity for causes elsewhere. When you give charity for the land of Israel you become included in the air of the land of Israel , which is "holy breath without the taint of sin" ( Shabbat 119b) . Through this breath the forces of severity and darkness are banished from the world. One can also thereby escape alien thoughts and distractions during prayer, and one's mind and thoughts become clear and refined. This is the repair of the holy Covenant.

Likutey Moharan I, 37

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To distinguish between light and darkness

The land of Israel is the very summit of holiness, encompassing all other levels of holiness. It is there that we can completely free ourselves of the notion that the world is governed through nature and come to know and believe that everything happens only through the hand of God. When man knows this he becomes like God, acquiring the ability to distinguish between light and darkness. "Light" refers to the deeds of the Tzaddikim while "darkness" refers to those of the wicked ( Bereishith Rabbah 2) .

Telling stories about the Tzaddikim help s cleanse and purify the mind. But for every story about a Tzaddik we find a parallel story about a wicked person , because the realm of evil is a reflection of that of holiness. Thus we are told that Pinchas flew in the air, and the same is said of the wicked Bilaam, except that in his case it was through witchcraft. The ability to distinguish between light and darkness enables us to distinguish between stories about true Tzaddikim and those that are not.

To separate the light from the darkness requires the ultimate level of faith. This can be attained only in the land of Israel .

Likutey Moharan I, 234

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