What is Breslov Hasidism?
Breslov Hasidism is a branch of Hasidic Judaism founded by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810), great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of the broader Hasidic movement. Breslov adherents seek an intense, joyful relationship with the Divine through personal prayer, spiritual storytelling, and the cultivation of radical joy even amid struggle. Unlike other Hasidic dynasties, Breslov has had no living rebbe since Rabbi Nachman’s death; he designated no successor, and his followers continue to draw guidance from his recorded teachings rather than a hereditary lineage. The movement is sometimes called the “dead Hasidim” for this reason, though local communities may refer to their teachers as “rebbe.”
Origins & Lineage
Rabbi Nachman was born April 4, 1772, in Medzhybizh, Ukraine, into a family of central Hasidic figures. His mother, Feiga, was the granddaughter of the Baal Shem Tov; his father, Rabbi Simcha, descended from Rabbi Nachman of Horodenka. During 1798–1799, Nachman made a pilgrimage to the Land of Israel, where he gathered the first followers who would constitute the first generation of Breslov Hasidim. In 1802, upon arriving in the town of Breslov (Bratslav), Ukraine, Nachman declared: “Today, we have planted the name of the Breslover Hasidim. This name will never disappear because my followers will always be called after the town of Breslov.”
His teachings were compiled primarily by his devoted disciple, Rabbi Nathan Sternhartz (Reb Noson), in works such as Likutey Moharan (vol. i, 1808; vol. ii, 1811), which contains Hasidic interpretations of the Torah, Talmud, and Zohar. Nachman also composed mystical tales—including 13 allegorical stories—published as Sippurei Ma’asiyyot. In 1810, after a fire destroyed his home, Nachman moved to Uman, Ukraine—site of a 1768 massacre of thousands of Jews—intending to aid in the spiritual redemption of departed souls. He died there of tuberculosis on October 16, 1810, at age 38.
How It’s Practiced
The signature Breslov practice is hitbodedut (Hebrew: “self-seclusion”), an unstructured, spontaneous, and individualized form of prayer and meditation through which one establishes a close, personal relationship with God. Practitioners set aside time each day—ideally an hour—to speak aloud to God in their native language, pouring out thoughts, troubles, and supplications as one would to a close friend. The ideal time is at night when the world is quiet, though any time works. The concept of hitbodedut was central to Nachman’s thinking, and he recommended followers engage in it for at least one hour each day.
The best location is outdoors—in fields or forests—where one can be undisturbed, though a private room also works. Nachman compared it to a child pleading before his father, saying it is good to express thoughts and troubles to God like a child complaining and pestering. The Hebrew letters of Breslov (ברסלב) can be rearranged to spell lev basar (“a heart of flesh”), echoing Ezekiel 36:26’s prophecy about replacing a “heart of stone”.
Another key practice is Tikkun HaKlali (“General Remedy”), the recitation of ten specific Psalms for spiritual rectification and healing. Breslovers also emphasize simcha (joy): “It is a great mitzvah to be joyous always,” Rebbe Nachman taught. Music, dance, and niggunim (wordless melodies) are woven into practice. Nachman rejected hereditary Hasidic dynasties, teaching that each person must “search for the tzaddik” and that every Jew has the potential to become one.
Breslov Hasidism Today
The movement was regenerated in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Israel by those who escaped the persecutions of Europe, with large numbers of Yemenite Jews and other Mizrahi Jews joining the sect. Today, Breslov Hasidism thrives as a decentralized global movement, with significant communities in Jerusalem’s Meah Shearim neighborhood, New York, and other Jewish centers worldwide.
The most visible Breslov practice is the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to Rabbi Nachman’s grave in Uman, Ukraine. Nachman himself said: “My Rosh Hashana is greater than everything… Rosh Hashana is my whole mission.” After Nachman’s death, Nathan Sternhartz instituted the annual pilgrimage, called the Rosh Hashana kibbutz, which drew thousands until 1917; it continued clandestinely during Communist persecution and reopened during Perestroika in 1989. Today, more than 20,000 people from all over the world participate in this annual pilgrimage.
Breslov teachers and organizations offer classes, retreats, online courses, and publications. The Breslov Research Institute has translated Nachman’s works into English. The gathering attracts a wide spectrum of participants, including secular Jews, spiritual seekers, and individuals unaffiliated with organized religion. Breslov teachings have influenced Neo-Hasidic movements and non-Orthodox seekers exploring Jewish meditation.
Common Misconceptions
Not a meditation technique borrowed from the East. Hitbodedut has roots tracing to Abraham son of Moses Maimonides (1186–1237) and was transmitted through Kabbalists of Safed to 18th-century masters like Nachman. It is a distinctly Jewish contemplative path.
Not quietist or passive. While hitbodedut involves seclusion, it consists of speaking aloud to God with words of grace and supplication, in one’s native language—more akin to spontaneous prayer than silent meditation.
Not uniform or hierarchical. Breslov has had no central, living leader for the past 200 years; adherents are sometimes called the “dead Hasidim” since they’ve never had a formal rebbe since Nachman’s death. Local teachers may be called “rebbe,” but there is no single authority.
Not exclusively for the spiritually advanced. Nachman insisted: “Everyone can attain the highest level. It depends on nothing but your own free choice… for everything depends on a multitude of deeds.”
Not dogmatically ascetic. In early life Nachman stressed fasting and self-castigation, but later he abandoned severe asceticism because he felt it might lead to depression and sadness.
How to Begin
Start with hitbodedut: Set a time during the day when you will be alone for just one minute, then gradually extend. Speak to God in your own language about whatever is on your heart—gratitude, struggle, questions. Even if all you can say is “Master of the World,” this is very good.
Read foundational texts: Begin with Likutey Moharan (available in English translation), Rabbi Nachman’s Stories (allegorical tales), or Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom (concise teachings compiled by Nathan Sternhartz). Ozer Bergman’s Where Earth and Heaven Kiss: A Practical Guide to Rebbe Nachman’s Path of Meditation offers step-by-step guidance.
Find a community or teacher: Breslov communities exist in major cities; many offer Shabbat services, study groups, and online classes. The Breslov Research Institute and BreslovWorld.org provide resources.
Practice Tikkun HaKlali: Recite the ten Psalms (16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 105, 137, 150) as a spiritual remedy—no Hebrew required initially; English translations work.
Cultivate joy: The message of Breslov is simcha (happiness), simple prayer, faith in God, finding good points in yourself and others, and serving God with every aspect of your being.