Master of Prayer

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov was the great grandson of the Baal-Shem Tov. Born 1772 in the Ukraine he was the founder of the Breslov Chasidic sect. Even in his youth he followed a path of prayer and meditation. He taught that prayer was the main path of a spiritual life. He said that the ladder of his spiritual growth was prayer. His prayer to HaShem took many forms. He prayed Tehillim, he prayed the set prayers of the Siddur and used various other books. But more than anything was the time he spent in personal prayer alone with HaShem. He said the Evil Inclination will let us learn Torah and whole sections of Gemara as long as you don't pray. Prayer brings a person closer to HaShem and and the Evil Inclination doesn't want that. When we falter in our prayer life we feel that HaShem is far off, but in reality He is just a whisper away. Our spirit needs prayer like our body needs food. Be careful not to let the enemy rob you of your time in prayer beloved for it is in prayer that we tap into HaShem's power, a power that can make even the demons tremble. Come, hear, all you who fear Elokim. And relate what He has done for my being. I called to Him with my mouth, And praise was in my tongue. If I have seen wickedness in my heart, HaShem would not hear. Truly, Elokim has heard me; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be Elokim, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His kindness from me! Tehillim 67:16-20 Prayer is the weapon Mashiach will use in the final redemption.

Central to Rabbi Nachman's teachings was that of the tzaddik who has the power to redeem lost souls. He said that those that draw close to a true tzaddik have a taste of the Garden of Eden because the "tzaddik" is the gardener of the garden. Rabbi Nachman said that you must pray to HaShem persistently to be able to draw close to the true Tzaddik. "Happy is the one who succeeds in drawing close to the true Tzaddik in his lifetime-happy is his lot." He says that the crafty Evil One has sown so many divisions that it is nearly impossible to know what the truth is. That is why we must beg HaShem to help us draw near to the true Tzaddik. May we realize the truth in our lifetimes.
Tonight we counted 27 days, which is 3 weeks and six days of the Omer. I thought it very fitting, that the trait of the Sefirah for today is Yesod of Netzach. Foundation or bonding of Endurance. Bonding is an essential quality of endurance. It expresses our unwavering commitment, a commitment so powerful that you will endure all to preserve it. The foundation of Yesod is different from other ideas of foundation. It does not rest beneath the other levels supporting them, it encompasses them and makes them complete. It is the same with the foundation we build within the framework of Judaism. When that foundation encompasses every aspect of our life we feel complete, and we know that we have built something that will last, something that will draw others to HaShem. Mashiach is the very foundation of all our hope, may we draw ever closer to him.
Below is a teaching of Rabbi Nachman for you to enjoy.

The beauty, pride and charm
of the entire world

There is a true Tzaddik who is the beauty, pride and charm of the entire world . And when this beauty and splendor is revealed – when this Tzaddik who is the beauty of the world becomes known and magnified in the world – the eyes of all who draw close to him and are included in this true grace are opened and able to see.

The main thing is to look at oneself. In drawing close to the true Tzaddik, it is proper to examine all one's personal traits and attributes in comparison with his . When this Tzaddik who is the grace and beauty of the world is revealed, the eyes of all who are close to and merged in this true grace are opened and they see and examine themselves. They can also see and contemplate the greatness of God and look upon the world since their eyes have been opened by the revelation of the splendor of the true Tzaddik.

When this Tzaddik is revealed and known throughout the world, he has a name in the world. And attached to and clothed within the name of the true Tzaddik is the Name of God, for “His Name is attached to our name”. Thus when the name of the Tzaddik is magnified, the Name of God is greatly magnified, for “His Name is attached to our name” ( Yerushalmi Taanit ch. 2) . Through the magnification of God's Name that comes through the revelation of the true Tzaddik's glory and beauty and the fame of his name, people's consciousness and power of vision are expanded and their eyes are opened.

The world then has a Master of the House who watches over the world – a Head of the House, who repairs and strengthens the House. For the repair of the Temple comes about through this.

Rabbi Nachman also told a story of The Master of Prayer. It is the story of Mashiach and the Redemption. It is the story of free choice and how man can make use of his "sense of true judgment" to prepare himself and help prepare the world for the coming of Mashiach. You can read the story here:http://breslev.co.il/

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May the Master of the House

the Master of Prayer

Find us faithful

May He come swiftly and soon

In our days. B'H' Elizabeth