Order of the Day
Contents
1. The Tzadik, (the Righteous)
2. The Evening Prayers
3. Prayers Before Going To Sleep
4. Making An Account
5. The Midnight Lament
6. Remembering the World to Come
7. Starting the Day
8. Preparing for Prayer
9. Mikvah (The Ritual Bath)
10. The Morning Prayers
11. Jewish Law
12. Speaking With G'd
13. Rabbi Nachman's Teachings
14. Psalms
15. Likutel Tefillos
16. Structured Study
17. Eating
18. Business Affairs
19. Charity
20. Disseminating Rabbi Nachman's Teachings
21. Sanctifying the Seven Lamps
22. Joy
23. Repentance
24. Loving Your Friends
25. The Afternoon Prayers
26. Rosh HaShanah
27. The Land Of Israel
ORDER OF THE DAY
Twenty-seven pillars of Jewish life.
Based on the teachings of the Holy Rebbe, the Tzadik,
Foundation of the World, the Hidden Light . . .
RABBI NACHMAN OF BRESLOV, ZY"E
. . . And on the teachings of his Holy Disciple, the Genius
and Incredible Light to whom no secret remained hidden . . .
RABBI NOSAN OF BRESLOV, ZY"E
Written by one of the great Breslov Chassidim who died
[a martyr] by sanctifying G'd's Name in the world, HK"D
RABBI YITZCHOK BRIETER, ZT"L
1. The Tzadik, (the Righteous)
At nightfall, recite the following passage. Behold, I desire to serve G'd
in truth, faith and joy. Therefore, I attach myself along with all of my
thoughts, words, and actions of the day to the true tzadikim. -- And specifically
to 'The flowing brook, the source of wisdom,' [Proverbs 18:4] our rebbe,
Rabbi Nachman ben Faiga -- the tzadik who is the foundation of the world."
[His teachings reveal the foundations and roots of the entire Torah --
which is Itself the blueprint of Creation]
Before each of the formal prayers, say, "Behold, I attach myself
in my prayers, to all the true tzadikim in our generation, as well as to
all the holy tzadikim who rest in the earth. -- And specifically, to our
holy rebbe, 'The flowing brook, the source of wisdom," [Proverbs 18:4]
Rabbi Nachman ben Faiga, etc."
2. The Evening Prayers
Pray slowly and with all of your strength, with proper feeling, and in
joy. Let your voice sound pleasant, and pronounce the words clearly, being
especially careful to say G'd's Names with fear and respect. The evening
prayers have special power to weaken any harsh judgements decreed against
you. They will give you the strength to stand strong in the war against
depression and suffering which plague most people. This is what is meant
by the verse: "G'd guards His people forever."' [The evening prayers]
3. Prayers Before Going To Sleep
Say the prayers slowly, and in great joy -- just like the evening prayers.
The bedtime prayers will help you correct all of your faults and mistakes,
as well as all sexual blemishes, (improper thoughts and ideas, etc.). This
is due to the mystical teaching that all those who recite the Sh'ma, (the
most essential of these bedtime prayers), will be worthy of defeating all
evil forces. [Tractate Berachos 5a]
4. Making An Accounting
Thank G'd for all of the good which you merited to do today, and feel remorse
and guilt for all of your mistakes those of deed, speech and thought. Then
ask forgiveness and atonement from Him, and pray that He help you to do
His will from now on.
5. The Midnight Lament
Arise at midnight to mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple and the concealment
of the true tzadik's light and teachings. Mourn over your sins -- both
deliberate and unintentional, and over all of your bad traits and lusts.
These faults all delay the rebuilding of the Temple, which will take place
with Meshiach's arrival.
Try to find yourself and your life situation within the Psalms
of the Midnight Lament, and if you can, say them with a broken heart and
in tears.
Ask G'd to speed up the time of the redemption and salvation,
as well as that of your own personal salvation, for the Evil Urge is constantly
attempting our downfall on all levels.
The time of midnight is based on mystical traditions, and always
starts six clock hours after dark, and lasts for two hours. At this time,
"G'd frolics with the tzadikim in Paradise," [Zohar on Exodus 196a] and
it is a very favorable time.
6. Remembering the World to Come
When you awake from your sleep in the morning, say the following: "I give
thanks to You, O Living and Everlasting King, for You have restored my
soul to me in compassion. Great is Your faith." [Found in the beginning
of any traditional prayer book.]
Then remind yourself of the World to Come. Physical life is only
a passing world of vanity and illusion. In the future to come though, there
will be tremendous reward for all good done here, and G'd will fulfill
His promise to bring the dead back to life, for an eternal Paradise here
on earth.
Afterward, pray to G'd that He constantly help you to live in
holiness and purity. join forces with all of the tzadikim just as at other
times, as explained earlier.
7. Starting the Day
Try to get up before the first signs of morning set in, since this is a
very opportune time to serve G'd and will help you have true faith in Him.
The great light of truth and wisdom will shine forth for you when you follow
this mystical custom. Many of the gates of holiness will be opened for
you as well -- which will help you to come even closer to the Almighty.
When the light of day appears, look up and gaze at the heavens,
for this is also a deep rooted tradition, and causes all sorts of divine
favor and grace.
8. Preparing For Prayer
Try not to eat, drink or talk with anyone before you pray, but if you must
talk, then keep the conversation to a minimum. This will add grace to your
prayers, making them more favorable. When praying, you must put all of
your strength and feelings into the words, so it really does not pay to
weaken your soul's deep yearning for G'd by involving yourself with others
beforehand. It is also important to pray the whole service at one time
-- without making any interruptions. Encourage yourself, and pour out your
heart before G'd, for prayer is absolutely the greatest form of expression.
9. Mikvah (The Ritual Bath)
Immerse in a mikvah every day, for it will add great sanctity to your life
and remove all of the impurity of past sin opening vast realms of G'dliness
to your reach. The mikvah protects from all sorts of torment and suffering
-- both physical and spiritual, and this is proved by the verse; "The mikvah
of Israel causes salvation in a time of distress." [Jeremiah 17:3] (This
is a play on the simple meaning of the verse where "mikvah" refers to G'd
-- the hope, (tikvah), of Israel.)
10. The Morning Prayers
Pray early in the morning -- slowly and with feeling, just as you would
say the other prayers. Try not to interrupt yourself in the middle, and
avoid wandering about while you pray. Use a siddur because it is much easier
this way, and don't forget to answer "amen" and the other responses when
you are praying with a minyan -- and remember to answer with feeling! This
will help the whole world to merit the hidden light from the seven days
of creation, which shines forth in a new way every day. Thus the meaning
of the verse; "A new light will enlighten Tzion." [The morning prayers]
11. Jewish Law
Make it an inflexible obligation upon yourself to learn at least one law
from the codes every day of your life. This practice will completely subdue
all shades of disbelief and strife -- whether spiritual or physical, from
both yourself and the rest of the world. Study the Codes of Law in order
from the beginning. If you aren't learned enough to study the large editions
with all of the codifiers, then learn the more basic versions, or those
in English.
12. Speaking With G'd
Encourage yourself with whatever means you can to be alone with G'd and
to talk with Him about whatever is on your mind and heart. Strive to speak
with Him in this simple way for at least an hour every day.
Tell Him about all of your adventures and confess your sins and
transgressions to Him -- whether planned or accidental. Converse with Him
just as you would speak with any other friend. Tell Him of all your distress
and suffering. Pray for the family and for all of our brothers around the
world. Don't be afraid to extend the conversation; mention all the fascinating
details and point out all of your claims well. Then yearn and beg G'd to
acknowledge your prayers and fulfill them -- all in order to come close
to Him. G'd says; "Open your mouth wide and I will fill it." [Psalms 81:11]
Cry and sob too, and beg G'd to take pity on you. Thank Him for
all the great kindness He has shown you -- in a voice of song and praise.
Afterward, ask all of your desires of Him, whether spiritual or earthly,
and have faith, for this conversation brings G'd great pleasure -- even
if it comes from the most insignificant of people. It is even more prized
than the praise of the angels who inhabit the most ineffable spiritual
worlds. if you cannot find the words to begin a conversation, then at least
realize that your preparation and yearning, and the struggle to find words
is all very precious to G'd. Even if you are unable to utter more than
a single word the entire time you are nonetheless absorbed in one of the
most worthy of tasks.
13. Rabbi Nachman's Teachings
Try to learn something from Rabbi Nachman's works every day, because this
will connect you to his very own ideas and outlook. His teachings reveal
the very foundations of the Torah, and will give you tremendous power to
continue the climb towards piety. Your individual study will influence
the entire world with the inspiration to repent and to also renew themselves
to search after holiness. This is true of all mitzvot, especially that
of learning Torah, but Rabbi Nachman's interpretations and teachings have
the most influence of all.
14. Psalms
Say at least ten Psalms every day, since any ten will cause wondrous spiritual
corrections. Strive to find your own life story in the Psalms as you say
them, especially when the verse I praises G'd. -- That is, imagine yourself
as King David, and not merely as a narrator of his words.
15. Likutei Tefillos
Say prayers from this holy work every day, and make up your own prayers,
also. For instance, pray that you merit to fulfill the advice of whatever
Torah you learn. This is what Rabbi Nachman meant when he said that a person
should turn Torah into prayer. Such practice brings G'd tremendous pleasure,
and every word will help you.
16. Structured Study
Establish set times to learn Torah, and study with great joy. Don't interrupt
your learning for anything that isn't of the utmost importance. Also, learn
with the intention that the Torah you learn help you reach perfect faith
in G'd. Search out advice revealing better ways to serve Him. Explore new
ideas and derive your own novelties of thought from your study -- based
on Rabbi Nachman's introductions if you can, since this will bring you
very close to G'd. In addition, it Will also inspire many of our distant
brothers to seek after G'd.
17. Eating
Eat slowly and with manners. Avoid anger and unnecessary talk. Learn Torah
at the table if you can, and try to contemplate holy thoughts while you
eat. Say the Grace After Meals with joy and feeling.
Eating gives extra strength to the body as opposed to the sublime
powers of the soul, so in order to counter this effect, inspire yourself
with yearning for G'd and with ideas of how to come even closer to Him
while reciting the Grace After Meals. Do this with life's other pleasures
as well. Have intention that whatever act you are involved in be done because
it is G'd's Will, and that the enjoyment cause G'd to unite with the Divine
Presence.
18. Business Affairs
Carry out your work and money making affairs with faith in G'd. This will
help you to merit a greater understanding of His direct involvement and
supervision over the world.
Develop a strong belief in the fact that income is not governed
by natural law or luck, but solely by G'd's Will. G'd can provide for all
of us without any of our efforts, just as He did for our ancestors in the
desert. The reason He desires us to work and toil is to see whether or
not we will continue to serve Him when it appears that sustenance and wealth
come independently of His help -- by our own sweat and toil, G'd forbid.
Actually, our toil only inspires G'd to grant us a livelihood, and the
essential work rests on Him.
19. Charity
Separate charity from all the money you earn, irrelevant of how much it
may be. Donate the money for any orthodox Jewish cause. It is an outstanding
mitzvah to support the true tzadik's disciples and others who are interested
in his approach to Torah. Publishing his teachings is a very worthy pursuit,
too. Our intent is that his works be available to all of the Jewish people
at very low cost, and be commonplace in the shuls and houses of study all
around the world.
It is fitting to give at least 2% of one's earnings for such causes
but 10% is a much worthier goal to strive for.
20. Disseminating Rabbi Nachman's Teachings and Ideas Throughout the World
This is the foundation and central task, especially now -- at the epoch
of Meshiach. If every Jewish home had at least one publication of the true
tzadik, it would be that much easier to draw close to the "True Path of
Life." Therefore, this is the greatest goal and purpose there is. This
Job must be handled by the most dedicated disciples -- the holy of the
holy, and they must occupy themselves with it in purity, with every last
ounce of their strength.
We must all seek out ways to increase the circulation, and spread
the Rebbe's great fountains of wisdom to the entire Jewish world -- in
order to inspire all of our brethren back to their Father in heaven.
21. Sanctifying the Seven Lamps
A person should sanctify himself by not looking in the wrong places, and
by turning his ears to the words of the sages. He should call to mind the
fact that G'd is constantly keeping His patience with us, and follow His
example by showing mercy on those he has a right to be angry with, thereby
sanctifying the nose. (In Hebrew, the word "af " means both nose and anger.
It is known that one can tell another's disposition by looking at his nose."
[Rashi on Exodus 15:8]) Sanctify your mouth by speaking words of Torah
and prayer, and guard yourself from evil talk. This will cause you to merit
a plentiful allotment from above, and thoughts of great holiness. This
is also hinted at quite clearly in the Torah. When G'd instructed Moses
and Israel to build the Tabernacle in the desert, He said: "Build Me a
Temple that I may dwell in them." [Exodus 25:8.] -- In them, not merely
in it. The menorah was one of the vessels which stood in the Temple, and
it had seven lamps, symbolic of a person's own seven lamps: the two eyes;
the two ears; the two nostrils and the mouth. These seven have to be lit
each day with the fire of piety, just as the seven lamps of the menorah
were lit each day by the High Priest.
22. Joy
Try to be constantly happy and bubbling with life. Turn all depression
and stupor to joy and enthusiasm. Accept everything with love, and don't
allow yourself to fall into despair. Instead, encourage yourself with your
good deeds and special qualities when something spiritual bothers you.
if the cause of your troubles are physical, then find comfort and joy in
the mere fact that the suffering is not worse than it is. [See Likutei
Moharon 195 and 282] If you fall from your level of serving G'd, then renew
your trust in the great tzadikim and keep starting over and over again,
as if you never failed or even started serving G'd before. Encourage yourself
to believe that the purpose of all of your previous failures was only to
give you the occasion to begin anew.
If you really struggle to always start over again after every
failure, then G'd will surely help you and protect you from falling any
more. Make it a habit, as well, to serve G'd by singing, by being happy,
and by clapping your hands and dancing -- especially while you pray and
learn Torah.
23. Repentance
Examine all of your deeds and words -- and even your thoughts, in order
to find hints which will arouse your soul to serve G'd. Hold your peace
with those who curse and insult you. Your silence will subdue the evil
which resides in the blood -- thereby securing atonement for all of your
sins, changing them to merits.
24. Loving Your Friends
Nurture a deep love for the whole Jewish nation, especially those who have
been found worthy of becoming disciples of the true tzadik. Love everyone
according to his way, and speak of life's goal and purpose with all those
who are open. Every single Jew has a certain spark of good unique to themselves,
so try to gain wisdom from everyone.
25. The Afternoon Prayers
Pray slowly, with joy and with feeling. These prayers will help you elevate
your whole day's work back up to G'd, and will help you gain encouragement
for tomorrow, inspiring you to serve G'd to perfection.
The afternoon prayers are especially fitted to this, as hinted
at in the Torah. ". . . And he (the priest), shall lay the burnt offering
(corresponding to the afternoon prayers), upon it (the altar)." [Leviticus
6:5] It is explained in the Talmud: "With this sacrifice, the whole day's
Temple service was completed." [Tractate Yoma 33a] It says in another verse:
"When the sun sets, the person shall be clean." [Leviticus 22:7] This reveals
that the afternoon sacrifices had the power to bring a person to perfection,
and the afternoon prayers as well -- since they were instituted as the
substitute for the sacrifices when the Temple was destroyed.
26. Rosh HaShanah
All those who hold of the true tzadik must make a gathering on the New
Year and pray to G'd with a strong bond to the tzadik. This will cause
everyone there to receive great enlightenment. Their souls will be worthy
of tremendous corrections, bringing them to intimate closeness with G'd
-- corrections which are impossible to obtain at any other time of year.
Rabbi Nachman said explicitly: "Gohr main zach iz Rosh HaShanah"
-- "My whole foundation is Rosh HaShanah." [Chai Moharon] Your presence
at such a gathering will cause the tzadik's light to shine upon you for
years and years. Therefore, you must break through all problems, and struggle
ceaselessly to come to a Breslov Kibbutz (gathering) for Rosh HaShanah.
However, if lesser problems present themselves, such as -- a lack of money,
the bother of traveling the long distance, or the need of placing your
status aside, then do everything in your power to attend the Kibbutz. There
is nothing greater than being worthy of this very special occasion. Rabbi
Nachman said it is terribly important to be with him on Rosh HaShanah --
whether or not you eat, whether or not you sleep, and whether or not you
pray, as long as you are with me Rosh HaShanah." [Chai Moharon; Godel Yakoros
Rosh HaShanah Shelo, 2]
27. The Land Of Israel
Pray and beg G'd for the desire to live in Israel. At the very minimum,
try to walk a distance of six feet in the Holy Land during your life."
[Six feet (four amos) constitute a person's own domain, as revealed by
the sages] This will help you merit the attribute of patience and will
enable you to rapidly ascend the spiritual heights -- one level after the
next.
'Eretz Yisroel' is essentially spiritual, but Rabbi Nachman's
teachings always emphasize simplicity, and he wanted his disciples to move
there as well as to acquire its holiness spiritually.
He once said: "Before a person comes to the level of 'Eretz Yisroel,'
it is said of him: 'A limp man should not praise himself" [Kings I 20:11]
After emerging victorious though, one is then called a man of war." [Likutel
Moharon 20]
Living in Israel will help you absorb the ways of holiness, and
it is one of the greatest accomplishment you can attain in this world.
May it be the Almighty's will to guide us all in the paths of
the true tzadik -- a life of joy and piety. And may it be His will to allow
His awesome light to descend upon us and upon all of Israel -- that we
be worthy of witnessing the final redemption speedily in our days, Amen.
If you would like extra copies of this book, contact the address below
We also have many other Breslov publications, in several different
languages. They can be viewed on our web site at breslov.com/international..
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and Breslov Chassidus, in particular, to the Jewish people.
Feel free to write if you have any questions or just want to share
your thoughts or problems.
Most of all though, keep praying to G'd.
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