Rabbi Nachman of Breslov

Hasidic master, 1772–1810, founder of the Breslov dynasty. Great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov. He lived a short, painful life — tuberculosis, the death of a young son, fierce opposition from other Hasidic dynasties — and produced some of the most psychologically raw teachings in Jewish mysticism. He famously commanded his disciples not to appoint a successor after his death; he is the only Hasidic master with no living rebbe, and Breslov Hasidim are still called "the dead Hasidim" because they follow a teacher who died over two hundred years ago. He taught *hitbodedut* — daily, unstructured conversation with God in your own language, out loud, ideally in a field at night — as the central practice. He insisted that joy is a *mitzvah*, a commandment, especially when you do not feel it. He told stories — wild, dreamlike folktales — that are still studied as Torah. Core teaching: the whole world is a very narrow bridge, and the main thing is to have no fear at all. Talk to God like you would talk to your best friend. It is forbidden to despair. Key works: *Likutei Moharan* (his collected discourses), *Sippurei Ma'asiyot* (the *Tales*), *Sefer HaMiddot* (the *Book of Traits*).