Manuscript, lectures, discourses and stories by R. Nachman of Breslov, handwritten by his illustrious disciple R. Naftali Weinberg of Nemirov. [Breslov, ca. 1810].

27 leaves (54 pages) handwritten by R. Naftali of Nemirov, containing teachings heard directly from R. Nachman of Breslov, most of which were apparently written during R. Nachman's lifetime – as evidenced by the fact his name is mentioned with a blessing for the living, and by the dates written on the present leaves. Several leaves were written within the first year of his passing (see below).

The lectures, discourses and stories were recorded in writing soon after they were delivered by R. Nachman, and they contain precious material, some of which has never before been printed, other parts of which were printed at a later time after undergoing editing or topical rearrangement in books such as Shivchei HaRan, Sichot HaRan and Chayei Moharan. [For example, the famous teaching about the verse "A holy angel descended from heaven" (Daniel 4:10) was divided into two parts – the Torah teaching appears at the beginning of Likutei Moharan, and the anecdote appears in Chayei Moharan 189. Here, however, the two parts appear in an integrated form that has never before been published.] The present manuscript is thus original material that was committed to writing during the lifetime of R. Nachman, in its original wording and context, including never-before-published sections.

The present leaves bear the following titles: "What he recounted at the beginning of summer 1804 in Breslov"; "Our rabbi's holy lecture on Motzaei Shabbat Toldot 1810 in Breslov"; "Wednesday of Terumah 1810, I visited him and he told me this story"; "Our rabbi's holy lecture on the first day of Shavuot, falling on Motzaei Shabbat, 1809, Breslov"; "Summer 1809"; "4th Elul 1809, Breslov"; "The Torah beginning Bereshit LeEinei Kol Yisrael… delivered on Shabbat of Bereshit"; "Monday, 24th Iyar 1810"; "Sunday, 25th Nisan 1810"; "He recounted that he dreamt of something clever, as follows"; "1809, soon after Shavuot, he recounted this"; "Shabbat Nachamu 1809"; "Dream of Kislev 1809".

The last three leaves contain biographical pieces on R. Nachman, written during the course of the year after his passing (some appear in a different recension in Shivchei HaRan). At the beginning of the first page appears the title: "Moharan", followed by: "I saw fit to explain and recount a bit about our holy rabbi Moharan (I am the atonement for his death), what I know of what occurred to him from his birth until his peaceful departure. And although it is not even so much as a droplet from the sea, since I only merited to become close to him in his later years, when he was already thirty years old…" (the formula "I am the atonement for his death" is traditionally restricted to one year after decease).

R. Naftali Hertz Weinberg of Nemirov (1780-1860) was a childhood friend of R. Natan Sternhartz (Moharnat). Together they sought after G-d until they learned of R. Nachman of Breslov and his unique way in service of G-d, at which point they traveled together to absorb his influence. The two became R. Nachman's closest disciples, to whom he revealed his innermost secrets. R. Nachman once attested to this, commenting that "Natan and Naftali know how to know a bit about me". R. Nachman even entrusted them with his secret Megillat Setarim. The secret of the Tikun HaKlali was first commended to R. Naftali and R. Aharon – the Rabbi of Breslov, as R. Natan writes: "Soon afterwards, while I was at my home in Nemirov, he revealed the ten psalms to the local Rabbi of Breslov and my friend R. Naftali of Nemirov, and brought them in private to be witnesses about this…". R. Naftali hardly committed any of R. Nachman's teachings to writing, which was generally the role filled by R. Natan, and so the present leaves are rare in this sense as well.

Enclosed is an expert opinion on the present leaves by Breslov specialist R. Eliezer Chashin. Among other things, he states: "There are no words to describe the precious value of these leaves, which contain sentences and pieces that have never before been printed; they are too great to recount!!!".

27 leaves (54 pages). Approx. 21 cm. Light blue paper. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and ink fading. Tears and wear, including open tears affecting text (mainly to margins). Most leaves are detached from each other. Without binding.