Hollywood actress Jennifer Aniston is also a NaNach fan

 "It has already become a tradition amongst secular Israelis to invite Nanachs and bring joy to their weddings. "

‘To be a person of truth, be swayed neither by approval nor disapproval. Work at not needing approval from anyone and you will be free to be who you really are.’
(Rabbi Nachman of Breslov)

Jennifer Annison wearing the Nanach kamaya - amulet! » Social Network | GlowTrend: "Regular readers may recall my admiration of the NaNachs, the fun-filled followers of the teachings of Rabbi Nachman who dance to techno music on the streets of Israel and elsewhere. Their uplifting energy is so inspiring, as is the wisdom of Nachman himself.

I only learnt this week that Hollywood actress Jennifer Aniston is also a NaNach fan. She is often seen wearing the NaNach Kumaya amulet and even once paid for a NaNach Hasid’s plane ticket so he could join the group’s customary Rosh Hashanah visit to Nachman’s resting place in Uman.

Here is the Friends legend Aniston, on the cover of this week’s Grazia magazine, wearing a NaNach amulet. Much respect is due. I hope she keeps plugging into Rabbi Nachman’s wisdom. There are few better ways of being uplifted when it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year… "

The Sabba 

Saba, Rebbe Yisroel Dov Ber Odesser (1888 - 1994) the original founder of the Na Nach movement, was a fifth generation Breslov Chassid and a student of Rebbe Yisroel Karduner. Originally a Karlin Chassid, Yisroel Dov Odesser came across the book Hishtapchus Hanefesh. After reading the book and later meeting Rabbi Karduner, he openly accepted the path of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov despite great opposition from his family and community. Yisroel Dov Odeser remained a disciple under Rabbi Karduner for five years until his mentor passed away during a plague in Tiberias.

The Petek

In July 1922 at the age of 33 Yisroel Odesser claimed to have received a miraculous note from Rebbe Nachman of Breslov who had passed away 112 years earlier. This note is commonly referred to as the 'Petek'. On a superficial level the Petek was nothing more then a letter of encouragement. According to Odeser however, it contained much deeper meanings.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman Muman 

Na Nach Nachma Nachman Muman as it is signed in the Petek

In the Petek, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov signed his name in a most unusual quadrupled kablistic format; Na Nach Nachma Nachman Muman. Members of the Na Nach group claim that the phrase Na Nach Nachma Nachman Muman is the Song of Redemption mentioned in the Tikunay Zohar and Likutay Maharan. Kabbalistic tradition reveals the existence of ten songs throughout the history of mankind. Nine of the ten have already been used while one song remains for the purpose of redeeming the Jewish Nation from the final exile.

It is a strong belief amongst the Na Nachs that just uttering, singing or chanting this phrase can bring about healing and salvation. They claim that it is a very powerful concentration that condenses all the spiritual teachings and energies into one little sentence.

Start of the Movement 

For many years Rabbi Yisroel Dov Odeser kept the existence of the Petek a secret from all but his closest family and friends. Finally in 1982 after reached a point where he completely understood the Petek and all its deeper meanings, Rabbi Yisroel Dov Odeser decided that it was time for it to be revealed to the world. He gathered around him a group of Israeli and American Balei Teshuva and some French Sephardi Rabbis. Along with his new followers Rabbi Yisroel Odeser started a campaign to spread the song Na Nach Nachma Nachman Muman and the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev all over Israel.

Members of the Na Nach group strongly believe in the authority of Rabbi Odesser and consider him the sole transmitter of the Breslov tradition in this generation. Rabbi Odeser is often referred to as 'the Saba', literally 'the grandfather' due to his old age. Rabbi Odesser himself promoted usage of this name, instead of being called a rabbi. This was done in spirit of the Breslov tradition of avoiding honor and fame.

Vans and Dancing 

Long before Hafatza became popular, the Saba predicted that one day there would be vans roaming across Israel to spread the Breslov teachings. Rabbi Yisroel Ber Odesser instructed his followers to dance at traffic lights with blasting music and announce to the world that Rebbe Nachman exists. Eventually his students did get hold of vans and went to carry out his words.

Na Nach vans are the most common form of Hafatza known to the general Israeli population. Na Nach vans travel throughout all the major cities in Israel playing Nanach music and selling the books of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev. Most vans are covered with large colorful stickers portraying the Saba and the phrase Na Nach Nachma Nachman Muman. Vans are normally equipped with two large speakers on the top of the vehicle and a stockpile of Breslev books, Nanach stickers, music and parifinalia in the back.

Hafatza at the Side of a Nanach Van

Often the Na Nachs will jump out of their van at red traffic lights to do a quick dance before the cars start driving again. When they get a chance, Nanach Mafitizim park their van, turn on music and set up a folding table with their inventory. Nanach Mafitizm will then dance until stopped by a passerby interested in buying a book or learning more about Rebbe Nachman. Many times local residents join the action. Dancing can sometimes grow to dozens of bystanders. With respect to Rebbe Nachman's strict views of modesty, woman are strongly encouraged not to join the dancing. Na Nach dancing is often freeform, where each Mafitz dances individually using random moves and motions.

On average there are between 8 - 20 active Na Nach vans and many smaller cars. Most Na Nachs that own a car will cover it with Na Nach stickers and do some Hafatza as move about their day to day activities. Na Nach vans can contain a single Mafitz or as many as 13. Most vans average a team of 4-5 Mafitzim.

Life on the Na Nach van can be rough, Mafitzim often work on very little food and sleep. Most Mafitzim spend hours dancing each day, sometimes for a few hours in a row. Most Hafatza vans stay on the road for the bulk of the week, with the Mafitzim sleeping in the van itself or at designated Na Nach resting spots. Besides dancing on busy streets, many Hafatza teams will visit events and weddings as well. It has already become a tradition amongst secular Israelis to invite Nanachs and bring joy to their weddings. [4]

Source:

[1] http://www.oyvagoy.com/2012/08/15/nanach-will-be-there-for-you/

[2] http://www.nanach.org/

[3] http://www.nanach.net/

[4] http://www.zissil.com/topics/Na-nach/

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Don’t worry, be Na Nach

Don’t worry, be NaNach

NaNachs Dancing In The Rain

By S. Levine

It’s raining as cars pull into to the dark wet driveway, lit only by a throbbing blue strobe light. The light moves to the beat of the loud trance music coming out of the back of a van covered in stickers reading “Na Nach Nachma Nachman Meuman.”  

As people arrive they receive the greeting “Chag Sameach” (happy holiday). Men and children, with white knitted skullcaps, also proclaiming “Na Nach Nachma Nachman Meuman,” are dancing to the music. Some are wearing the traditional black and white of Hassidic Jews, while others are dressed in all white. 

It is the anniversary of the death of Rabbi Yisroel Ber Odesser, a controversial Breslov figure of the 20th century, and the founder of the Na Nach sect of Breslov, named after the mantra of “Na Nach…” 

Over the past couple of decades, Na Nach’s have made their presence, as an entity different from mainstream Breslov Hassidus, known in Israel. In New York City however, they are small but growing. 

Breeah Berezin- Bahr is a Na Nach currently living in Staten Island, but hoping to make her way back to Israel very soon. She became Na Nach at age 19, when she was studying in Tzfat.  

“I changed my whole life in three months,” Berezin-Bahr said “I knew I always had to live in Tzfat and I had to be Breslov.” 

A highly conspicuous group, Na Nachs spread their message through music, dancing, and displaying their logo wherever possible. This sub-group of Breslov Chassidim believes that Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810) was the last righteous person in the world, and spreading his name and teachings is considered to be a large part of fixing the world. 

As this group grows in popularity, so does those who are twisting the ideology, and meaning of the mantra “Na Nach.”

This mantra comes from the signature to a letter of comfort, found by Odesser in a time of despair after he transgressed a religious fast. Odesser believed the letter to come from Rebbe Nachman himself, calling it the “Letter from Heaven.” The validity of this letter is highly controversial, and many Breslov Hassidim do not believe in this letter. Those who do are called Na Nachs.

A large number of Na Nachs are Orthodox Jews and understand the letter not as an allowance to sin, but a comfort in case one has sinned. 

Berezhin-Bahr understands the mantra of  Na Nach as reminder that God loves us, and sees we’re trying, so we shouldn’t worry if something goes wrong.  “We have to be the best we can at every moment, and if not – Na Nach. But you can’t plan to do something wrong – it’s there so that if God forbid you do something wrong you don’t get depressed,” she explained.

Covered in NaNach

However, more recently there are those who use the mantra of “Na Nach” as an excuse, a way to right any wrong.  

Another NaNach, who says that Rebbe Nachman saved his life, used to be very upset with those who used this mantra to justify sin. “If you have your own problem, deal with it. God still loves you, but don’t say it is Na Nach,” he said. 

Simcha Hochman, one of the largest spreaders of Na Nach in New York, is the son of a rabbi and grew up in an extremely religious home in Toronto, Canada. He found Na Nach seven years ago after a lot of spiritual searching and is now a large contributor to www.nanach.net. 

His reaction to those who use the phrase Na Nach as a justification? “Someone who is intentionally going to do wrong is going to do it anyway. If they say Na Nach that’s a step in the right direction. Na Nachs do whatever they want,” he said. “Na Nachs want to keep the Torah. If you really want to do anaveirah (a transgression) what’s going to stop you? At least you believe that God is greater than everything, at least you have faith in God.” 

Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, the Rabbi of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, N.Y., studies and gives classes on the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. 

He views Breslov Hassidus as the most contemporary of all Hassidus, yet does not align himself with NaNachs.  As someone who studies the teachings of many Hassidic masters, he spoke out strongly against those NaNachs who believe that there have been no true teachers of Torah since Rebbe Nachman, calling such people ignoramuses.

Simcha Hochman's License Plate

[1] SOURCE: http://shulilevinejournalist.wordpress.com/tag/breslov/