Letter from Rabbi Yisrael ber Odesser, From the Period in Which he Received the "Petek" from Heaven

Letter from Rabbi Yisrael ber Odesser, From the Period in Which he Received the "Petek" from Heaven

Letter from the "Sabba" Rabbi Yisrael [Ber] Odesser, 'Ba'al HaPetek.' Sharp letter about the persecution and harassment he experienced from Slonim Chassidim in Tiberias due to his drawing close to Breslov. Sent to his friend, the Chassid Rabbi Alter Ben Tziyon Kroskop. Tiberias, MarCheshvan [c. 1920s/1930s].

As is known, while the "Sabba" was studying at the Slonimer Ohr Torah yeshivah in Tiberias, due to the terrible persecution Rabbi Odesser underwent at the hands of the Slonim Chassidim (some detailed in this letter) and as appears in his book: "I did not want to live, and I fell into such a deep depression that I was unable to speak or be among people. I went to yeshivah and lay in the synagogue like a dead man; I neither ate not slept for six days." Due to this depression, the famous "petek" from Heaven was revealed to him, which uplifted him anew to the extent that he became one of the leaders of Breslov. (Incidentally, Slonimer Chassidim are willing to swear that the note was written by Rabbi Yossel Ashkenazi, one of the yeshivah students at the time, as part of their harassment campaign against the 'Sabba').

In his letter, the "Sabba" writes "... and I have a lot to write, but I don't have the time as the time has already come to go to yeshivah [the Ohr Torah yeshivah in Tiberias]. I also hope to Hashem to come on Friday to Meron, and we will speak there face to face about it all at length. For now, I will let you know that there are wars and persecution against me from all sides, both from the forces of evil and desire, and from the opposition of the G-dless, daring dogs with sin in their souls who speak about the truly righteous and his kosher followers, true servants of Hashem. As such, I will very much ask that you pray for me, that I become very strong to follow the way of our sacred Rebbe, that nothing prevent me from Divine service, and pray also that I can come to you this week to hear the words of the Living G-d. Yours truly, Yisrael Dov Breslover." Shocking!

At the beginning of his letter, the Sabba refers to his friends, prominent Chassidim of Breslov: Rabbi Shmuel Horowitz and Rabbi Ya'akov Brazasky. The Chassid Rabbi Shmuel Horowitz tells in his writings of the sacred enthusiasm for Divine service in his early years, together with his close friend: The "Sabba" Rabbi Yisrael Dov, Rabbi Alter Ben Tziyon Kroskop (the addressee of this letter) and Rabbi Ya'akov Ze'ev Brazasky, and of the special love and friendship they shared: "I and Rabbi Alter Ben Tziyon, Rabbi Ya'akov Ze'ev and Yisrael Dov, with our tremendous love for each other, completely unfathomable to the human mind, as each one of us is prepared to sacrifice himself for his friend, as he loves him more his own body and soul ... and when they would see each other, they would hug and kiss each other and their eyes would flow with tears from the extent of love and affection" (Yemei Shmuel Chap. 148).

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of Rabbi Yisrael Ber Odesser.

[1] leaf. 20 cm. Fine condition. Slight tears. Affixed to paper for reinforcement and preservation.