Rabbi Yisroel Halpern, also known as Yisroel Karduner (died 1920), was a

Breslover Breslov (also Bratslav, also spelled Breslev) is a branch of Hasidic Judaism founded by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810), a great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidism. Its adherents strive to develop an intense, joyous rel ...

Hasid who lived in

Ottoman Palestine Ottoman Syria ( ar, سوريا العثمانية) refers to divisions of the Ottoman Empire within the region of Syria, usually defined as being east of the Mediterranean Sea, west of the Euphrates River, north of the Arabian Desert and south ...

at the turn of the century.

Biography

Born in

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...

, Halpern was introduced to the teachings of

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov Nachman of Breslov ( he, רַבִּי נַחְמָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב ''Rabbī'' ''Naḥmān mīBreslev''), also known as Reb Nachman of Bratslav, Reb Nachman Breslover ( yi, רבי נחמן ברעסלאווער ''Rebe Nakhmen Breslover'' ...

when he came across a copy of ''

Tikkun HaKlali ''Tikkun HaKlali'' ( he, תיקון הכללי, lit., "The General (or Comprehensive) Rectification"), also known as The General Remedy, is a set of ten Psalms whose recital serves as ''teshuvah'' (repentance) for all sins — in particular the ...

'' (Rebbe Nachman's "General Remedy," a specific formulation of ten

Psalms The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived ...

). Halpern's reading of this work inspired him to move to

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

, where he met Rabbi

Nachman Goldstein Nachman Goldstein of Tcherin (1825 – 1894), also known as the Tcheriner Rav (rabbi of Tcherin, a town in eastern Ukraine), was a leading disciple of Nathan of Breslov (known as "Reb Noson"), who in turn was the chief disciple of Rebbe Nachman ...

(Rav of Tcherin) and studied under Reb Moshe Breslover. Many people were attracted to Breslover Hasidut after hearing him pray and sing with intense devotion. Several Breslover

nigunim A nigun ( he, ניגון meaning "tune" or "melody", plural nigunim) or niggun (plural niggunim) is a form of Jewish religious song or tune sung by groups. It is vocal music, often with repetitive sounds such as "Bim-Bim-Bam", "Lai-Lai-Lai", " ...

(melodies) are directly attributed to him. His best-known quote is: ''"There was someone ebbe Nachmanwho called out 100 years ago, 'Never give up!' and we still hear that voice today."''

Aliyah to Israel

He immigrated to the

Holy Land The Holy Land; Arabic: or is an area roughly located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern Bank of the Jordan River, traditionally synonymous both with the biblical Land of Israel and with the region of Palestine. The term "Holy ...

in the early 1900s and lived in

Meron Meron may refer to: People * Meron (surname), including a list of people with the name * Meron Abraham (born 1995), an Eritrean cyclist * Meron Amanuel (born 1990), an Eritrean cyclist * Meron Benvenisti (born 1934), an Israeli political scienti ...

Safed Safed (known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as Tzfat; Sephardi Hebrew, Sephardic Hebrew & Modern Hebrew: צְפַת ''Tsfat'', Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation, Ashkenazi Hebrew: ''Tzfas'', Biblical Hebrew: ''Ṣǝp̄aṯ''; ar, صفد, ''Ṣafad''), i ...

, and

Tiberias Tiberias ( ; he, טְבֶרְיָה, ; ar, طبريا, Ṭabariyyā) is an Israeli city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. A major Jewish center during Late Antiquity, it has been considered since the 16th century one of Judaism's Fo ...

. In Tiberias he met a young Rabbi

Yisroel Ber Odesser Rabbi Yisroel Dov Ber Odesser ( he, ישראל דב בער אדסר) (approx. 1888 – 23 October 1994), also known as Reb Odesser or Sabba ("grandfather" in Hebrew), was a Breslover Hasid and rabbi who claimed to have received a Letter From ...

to whom he became a mentor. According to Rabbi Odesser, Halpern was named Karduner after the name of his town of birth. Rabbi Odesser describes him as pious and dedicated to prayer and study, respected even by those who has disdain for the Breslov way. He brought many other people closer to Breslov Hasidut through his intense devotions and beautiful songs. Halpern lost his entire family in a plague in Tiberias, where he is also buried. His tombstone reads, "here is buried Rabbi Yisrael Breslover, the son of Rabbi Yehdua Leib."

References

*Kramer, Chaim (1989). ''Crossing the Narrow Bridge.'' Appendix C: Breslov Biographies. Jerusalem/New York:

Breslov Research Institute Breslov Research Institute is a publisher of classic and contemporary Breslov texts in English. Established in 1979, BRI has produced the first English translation of all the works of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810) and selected works of Re ...

. 19th-century rabbis from the Russian Empire 20th-century rabbis from the Ottoman Empire Hasidic rabbis in Ottoman Palestine Breslov rabbis Polish Hasidic rabbis Ukrainian Orthodox rabbis 1920 deaths Year of birth missing {{MEast-rabbi-stub

Biography

Aliyah to Israel

See also

References