Rabbi
Yisroel Halpern, also known as
Yisroel Karduner (died 1920), was a
BresloverBreslov is a branch of Hasidic Judaism founded by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov a great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidism. Its adherents strive to develop an intense, joyous relationship with God and receive guidance toward this goal from the teachings of Rebbe Nachman...
Hasid who lived in
Ottoman PalestinePalestine is a conventional name used, among others, to describe a geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands.As a geographical term, Palestine can also refer to 'ancient Palestine,' an area...
at the turn of the century. He was the teacher of Rabbi
Yisroel Ber OdesserRabbi Yisroel Dov Ber Odesser , also known as Reb Odesser or Sabba , was a controversial figure in the Breslov movement. He claimed to have received a letter sent directly to him by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, who had died 112 years earlier, revealing to him a new remedy for relieving the world's...
, and brought many other people closer to Breslov Hasidut through his intense devotions and beautiful songs.
Born in
PolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe . Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Halpern was introduced to the teachings of
Rebbe Nachman of BreslovNachman of Breslov , also known as Reb Nachman of Bratslav, Reb Nachman Breslover , Nachman from Uman , was the founder of the Breslov Hasidic dynasty....
when he came across a copy of
Tikkun HaKlaliTikkun HaKlali , also known as The General Remedy, is a set of ten Psalms whose recital serves as teshuvah for all sins — in particular the sin of wasted seed through involuntary nocturnal emission or masturbation...
(Rebbe Nachman's "General Remedy," a specific formulation of ten
PsalmsPsalms is a book of the Hebrew Bible , included in the collected works known as the "Writings" or Ketuvim.-Etymology:...
).
Rabbi
Yisroel Halpern, also known as
Yisroel Karduner (died 1920), was a
BresloverBreslov is a branch of Hasidic Judaism founded by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov a great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidism. Its adherents strive to develop an intense, joyous relationship with God and receive guidance toward this goal from the teachings of Rebbe Nachman...
Hasid who lived in
Ottoman PalestinePalestine is a conventional name used, among others, to describe a geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands.As a geographical term, Palestine can also refer to 'ancient Palestine,' an area...
at the turn of the century. He was the teacher of Rabbi
Yisroel Ber OdesserRabbi Yisroel Dov Ber Odesser , also known as Reb Odesser or Sabba , was a controversial figure in the Breslov movement. He claimed to have received a letter sent directly to him by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, who had died 112 years earlier, revealing to him a new remedy for relieving the world's...
, and brought many other people closer to Breslov Hasidut through his intense devotions and beautiful songs.
Born in
PolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe . Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Halpern was introduced to the teachings of
Rebbe Nachman of BreslovNachman of Breslov , also known as Reb Nachman of Bratslav, Reb Nachman Breslover , Nachman from Uman , was the founder of the Breslov Hasidic dynasty....
when he came across a copy of
Tikkun HaKlaliTikkun HaKlali , also known as The General Remedy, is a set of ten Psalms whose recital serves as teshuvah for all sins — in particular the sin of wasted seed through involuntary nocturnal emission or masturbation...
(Rebbe Nachman's "General Remedy," a specific formulation of ten
PsalmsPsalms is a book of the Hebrew Bible , included in the collected works known as the "Writings" or Ketuvim.-Etymology:...
). Halpern's reading of this work inspired him to move to
UkraineUkraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east; Belarus to the north; Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west; Romania and Moldova to the southwest; and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south. The city of Kiev is both the capital and the largest city of...
, where he studied under Reb
Moshe BresloverMoshe Breslover was the nickname given to Rabbi Moshe Lubarski , one of the closest disciples of Nathan of Breslov , who in turn was the closest disciple of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov...
.
He immigrated to the
Holy LandThe Holy Land , generally refers to the geographical region of the Levant called Land of Canaan or Land of Israel in the Bible, and constitutes the Promised land...
in the early 1900s and lived in
MeronMeron is a moshav in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near Safed, and within municipal jurisdiction of the Merom HaGalil Regional Council...
,
SafedSafed is a city in the Northern District of Israel. At an elevation of 800 meters above sea level, Safed is the highest city in the Galilee. Since the sixteenth century, Safad has been considered one of Judaism's Four Holy Cities, along with Jerusalem, Hebron and Tiberias...
, and
TiberiasTiberias is a city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, Lower Galilee, Israel. Established in 20 CE, it was named in honour of the emperor Tiberius. Since the sixteenth century, Tiberias has been considered one of Judaism's Four Holy Cities, along with Jerusalem, Hebron and Safed...
. Many people were attracted to Breslover Hasidut after hearing him pray and sing with intense devotion. Several Breslover nigunim (melodies) are directly attributed to him. His best-known quote is:
"There was someone [Rebbe Nachman] who called out 100 years ago, 'Never give up!' and we still hear that voice today".
Halpern lost his entire family in a plague in Tiberias, where he is also buried.
See also