The Breslovers
The Breslovers are a religious-social stream that has become part of the Israeli landscape.
They are ultra-Orthodox religious, belonging to a Hasidic court called "Breslov." But unlike all other Hasidic factions that seclude and separate themselves in their communities, the Breslovers are outgoing and venture to all corners of the country to spread their teachings and draw other Israelis closer to them.
You see them in markets, on main streets, on roads, and in places where there is a concentration of Israelis.
You hear them when they arrive, in small groups with a vehicle from which sounds of loud music in Western disco and techno rhythms blares. The music serves as a backdrop for words and verses from the holy scriptures, and for the ecstasy of dancing.
You see them secluding themselves in the forest and engaging in a dialogue with God.
You meet them at natural springs, as they immerse themselves to purify their souls.
You run into them at busy intersections—trying to collect charity by selling books of their own making.
Leading up to Rosh Hashanah, the Breslovers fill planes that take off from Ben Gurion Airport for Ukraine.
There they gather in droves in a town called Uman, around the grave of the first and original Rebbe of Breslav, Rabbi Nachman of Uman. The holiday prayers, which last for two days, are held in the many synagogues scattered around the grave complex.
At these gatherings, tens of thousands of Israelis join them, secular and traditional, who have heard about the unique experience and come to be a part of it.
The Breslovers in the town of Uman in Ukraine
The Breslovers sanctify the joy of life and worship God in a unique style.
Their private lives are conducted in many communities scattered throughout the country—each community with its own customs, each community with its own Rebbe, the local leader who defines the path for his flock. But all of them, all the Breslav communities in Israel, are united by their reverence for the righteous Rabbi Nachman buried in Uman and to his teachings—the core of which are based on Jewish mysticism.
The Breslovers' way of life adheres to the codes of ultra-Orthodox society, but it is clear that they are connected to Israeli-ness and its fundamental concepts—a fact that attracts Israelis searching for a path who find the light with them.
The number of Breslovers is estimated at 100,000 or more, and many of them have undergone a process of Teshuva (returning to religious observance). Their presence is very prominent in Israeli life, with or without external markers.
A Breslov man can be seen dressed like a regular Hassid with a Bekishe and a Shtreimel. And he can also look like a Tel Aviv "Freak," with frayed jeans and a sloppy shirt, with the fringes of his tzitzit peeking out from the gap between his shirt and pants.
A Breslover can have a beard or not, with long hair or very short hair, like a bald head. There are the extroverts who cover their heads with a huge white kippah with an inscription on it that looks like a computer code.
The inscription: נ-נח-נחמ-נחמן מאומן (N-Na-Nach-Nachman Of Uman) is a sacred logo for one of their factions, but to Israelis, it is the most recognized trademark of all the Breslovers. This logo is literally composed of separate parts of two Hebrew words: "Nachman of Uman."
The Breslover can be Ashkenazi or Mizrahi, young or old, a veteran of military service or a Yeshiva student whose Torah is his craft, and he can also be a former criminal who is a Ba'al Teshuva in the present. Among them are those with an academic degree and also those without an education, there are bank clerks and salespeople, kibbutz members and urbanites—anything goes with them. The main thing is the extroverted joy of life they display outwardly, and that is what makes them so unique and prominent on the ground.
The Breslover's wife is not prominent on the ground.
She remains behind the scenes, modest and chaste with a cloth covering on her hair, and often, with many children in tow, she is no different from other women in the ultra-Orthodox community.
The Breslovers' joy vehicle with the inscription
"נ-נח-נחמ-נחמן מאומן"
This is part of "The Israeli Story 1948-2025" project.
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