Sefer Hamidot
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===Missing Sections=== | ===Missing Sections=== | ||
− | Rabbi Nachman omitted many parts of the original Sefer Hamidot that | + | Rabbi Nachman omitted many parts of the original Sefer Hamidot text that was written in his personal manuscript when he read it over to him for transcription. Under the subject heading of 'healing and medicine' alone, Rebbe Natan writes that he saw more than 200 handwritten paragraphs. Rebbe Nachman stated that if people would have access to this information they would never have to go to doctors. |
− | === | + | ===Names=== |
− | Sefer Hamidot is also called Sefer HaAlef Bet since it lists the various traits in Alphabetical order. | + | Sefer Hamidot is also called Sefer HaAlef Bet since it lists the various traits in Alphabetical order. It is also sometimes referred to as Sefer Hanhagos Yesharos since it gives straight guidance extracted from many holy texts. |
===Sources and Footnotes=== | ===Sources and Footnotes=== | ||
− | While some passages in Sefer Hamidot are direct quotes from the Talmud or can easily be sourced to | + | While some passages in Sefer Hamidot are direct quotes from the Talmud or can easily be sourced to Biblical verse, many have very elusive sources. Rabbi Nachman's original handwritten manuscript contained sources but he did not give these over to his student. Although Rabbi Natan did provide some notes and sources, they were very few. Over the year various Rabbis created source footnotes, although they are not included in most published editions. |
− | Breslov Chasidim consider | + | Breslov Chasidim consider the source footnotes as an explanation and commentary to Sefer Hamidot, because without them it is often difficult to interpret the meaning of different passages, which can have multiple meanings. Only when they are looked up in their original source can they be properly understood. |
====Rabbi Nachman of Cherin==== | ====Rabbi Nachman of Cherin==== | ||
− | From 1873 to 1874, Rebbe Nachman of Cherin worked on finding sources for some of these elusive passages. In 1876 Rebbe Nachman of Cherin printed an edition of Sefer Hamidos with his footnotes | + | From 1873 to 1874, Rebbe Nachman of Cherin worked on finding sources for some of these elusive passages. In 1876 Rebbe Nachman of Cherin printed an edition of Sefer Hamidos with his footnotes also including the original ones from Rebbe Natan. |
====Rabbi Tzaddok of Lublin==== | ====Rabbi Tzaddok of Lublin==== | ||
− | Thirty two years later, in 1908, Rebbe Tzaddok of Lublin added more footnotes | + | Thirty two years later, in 1908, Rebbe Tzaddok of Lublin, added more footnotes listing sources not found in the original footnotes created by Rabbi Nachman of Cherin. |
====Rabbi Kalman of Rozin==== | ====Rabbi Kalman of Rozin==== | ||
− | In 1984, Rabbi Kalman of Rozin added an expansion of the abbreviations | + | In 1984, Rabbi Kalman of Rozin added an expansion of the abbreviations im the footnotes with an explanation to understand Rabbainu Nachman's statement from the Rabbinical sources. |
====Tiferet HaMiddot==== | ====Tiferet HaMiddot==== | ||
− | In 2007, Rabbi Nachman Yosef Vitrial from Brooklyn, NY, printed a version of "The Book of Traits" with a rearranged order of subject headings. This new rearranged Sefer Hamidos includes more than twenty new subject headings, a very insightful index, and explanations of the Talmudic and Rabbinical sources. | + | In 2007, Rabbi Nachman Yosef Vitrial from Brooklyn, NY, printed |
+ | a version of "The Book of Traits" with a rearranged order of the subject | ||
+ | headings. This new rearranged Sefer Hamidos includes more than twenty new subject headings, a very insightful index, and explanations of the Talmudic and Rabbinical sources. This addition resulted in two very thick volumes and almost 1000 pages. | ||
===Hashlamos=== | ===Hashlamos=== | ||
− | Many passages | + | Many passages included in Sefer Hamidot can be included under multiple category headings but are only general only included under one or in rare cases repeated in two - three categories. Some recent published editions of Sefer Hamidos include an appendix of 'HaShlamos' - literally 'completions' after each chapter. These category appendixes list all other passages related to that topic from throughout the entire text of Sefer Hamidos, giving a person the ability to get complete coverage of any topic without having to scan through the entier book. Most editions of Sefer Hamidos published by Keren Rabbi Yisorel Ber Odesser, include these appendixes. Tiferet HaMiddot a rearranged Sefer Hamidos by Rabbi Nachman Yosef Vitrial does the same, also creating over 20 new topic categories. |
==Approbations== | ==Approbations== | ||
− | + | Rabbi Nachman writes regarding Sefer Hamidos "that a person will find very advantageous advice how to watch out for bad traits, and how to follow the good traits that parallel them. | |
− | + | Rabbi Nachman said of his Sefer Hamidos, "This book made me a Kosher Jew". | |
+ | He also called his book "My best beloved friend". | ||
− | + | Rebbe Natan writes, "It is already publicized and known that whoever is sincerely looking to achieve an honest and straight path, he will find it in this book." | |
[[Category:Breslov]] | [[Category:Breslov]] |