Sefer Hamidot

In recent years there have been massive printings of Sefer Hamidot and big efforts of spreading it to the public especially in Israel. In 2012 for example a publication of 15,000 softcover pocket size Sefer Hamidot was printed and they were selling for Less than 2 shekels each. Many expanded versions including source footnotes and appendixes have been published including numerous additions by Keren Rabbi Yisroel Odesser and other [[Na Nach]] publications.

According to the Kabbalah there is a spiritual reality that controls the world. There is a system of cause and effect, where one action or element leads to another. Sefer Hamidos is a list of these traits and attributes and how they can be used to progress in life, the service of Hashem and allow a person to rectify his character traits. Rabbainu Nachman gathered and extracted information from every Torah source, initially starting the creation of the list at age six as a reminder to help him not to forget. Rabbi Nachman compiled sayings that promote good traits and discrediting bad traits. Aside from obvious sources, Rabbi Nachman was able to use his immense wisdom to extract valuable insights into the rectification and properties of character traits from Biblical verses and Ancient Rabbinical sources. These are not explained thoroughly in their original sources and are mentioned only subtly, making them only noticeable only to those who are very wise in Torah knowledge.

Sefer Hamidot is categorized according to different subject headings, arranged in order of the Hebrew alphebet, this being the source of its name the 'Aleph-Bet' book.

Its exact creation date is unknown. The second part was written later on in his life. Rebbe Nachman said that the second part was much deeper then then the first. Unlike the first part of Sefer Hamidos this was not arranged in alphabetical order. Rebbe Nachman gave over an unorganized list of teachings to some of his students and later to Rebbe Nason for them to organize by category. It is for this reason that many of the teachings in part two, are repeated in multiple categories.

Rebbe Natan combined both parts into one volume, in its first printing that took place in 1810 in the city of Mahlov, Ukraine. In the first edition each part was created as a separate section.

A second printing of Sefer Hamidos, which also included Rebbe Natan's footnotes, was printed in 1821. Unlike the first printing, this time both parts of the book were printed under the same subject headings together with a caption of First part and Second part, to differentiate from one another. This is the format that was retained in all subsequent editions.

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. It is also sometimes referred to as Sefer Hanhagos Yesharos since it gives straight guidance extracted from many holy texts.

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 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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."