Sefer Hamidot
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| Hebrew: | |
|---|---|
| ספר המידות | |
| Spelling: | |
| Sefer Hamidot, Sefer Hamidos | |
| Other Names: | |
| The Book of Traits, Sefer Ha-Alef Bet, The Aleph-Bet Book, Sefer Hanhagos Yesharos | |
| Description: | |
| A book written by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov on the properties, associations and manifestations of different traits. |
The Book of Traits (Sefer Hamidos) was written by the Holy and Righteous Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. It is an alphabetical listing of character traits, good and bad, with advice for their rectification and how they relate to one another. Sefer Hamidos is composed of two parts, the first who's compilation began when Rabbi Nachman was just six years old. This Holy book was written to assist individuals seeking to honestly rectify and purify all of their character traits. Rabbi Nachman of Cherin and later Rabbi Tzaddok of Lublin created footnotes for Sefer Hamidot, sourcing the teachings to their origins in different Biblical verses and Rabbinical writings. Rabbi Nachman himself greatly praised his book saying it is what made him into a Kosher Jew.
Contents |
History
The Book of Traits (Sefer Hamidos), originally called "The Aleph-Bet Book" was written by Rabbainu Nachman of Breslov. He gathered statements of different traits and related advice that applies to our daily lives. Originally the book was written in the Holy handwriting of Rebbe Nachman, who began to write the first part in 1773 at the age of six. It was left unpublicized until 1803 when Rabbi Nachman called his student Rabbi Natan Stranhertz, and verbally read to him the passages of the book as Rabbi Natan transcribed them, then edited them and prepared them for publication.
Transcription
In 1803, Rabbainu Nachman asked Rabbi Nasson to start transcribing Sefer Hamidos as he read it to him word for word. This arrangement continued for a short time; then three or four months passed until this project was continued for another short run. Approximately two years passed until Chanukah of 1806 when they sat together for three weeks and finished the writing. This work was very difficult for Rebbe Nachman, but he went ahead with it out of his love of the Jewish People and completed the writing.
Content and Structure
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.
Parts I and II
Sefer Hamidot is divided into two parts. Part I is called "The Old Aleph- Bet", who's writing began when Rabbi Nachman was six years old. Part II which was written a while later, is much smaller and is called "The New Aleph-Bet". Its exact creation date is unknown. 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.
TESTIMONY FROM REBBE NATAN:
According to personal testimony from Rebbe Natan, only a small percentage of the amount of the handwrittings of Rabbainu Nachman has been printed. Under the subject heading of 'healing' alone Rebbe Natan writes that he saw more than 200 handwritten pages. Rebbe Natan testifies in his book "The Life of Rebbe Nachman"", chapter 434,
THE CONTENTS OF THE BOOK:
Rabbainu Nachman gathered from every place that has subjects of 'Mussar',advices how a person can rectify his character traits. He wrote them at age six as a reminder to help him not to forget. He wrote sayings that have to do with valuing good traits and discrediting bad traits. He organized everything under an alphabetical listing of subject headings. In addition, Rabbainu Nachman, due to his enormous and vast wisdom, achieved very valuable insights into rectification of character traits from Biblical verses and from our Ancient Rabbinacal sources. These are not explained thoroughly and are mentioned only subtly for those who are very wise in Torah Knowledge.
ADVANTAGES OF READING AND LEARING FROM "THE BOOK OF TRAITS":
Rabbainu Nachman writes that a person will find very advantageous advices how to watch out for bad traits, and how to follow the good traits that parallel them. 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.
Rebbe Natan writes, Happy is he who attaches himself to this book. Rabbainu Nachman said of his book, "This book made me a Kosher Jew". Rabbainu also called his book "My best beloved friend".
ADDITIONAL FOOTNOTES:
From 1873 to 1874, Rebbe Nachman of Cherin, Ukrainewrote footnotes to sight the Biblical and Rabbinical sources of the writings from "The Book of Traits". Then in the year 1876 Rebbe Nachman of Cherin printed the book with his footnotes and those of Rebbe Natan. Thirty two years later, during 1908, Rebbe Tzaddok of Lublin, Poland added more footnotes of sources. Breslov chassidim consider footnotes as explanation and commentary to the book, because without them it is very difficult to understand the connection of the context to the subject heading, without knowing the source or without being fluent in the knowledge of all of the Torah with all of its Rabbinical writings. In 1984, Rabbi KalmanRozin added an expansion of the abbreviations of the footnotes with an explanation to understand Rabbainu Nachman's statement from the Rabbinical source. Furthermore, in 2007, Rabbi Nachman Yoseph Vitriel from Brooklyn, New York in America, printed a version of "The Book of Traits" with a rearranged order of the subject headings, with more than twenty new subject headings,a very insightful index, and explanations of the Talmudic and other Rabbinical sources, the printing of which resulted in two very thick volumes and almost 1000 pages. Today, there has been a massive spreading of this book to the public, especially in Israel when last year alone there was a printing of "The Book of Traits" softcover pocket size that was selling for Less than 2 shekels with a printing of 15,000!
CHRONOLOGY:
1773 Rabbainu Nachman wrote part one of "The Book of Traits". He completed part two over the years.
1803 Rebbe Natan is asked by Rabbainu Nachman to transcribe the book from his personal handwriting. 1811 Rebbe Natan sends the book of for it's First printing. This was the year that Rabbainu Nachman passed away. The printing was done in Mahlov, Ukraine.
1821 The Second printing of "The Book of Traits" was completed with additional footnotes from Rebbe Natan.
1876 A new printing with footnotes from Rebbe Nachman of Cherin sighting the Biblical and Rabbinical sources. This was printed in Cherin, Ukraine.
1907-8 A new printing with further footnotes from Rebbe Tzaddok of Lublin, Poland.
1984-5 An expanded version of "The Book of Traits" including footnotes explaining the original sources. 2007 A further expanded version of "The Book of Traits" that resulted in the printing of two very thick volumes of sources and explanations of the commentaries.
2012 A printing of a softcover pocket sized version that resulted in the printing of 15,000 copies and the distribution to the public at a 'give away' price of 1 shekel 20 agorot, the American equivalent of only .30 cents.