Zmanim

Zmanim

From “Breslov Eikh Shehu: Breslov the Way It Is”

Customs and Practices, Past and Present

Work-in-progress by Dovid Zeitlin and Dovid Sears

We are posting this information due to a recent email request. However, this should be understood in a historical and regional context. In America, the zmanim of Rav Moshe Feinstein are widely accepted, including by many Breslover chassidim. Please consult a Rov (halakhic authority) before accepting any of these shittos in practice.

Zmanim

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Bender stated that there was “only one zman kriyas Shema” followed by Breslover Chassidim in the Ukraine: that of the Magen Avraham.

(Heard from Rabbi Meir Wasilski and Rabbi Avraham Moshe Wasilski)

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When Rabbi Moshe Yaakov Rosen discussed with Reb Levi Yitzchok which zmanim should be followed by the then newly-formed Breslov shul in Monsey, NY, the latter said emphatically, “We only follow the shittah of the Magen Avraham.” When questioned further, he added, “The GRA’s zman never reached us in the Ukraine.”

(Heard from Rabbi Avraham Moshe Wasilski, who also participated in this conversation)

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Rabbi Avraham Shimon Burshteyn also heard this many times from Reb Levi Yitzchok, and added that this is the prevailing shittah in Eretz Yisrael today.

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Historically, most inhabitants of Yerushalayim followed the shittah of the Magen Avraham, and Rav Yechiel Michel Tukatzinsky’s lu’ach (and subsequently his son Rav Nisan Tukatzinsky’s lu’ach) was arranged accordingly.

(Heard from Rabbi Chaim Kramer)

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Rav Tukatzinsky’s lu’ach determined many hanhagos for Yerushalayim’s Breslover community. For example, concerning when to say or omit “Av HaRachamim” on Shabbos, etc., most people followed that lu’ach.

(Heard from Rabbi Avraham Shimon Burshteyn)

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Rav Tukatzinsky’s lu’ach still hangs on the wall of the Breslover Shul in Me’ah She’arim, and is consulted for virtually all zmanim and other hanhagos of the kehillah.

(Heard from Rabbi Mordekhai [Motte] Frank)

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Rabbi Nochum Yitzchak Frank introduced the exactitude concerning zmanim to the Yerushalayimer Breslov kehillah. His family descended from the talmidei ha-GRA, who placed great emphasis on such precision. However, this attitude was not shared by Reb Levi Yitzchak Bender, or Breslover Chassidim from the Ukraine.

(Heard from Rabbi Avraham Moshe Wasilski and Rabbi Mordekhai [Motte] Frank)

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Rabbi Shmuel Breines, a central figure in the Borough Park Breslov Shtiebel, once asked Rabbi Elyah Chaim Rosen, Rosh Yeshivah of the Breslov Yeshivah in Yerushalayim, about which zman kriyas Shema we should follow—i.e., if we should follow the zman of the Magen Avraham. He answered: “The Baal haTanya wasn’t a posek? The Vilna Gaon wasn’t a posek? One could follow them also. The only chumros we have in Breslov are concerning loshon hora and shemiras habris. The main things are Torah, tefillah, hisbodedus, etc.”

(Heard from Rabbi Shmuel Breines)

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Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender stated that Breslover Chassidim followed Rabbenu Tam’s zman for tzes ha-kokhavim, and that in the Ukraine at some times of the year this could be as long as 90 minutes after sh’kiah.

(Heard from Rabbi Meir Wasilski. Rabbi Yitzchak Tchenagel of Tzefas similarly heard from Reb Levi Yitzchak that they followed Rabbenu Tam’s zman.)

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Rabbi Shlomo Meyer of Lakewood, NJ, also heard that the prevailing zman for tzes ha-kokhavim was that of Rabbenu Tam.

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Rabbi Avraham Moshe Wasilski pointed out that Rabbenu Tam’s zman was calculated according to the ofek (i.e., latitude, as determined by the horizon); therefore it could vary seasonally from a little more than 50 minutes to well over 90 minutes. This is borne out by the Lodz lu’ach published before World War II. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender attested to this, as well. Thus, shittas Rabbenu Tam cannot be simply defined as 72 minutes without qualification.

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Rabbi Zalman Naftalis heard from Gedolei Breslov that the concept of sh’kiah for Minchah was virtually not mentioned in the Ukraine, because the bein ha-shemashos period was so long in that region. Therefore, the precise time of sh’kiah was not readily apparent. Reb Zalman felt that the contemporary Breslover zehirus about davening Minchah before the sh’kiah originated in Yerushalayim in more recent times.

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However, Rabbi Avraham Moshe Wasilski disagreed with those who say that sh’kiah was not mentioned in the Ukraine; Breslover Chassidim were careful to daven Minchah before the sh’kiah. However, they were less precise about defining the minute of sh’kiah, and in general the approach to zmanim was looser than in Yerushalayim.