A Cry from the Heart

Otzar Nachmani  222

From the Collected Talks of Rabbi Nachman Burstein, zatzal

Translated by Dovid Sears

Rabbi Elyahu Chaim Rosen, zal,  often used to mention during his talks a saying of the Breslover Chassidim in Uman (before the community was destroyed during the Stalinist purges): “Di hartz iz fahrshtuppt, der mo’ach iz fahrshtuppt, un der baal davar tutt zein’s… The heart is blocked, the brain is blocked, and the Evil One does his work! Menn hott nisht kein sekhel oyf tzi hoyb’n di oyg’n tzu Hashem Yisborach un shray’n:  And we don’t have enough intellect to raise our eyes to the Blessed One and scream: Ribbono shel Olam! Master of the Universe! Makh mir rein dos hartz mit’n mo’ach ikh zohl dir kenen dinen be’emes! Purify my heart with my brain, so that I can serve You in truth!”