When Rabbi Nachman returned from the Holy Land, before returning home, he visited many of the senior Chassidic leaders in Ukraine, and as far as White Russia, where he attempted to make peace between Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, and his bitter rival, Rabbi Avraham of Kalisk, head of the Chassisdic community in Tiberias. He was warmly received by all, especially by Rabbi Aryeh Leib of Shpola, universally beloved and known as the Shpoler Zeida (grandfather). He showed the young Rabbi Nachman unbounded affection. Rabbi Nachman returned to the town he lived in, but soon, and unexpectedly, he moved with his family to Zlatopola, a town right next to Shpola.

Rabbi Nachman was not pleased with the local cantor, saying that he was praying not for G-d, but to impress his wife. The cantor was furious. He was a follower of the Shpoler, He went to his Rebbe, and complained. The attitude of the Shpoler took a strong turn against Rabbi Nachman. The last decade of Rabbi Nachman's life was plagued with constant denunciation from his erstwhile friend. What caused the Shpoler to behave this way? Was it personal? Ideological? There is no way of knowing. But Rabbi Nachman saw it as a great barrier around him, which anyone seeking the light of his teachings would need to break through. "I knew SOMEONE would be used this way, but I'm surprised that it's he," said Rabbi Nachman.

He spent two years in Zlatipola, under constant persecution. He then moved to Breslov (Bratzlav), which, at that time, was a thriving mercantile center.(it was later largely destroyed by the great fire of 1810, and has been a backwater ever since.) This scenario has repeated itself time and time again. Seemingly devout people will suddenly go on the offensive against Rabbi Nachman. There have even been cases of bloodshed. From the perspective of Breslovers, these people are, sadly, allowing themselves to be used by dark powers.

Now let us turn our attention elsewhere. Rabbi Natan of Nemerov (which is a town near Breslov) was the son of a wealthy family. He had a great mind, and was chosen by Rabbi David Tzvi Aurbach, the regional rabbi, to be his son in law, with the thought of having Rabbi Natan succeed him. Rabbi Natan's parents were opposed to the Chassidic movement, as was his father in law. But the young Natan felt something was missing. He loved to study Torah, but nevertheless felt that he was not close to G-d. He had Chassidic friends who urged him in the Chassidic direction. He visited many Chassidic leaders. He was impressed by them, but felt that their followers "didn't get it". He eventually came to the holy Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev. The two men became very close, but the young Natan felt that despite the rabbi's greatness and vast insights, his students were spiritually shallow.

One Saturday night, the followers decided, in the Chassidic manner, to have a small gathering, where they would would eat, sing, and discuss their rabbi's teachings. They cast lots to see who would buy the bagels for the event, and it fell on Natan. The young rabbi, who had just turned twenty two, was on his way to the bakery, while thinking "is this the meaning of life? Bagels?!?!" He walked into the synagogue, and began saying Psalms. He fell asleep. As he slept, he dreamed of a ladder going to Heaven. He began climbing, but fell. This happened several times. Each time he got a little further, but would fall again. A window opened in Heaven. He saw a young man with a red beard, who said to him "Keep climbing, but just hold on tight". He awoke, and immediately left Berdichev and went home to Nemerov.

He was dejected, broken. When he got home, he saw at the synagogue an old friend who was, uncharacteristically, praying with great joy and fervor. Rabbi Natan asked what happened. The friend told him that a young Chassidic rebbe had just moved into the nearby town of Breslov. He had visited him, and become inspired. Rabbi Natan traveled there, and immediately recognized Rabbi Nachman as the man he had seen in his dream. Rabbi Nachman said to him "we know each other from long ago, but we haven't seen each other in a very a long time!". This was not new! It was Moses and Joshua, it was the Ari and Rabbi Hayyim Vital, it was the greater light (the Sun) and the lesser light (the Moon).

For the next eight years, Rabbi Natan became Rabbi Nachman's constant companion, writing down every word he said. Nearly everything we have from Rabbi Nachman is only through Rabbi Natan. "Honor him" said Rabbi Nachman, "for, if not for him, nothing of me would remain". Rabbi Natan was disowned by his family. His wife reluctantly stayed with him, but the relationship had soured considerably. Not only had he become Chassidic, but had joined a rebbe who was being persecuted by a much loved figure! Rabbi Natan became poor financially. He quipped "when I had to go over to eating with a wooden spoon, it took a long time until I could taste the food again." But he was now rich spiritually. He was absorbing and reflecting the light of the Tzaddik. He was, essentially, an extension of the Tzaddik.

He went to a mountain top outside of Breslov, and prayed with great crying "Master of the Universe! A fire burns in Breslov! Please make it burn in my heart!" Rabbi Natan was to publish two volumes of Rabbi Nachman's teachings, smaller books with the rabbi's "off the cuff" remarks, a biography of Rabbi Nachman, a collection of Rabbi Nachman's amazing "Ancient Tales", really allegorical Kabbalistic stories, as well as a book of his own private prayers, and an extensive commentary on the Code of Jewish Law, that applied Rabbi Nachman's insights to every aspect of Jewish tradition, as well as life in general. (The edition I have is in 15 volumes!) But Rabbi Nachman made it clear that his work was not only for his followers, and not only for his contemporaries. He had much bigger plans.