The Baal Shem Tov and Rebbi Nachman – Simplicity and Complexity [#14369]

August 11, 2021

Question:

What did R’ Nachman of Breslev introduce in Chassidus which the Baal Shem Tov hadn’t yet revealed?

Answer:

The Baal Shem Tov merited all his levels though mikveh, as he testified on himself. This was the holy element of water, a flowing wellspring, a flow of p’shitus (simplicity) that came from the holy element of water which personified his way of avodah. This resulted in Torah teachings in which the light of p’shitus shines.
R’ Nachman, however, was a flowing fire. He merited his high levels because of the great exertion he put in. His Torah teachings are complex and wondrous. He combined together the paths of Torah and tefillah, which are called “My sword and my bow”, the tools that prepare one for war against the evil inclination.