Rabbi Nachman of Breslav

RABBI NACHMAN OF BRESLEV (1772 – 1810)
200th Anniversary
Official Medal, 2011/5771
7th in the Jewish Sages Medal Series

Rabbi Nachman, born in Medzhybizh, Ukraine, in the town of his great-grandfather the Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Hassidic Movement, is honored on a medal, engraved with his inspirational sayings in Hebrew:

• "One should never lose hope", reinforcing our belief that faith in G-d can take away our fears and feelings of despair.
• "If you believe you have spoiled something, you should also believe you can correct it".
• "It is a great Mitzvah to be happy always"- being joyful is the secret to success.

Rabbi Nachman's gentle way of speaking and his ability to transmit his teachings in a way in which they were well understood by the people enabled him to redeem the souls of thousands.
He encouraged hitbodedut - self-seclusion - for an informal, friend-to-friend conversation with the Creator, as a way of becoming purified before Him. In Rabbi Nachman's opinion, a person was not complete without the hitbodedut and this has become one of the fundamental practices of the Breslever Hassidim.
He attached great importance to the Land of Israel and was deeply moved by his six-month stay in the Land, in 1798.
In 1802, Rabbi Nachman moved to Breslev and, from that time, declared that his disciples would be described as the Breslever Hassidim. At the end of his life, he moved to Uman and passed away, aged only 38. His legacy was passed on by his outstanding disciple, Rabbi Nathan Sternhartz, in his book Likutei Moharan (Sayings of Rabbi Nachman), written by the disciples of Rabbi Nachman, which has become the basis for most of the books on Hassidism,.
Rabbi Nachman's vow, made before he died, draws thousands to his gravesite in Uman, at least once in their lifetime, to read Psalms and give charity there. Many spend Rosh Hashana, the New Year, in Uman. The House of Rabbi Nachman in Uman, today the site of his tomb, is depicted on the medal.

Obverse: The house built at the site of the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslav and the new entrance.

Reverse: The medal reverse, common to all the medals in the series, represents the wisdom and holiness of our Jewish Sages.

Edge:
Bronze medal: Milled.
Silver and Gold medals: Smooth.

Designer: Aharon Shevo.

Engraving: USA.

Mint:
Gold Medal: ICMC Mint.
Silver and Bronze Medals: USA.