On my next trip to Israel, visiting the Breslov synagogue in Jerusalem's Meah Shearim neighborhood is at the top of my list. I want to see Rebbe Nachman's chair in person - and let me tell you why this story has captured my heart.
A Story That Made Me Think
When something intrigues me, I like to dive deep. And the story of Rebbe Nachman's chair? It's got everything I love about Jewish history: devotion, courage, and people coming together to preserve something special.
This is a beautiful story of love and devotion. From the building of the gift, to the appreciation from the rabbi, from the consideration of the protectors, to the traveler to Israel, and to the craftsmen who later put it together.
A wonderful example of how together we can accomplish so much. Each and every person had a loving role in the story of the chair. Just like puzzle pieces, when they joined together the result was the most beautiful picture.
It Started With Daily Devotion
When the Rebbe asked how long it took to make, the modest man answered: six months, working an hour each day.
To which the Rebbe's responded "Then for half a year, you spent an hour each day thinking of me?"
This wasn't just fine craftsmanship, for 180 days, this man dedicated an hour of his day to creating something with love. Every cut, every polish, every detail was an act of devotion.
When Everything Fell Apart
Fast forward to the early 1920s. The Cossacks were raiding Jewish communities across Ukraine. There was destruction everywhere. Meaning this special chair was now sitting in harm's way.
Enter Reb Tzvi Aryeh Lippel.
Instead of letting this piece of history get destroyed, he made a decision. He carefully dismantled the chair, cutting it into small pieces that he could carry. Once completed, he then ran nearly twenty miles from Tcherin to Kremenchug, carrying these precious pieces the entire way.
Twenty miles. Running.
The Journey Continues
The chair found safety with the Rosenfeld family in Kremenchug. They became its guardians during those dark years. Several years later in 1936, Reb Moshe Ber Rosenfeld took on the next chapter, by bringing the chair pieces to Jerusalem.
But the story doesn't end there. In 1959, craftsmen from the Israel Museum carefully restored all the pieces. Twenty-five years later, Katriel's of Jerusalem refinished it again. Each restoration was done with the same love and attention as the original creation.
Where Love Lives Today
Today, you can see this remarkable chair in Jerusalem in the Breslov synagogue (in Meah Shearim). When I next visit Israel, I know I'll be looking at this chair as more than just an antique. I'll be seeing a testament to what happens when people refuse to let something truly sacred disappear.
What This Means to Me
Every single person in this story played a crucial part. The craftsman who spent those daily hours thinking of his teacher. Lippel, who risked everything to save it. The families who protected it. The traveler that brought it to Israel. The restorers who brought it back to life.
None of them could have preserved this chair alone. But together? They created something extraordinary.
It reminds me of something I always say - we're all in this together. Each of us has a role to play, and when we work with love and purpose, we can accomplish incredible things.
When I stand in front of that chair in Jerusalem, I'll be thinking about all those hands that touched it, all those hearts that protected it, and all the love that carried it through nearly two centuries to reach that moment.
That's the kind of story that makes me proud to be Jewish. That's the kind of devotion that inspires me to keep learning, keep exploring, and keep sharing these amazing pieces of our history.
