The Secret of the Holy Martyrs of Uman: The Hidden Light of Self-Sacrifice

Lesson No. 36 | Friday, Parashas Ki Savo, 15 Elul 5755 - At the Yeshiva An in-depth article explaining the secret behind Rebbe Nachman of Breslov's choice to be buried in the city of Uman. Through the historical account of the thirty thousand holy martyrs who sacrificed their lives al kiddush Hashem (for the sanctification of Hashem's Name), the immense power of mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) to sweeten judgments and protect the Jewish people until the coming of Mashiach is revealed. "Just as there are cities below, there are cities above. Every single city contains a secret that tzaddikim search for." So says Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. The tzaddikim search for cities according to the names and secrets hidden within them. The city of Breslov, for example, alludes to a "lev basar" (a heart of flesh). The city of Zlatipolia is composed of the words zlati (gold) and polia (dust), and there Rebbe Nachman rectified the sin of Yerovam ben Nevat, who made two golden calves. Out of this search for the secrets of the cities, Rebbe Nachman ultimately arrived in the city of Uman. Thirty Thousand Holy and Pure Souls A great and terrible massacre took place in Uman. Thirty thousand Jews were murdered there al kiddush Hashem (for the sanctification of Hashem's Name). At that time, the city was under siege for three days—on the 6th, 7th, and 8th of Tammuz. For three days, a river of blood flowed from the city. The murderers, led by the cruel Cossack leader Gonta, offered the Jews privileges and the opportunity to convert to Christianity in order to save their lives. Thirty thousand people were all crammed into the synagogue. The rioters placed a cross at the entrance under a canopy, and declared: "Whoever passes under the canopy will remain alive." No one wanted to convert. Not a boy, not a girl, not a baby—they were all holy and pure. There was nothing like this anywhere in history, not even during the Spanish Inquisition. There were always a few individuals who broke and converted, but in Uman—not a single one. Everyone withstood the test. Some were thrown from the roof of a two-story market building and were crushed, and another thousand Jews were thrown into a large pit and suffocated there, all so as not to apostatize. The Tzaddikim's Struggle Against the Heretics In the merit of the immense mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) of the thirty thousand Jews who were killed al kiddush Hashem, a very great light shone in Uman. All the tzaddikim saw this light and wanted to pass away there and be buried near them. Rabbi Yisroel of Ruzhin arrived in Uman before he was imprisoned; he stayed there for a whole week and tried to settle in the city. Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev also tried to settle there even before Rebbe Nachman. However, Uman was ruled at the time by harsh heretics who had sworn never to mention the Name of Hashem. Every time a thought of teshuvah (repentance) arose within them, they strengthened their oath. When the Berditchever arrived, they drove him away, and he was forced to turn his face to the wall. In this way, they also drove away the Ruzhiner and other tzaddikim who tried to bring them closer to Hashem. When Rebbe Nachman of Breslov arrived, he operated in a different way. He began to speak with them about calculations, mathematics, and deep intellect. The heretics saw that they could not comprehend his mind, and they said to him, "If so, you will stay here." This is how Rebbe Nachman managed to establish a foothold in the city. The Place Prepared from the Six Days of Creation The holy Baal Shem Tov knew Uman and was there many times before the decree. He knew that a terrible decree was destined to take place there and tried to save the place. At that time, a hidden tzaddik named David Chazan lived in Uman, who was a follower of the Baal Shem Tov. When the massacre began, he fled to a secret tunnel along with sixteen other people. For three days, they heard the terrible screams from outside. Afterward, David Chazan and his men emerged and buried all thirty thousand holy martyrs in two giant pits, which formed two mounds of earth. Eight years before his histalkus (passing away), Rebbe Nachman passed through Uman, pointed to the cemetery, and said that he wanted to be buried right next to the holy martyrs. Half a year before his histalkus, he arrived in the city and said, "No one knows why I am coming to Uman—I am coming to claim this place." Just as tzaddikim see their burial place with their ruach hakodesh (divine inspiration) decades in advance—as was the case with tzaddikim who walked around Har HaMenuchos and identified their exact spot—so too, the place in Uman was prepared for Rebbe Nachman from the Six Days of Creation. When he passed away, there were exactly two empty spots left between the two mounds of earth of the holy martyrs. His wife bought these spots with her own money, and there the tziyun (holy gravesite) was established. The Root of the Souls and the Sweetening of Judgments The souls of the holy martyrs of Uman are lofty souls that we have no comprehension of. Unlike the victims of the Holocaust, who are also holy souls that came down to the world to sweeten the judgments so that Mashiach will come, the martyrs of Uman were given a choice. They could have chosen life, but not a single one of them converted. This is the root of the souls of the aspect of Rabbi Akiva—tzaddikim who desire to die al kiddush Hashem. A person can sweeten judgments only through those who died al kiddush Hashem, only through such people who had mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice). Therefore, coming to Uman to the thirty thousand holy martyrs—this is the main intention. This is the holiest place in the world today, aside from Jerusalem. The merit of these thirty thousand holy martyrs protects the Jewish people until Mashiach comes, and anyone who comes to this place—their merit brings him atonement and protects him. Lesson No. 36