Yisroel Halpern

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Yisroel Halpern, also known as Yisroel Karduner (d. 1920), was a rabbi and Breslover Hasid who lived in northern Israel at the turn of the century. He was the teacher of Rabbi Yisroel Ber Odesser, and brought many other people closer to the Hasidut through his intense devotions and beautiful songs.

Born in Poland, Halpern was introduced to the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov when he came across a copy of Tikkun HaKlali (Rebbe Nachman's "General Remedy," a specific formulation of ten Psalms). Halpern's reading of this work inspired him to move to Ukraine, where he studied under Reb Moshe Breslover.

He emigrated to Israel in the early 1900s and lived in Meron, Safed, and Tiberias. Many people were attracted to Breslover Hasidut after hearing him pray and sing with intense devotion. Several Breslover nigunim (melodies) are directly attributed to him. His best-known quote is: "There was someone [Rebbe Nachman] who called out 100 years ago, 'Never give up!' and we still hear that voice today".

Halpern lost his entire family in a plague in Tiberias, where he is also buried.

[edit] References

• Kramer, Chaim (1989). Crossing the Narrow Bridge. Appendix C: Breslov Biographies. Jerusalem/New York: Breslov Research Institute. ISBN 0-930213-40-8