Q:
Is it permissible to travel from the Land of Israel to Uman (Ukraine) to visit
the grave of Rebbe Nachman? What about
for one who lives outside of Israel? Whether
on Rosh Hashanah or during the rest of the year?
A:
This is a new "custom" based on the statement of Rebbe Nachman of
Breslov: "Anyone who visits my grave and gives eighteen coins to Tzedakah
will merit life in the World to Come." One may only leave Israel for a Mitzvah
(see Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 5:9 and Tosafot to Avodah Zarah 13a). Anyone who
violates this, we hope that he will repent. Worse than this is one who travels
under the impression that he is performing a Mitzvah, because how will he then
repent?! Visiting the graves of Tzadikim (righteous people) is not defined as a
Mitzvah – not a rabbinic Mitzvah and not a Torah Mitzvah; it is a positive act.
Based on this, Maran Ha-Rav Kook ruled that we do not leave Israel to visit the
graves of Tzadikim and he wrote "are we without graves in the Land of
Israel that you travel to the Exile?!" (Shut Mishpat Cohain #147).
It
is true that Rebbe Nachman said: "Anyone who visits my grave and gives
eighteen coins to Tzedakah will merit life in the world to come," but
Avraham Avinu is greater than Rebbe Nachman. Rebbe Nachman himself said this.
Anyone who goes to Ma'arat Ha-Machpelah in Hevron and gives eighteen gold coins
can be certain that Avraham Avinu will aid him. Furthermore, know that the Land
of Israel is holier than Uman. Rebbe Nachman himself said this.
Also
know that it is not enough to visit a grave and give eighteen coins to Tzedakah
to be worthy of life in the World to Come, but one needs to perform acts of
loving-kindness, learn Torah and perform the Mitzvot. And it is not proper to
spend thousands of shekels to travel there. You should give the money to Tzedakah.
The value of traveling there is unclear, but giving Tzedakah is clear, it is an
explicit verse in the Torah.
Also,
if you leave your wife alone and sad on Rosh Hashanah, know that you will not
leave guilt-free from the Heavenly Court.
The
custom of Ha-Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach was to stand across from the national
cemetery on Mt. Herzl and say: "These are the graves of the righteous who
died sanctifying Hashem's Name. Why should I travel far distances?"
Therefore,
go to Ma'arat Ha-Machpelah.
[Note:
A collection of other leading Rabbi's statements on this issue –
Ha-Rav
Mordechai Eliyahu: "It is not proper to leave Israel on Rosh Hashanah or
during the rest of the year, and it is preferable for one who wants to pray at
the graves of Tzadikim to visit the graves of Tzadikim in the Land of Israel –
Hevron, Kever Rachel, Kever Rashbi – who was the teacher of Rebbe Nachman, etc…
– and not to leave Israel for the impurity of the lands of the other
nations."
Ha-Rav
Yosef Shalom Elyashiv: "Go daven at the Kotel."
Ha-Rav
Ovadiah Yosef: "How did the grave of Rebbe Nachman become more important
than the graves of the Rambam and Ha-Gaon Rav Yosef Karo?"
Ha-Rav
Dov Lior explained how absurd is the thought-process who those who travel to
Uman: "People travel to the grave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in order to
ask him to help them to travel to the grave of Rebbe Nachman so they can make a
request of him."]
