United States of Breslov in Uman

Schneur Zalman of NY commenting to the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine No.3 is excommunicated: DER YID last week had a long article claiming that Asman has declared WAR on the mainstream Breslover group in Uman. They claim he and another group of Breslover "Pitzuei Hanachal" have out maneuvered the main line group and have made things bad in Uman. Can anyone out there fill me in on the happenings in Uman?

Chabakuk Elisha: My understanding of the situation is unclear, but basically this is what I've heard. The Breslov vaad in charge of Uman has dissolved. R' Michel Dofman, R' Noson Maimon & R' Leizer Berland (Shuvu Banim), have taken control of things, and through aligning with the "Chief Rabbi" they have Government backing (Police support etc). The other leaders support the opposition. This essentially is because of gross errors in management and loss of millions of dollars - due to poor decision making - and some difference of opinion regarding the future. It is the position of R' Michel to continue to throw money at the shul that was never adequate (at max it will not even hold 7,000 people - this year there were approx 26,000).

For now the fights have only been on the level of leadership, and have not really trickled down to the chassidim. The result is that essentially it seems that every group will end up probably doing their own thing, and making their own minyanim. It remains to be seen if there will be any strong-arm tactics to prevent splintering off. It seems to me that all that has really occurred is that Shuvu Banim will end up with the big shul (for free) and there is no more unified Breslov Rosh Hashana experience. Fortunes of money were lost, and every group is being forced to come up with their own ideas, and arrangements.

"Pitzuei Hanachal" is basically the dropouts who are mad at the main-streamers, because they didn't let them hang around and act like drop-outs do. They feel that they have a right to do whatever they want, and nobody should tell them what is acceptable behavior in the shul or at the Tzion... For that reason they are with the side that seized power from those who hurt them.

Schneur Zalman of NY: So the struggle is pragmatic not theological. Where does Rabbi Schick stand? Why did the 3rd chief rabbi of the Ukraine interfere in this matter? Are the Na Na group involved in this? I understand that a Mr. Schwartz from Monroe NY leads a Breslover group loyal to the shito of the late Satmarer Rebbe and they have their own minyon in Uman.

Chabakuk Elisha: Rav Shick (I think always) had his own minyan (with a women�s section! - no other women used to come for R"H) and has always done his own thing there. I don't think he is on any side in this matter. There are tons of Na-Nach's, but I don�t know where their leadership stands.There were supposedly 2 Satmar minyonim, and 1 Chabad minyan. There were also multiple minyanim of other stripes, since this trip to Uman seems to have become a fad, and there is simply no room for so many people to daven together.