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Breslov is the name commonly given to a Hasidic movement which originated in the town of Bratslav in what is now Ukraine. Breslovers are Orthodox Jews who follow the teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.
Breslover Chassidism is most unusual in that it has no living rebbe, and has not had one for almost two hundred years. In 1810, upon Rabbi Nachman's death, it was decided not to select a new leader for the movement, but to study rather the teachings left behind by Nachman. It is for this reason that Breslovers are sometimes called the "Toite Chassidim" (the Dead Chassidim) in Yiddish.
Rabbi Shmuel Oddeser; head but not the Rebbe of the Breslover Hasidim Breslovers describe themselves as dedicated to fulfilling the spirit of the Torah's laws, as well as the letter of them: they see Torah living as the means to a joyful existence. They do not restrict themselves to Nachman's commentaries on the Torah, but study many of the classic texts, including the Tanakh, the Talmud, the Midrash, and many others. Breslov communities exist in several locations in Israel, as well as in major cities around the world that have large Jewish populations (including Los Angeles, New York, and London).
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