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The Life & Death of Peter Salzman & Rebirth of Avniel |
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Written by You Know Who!
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Click & listen to the song produced by SubT + Breslev32!
I’ve been under CIA surveillance since my birth on the Farm in Tenessee
In a Green army tent in Summertown home born with Spiritual Midwifery
Ina May & Stephen Gaskin are Godparents & next of kin to me
From the Psychadelic Revolution to the Caravan ... Extended Hippy Family Tree
Raised in the rural town of Leverett, Massachusetts in the Pioneer or so-called Happy Valley
Honor roll all through Amherst High led me to leave successfuly top 10% in the class of 1993
Ran Varsity Cross Country & Senior Captain of the Hurricaines Wrestling Team
No one could ever hope to catch me or even tried to fuck with me
Pursued progressive higher education at Wesleyan University
Graduated with departmental honors & a BA in Cultural Anthropology
Studying Political Economics, World Religion & Historiography
GPA % 91.93 Phi Beta Kappa Nominee
Thought I was wise till I studied Torah with Haredim in Mea Shearim
& The Disciples of Rebbe Nachman known as Breslev Hasidim
Welcomed in their international yeshivahs found in Tsfat & Yerushalayim
Learned secrets way too deep to keep from a true & living zaddik named Zvi
The realest God Fearing Israeli Kabbalist I could have ever been blessed to meet
So full of pure love, awe & compassion in the Heart of War Torn Middle East
Lost to this world and all who loved him murdered tragically
Another Victim killed by cancer despite Chemotherapy …
My prayers go to his family for all eternity
May His Godly Soul Rest Forever and Forever
In Everlasting Loving Peace
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An Invitation to The Holy Beggars Banquet |
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Written by Nachal Novea Mekor Chochma
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September 21, 2005
Mr. Avniel Salzman
106C Chapman Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
Dear Mr. Salzman:
On Saturday night, December 10, 2005, the Nachal Novea Tsfat Fund
(NNTF) will host its First Annual Dinner at the Museum of Living Jewish
History in Battery Park City. This will be both a ground breaking and
fascinating evening which will feature a dialogue between Dr. Elie
Wiesel and Rabbi Ephraim Kenig of Tsfat on "Tragedy to Triumph -
Insights into Rav Nachman's teachings as they reflect on the events of
our generation." The dinner will also honor Rabbi Shmuel and Dr. Meryl
Solomon, Yossie and Alice Ross as well as Nachmun and Toiby Fried for
their selfless efforts on behalf of Tsfat. A special award will be
bestowed upon Rabbi Yaakov and Minda Klein of Nachal Novea Mekor
Chochma in recoginition for their profound lifetime contributions to
the rebuilding of Tsfat.
Tsfat, one of the four holiest cities in Israel, serves as the capital
of the Northern Galilee. Negotiations affecting Israel's borders are
likely to continiue. NNTF's goal is to help rebuild and strengthen the
Jewish institutions and social services of this ancient city and help
create a demographically growing, powerful and cohesive Jewish
community which will be a future stronghold in this strategically
critical area of the country.
Historically, Tsfat has witnessed unprecedented explosions of spiritual
creativity. Tsfat is where the holy Arizal, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria
revolutionized our understanding of the Zohar, where Rabbi Yosef Karo
codified the vast body of Jewish law and where Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz
authored L'cha Dodi sung around the globe every Shabbat. Through
working with the Breslov community in Tsfat, NNTF has dedicated itself
to continue the development of the holy city of Tsfat and restoring her
spiritual grandeur.
Tsfat and Jerusalem are intimately connected: The rebuilding of Tsfat
must precede the restoration of Jerusalem. This has fueled the
pioneering efforts of the founders of Nachal Novea Mekor Chochma in
Tsfat for over 40 years. NNTF was established last year to further
expand programs and facilities to make Tsfat's vast spiritual treasures
more accessible to the world. This will allow Tsfat to serve as a
unifying force among Jews of all backgrounds by connecting them to the
rich spiritual legacy of Tsfat and the Upper Galilee.
Please join me on December 10 and demonstrate that you care about the
fate of this vital city and join us for a most memorable night. [Anyone whose spirit moves
them can easily support the worthy cause of Nachal Novea Tsfat Fund via
the simple online donation button provided below. All contributions
will be earmarked exclusively for NNTF and forwarded appropriately
after a small Pay Pal processing charge is applied of less than 5% for
their quality service. - Avniel, lucky former and hopeful future
student of Nachal Novea Mekor Chochma].
Dr. Jonathan Leiderman
Dinner Chairmain
Dr. Elie Wiesel
Honorary Chairman
Rabbi Samuel H. Solomon
President
Rabbi Ephraim Kenig
Dr. Jonathan Leiderman
Vice Presidents
Talya Lipshutz
Secretary/Treasurer
Rabbi Jay Yaacov Schwartz
Executive Director
Pamela Weiner
Director of Development
Nachal Novea Tsfat Fund
P.O. Box 393
Tsfat 13100 Israel
Tel.: 516-478-9618
170 Earle Avenue
Lynbrook, NY 11563
TEL.: 646-358-4341 |
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A True Tzaddik's Dying Will To Live & Heal |
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Written by Avniel
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Dear Friends,
Below is a copy of a letter I sent to the Rosh Yeshiva of a Torah school I wished to study under this fall. Sadly, I have learned that there is a shortage of funding for next year's program and for it to exist in future years as well. I'm hoping this story might inspire the wise of heart who happen to be wealthy in pocket to do the mitzva of supporting Torah learning and have earmarked the Pay Pal donation button directly below so that proceeds will go to the Azamra School of Torah Spirituality. If you are not in a position to give that is fine. May the spirit of this letter inspire you just the same ...
Dear Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum,
I have a terrifying question that is difficult for me to ask because it concerns the life or death of a true tzaddik [enlightened one] who befriended me and whose soul restoring wing I studied under. His name is Zvi Cosman and I met him in the summer of 1996 when he was healthy and well. He arranged for me to be able to stay at the Breslov Kollel Nachal Novea Mekor Chochma [“Flowing Brook Source of Wisdom”: a religious school for the disciples of Rebbe Nachman, a great Hasidic luminary], where together we studied the Mishnaot [codes of law] dealing with the structure of the Temple, its passageways, and inner sanctum. We also covered the ritual process for preparing the High Priest to enter the Holy of Holies and the details of his service as Zvi would lend their mystical insights. I left that summer to finish my senior year at Wesleyan University with an entirely new perspective on Torah, Kabbalah, and the Temple service.
When I returned to study at Yeshivat HaMivtar [a religious school in Efrat, Israel] for the year of 1998 – 1999, I was saddened to learn that he had become very ill. This time when I visited him, I was shocked to find the hair of his peyot [side curls] and beard falling out from the chemotherapy he was receiving but I was nevertheless blessed by his presence. I believe he was diagnosed with lymphoma and while he was being treated, it is known that few survive that disease. I visited him several times over that year trying to fulfill the mitzvah [commandment] of bikur cholim [visiting the sick] true to its spirit and was surprised with the strength he was able to muster despite the intense agony and fragility of his condition. We had many inspiring encounters but the situation was indeed frightening and tragic. He was in a time of need and we became very close.
I feel vulnerable and raw revealing what I am about to write because it has been a secret I have told no one and have guarded with my very life. I feel the need to share it now for his sake and not mine because I am honestly humbled and often times bewildered by what happened between us.... In a moment of terrible pain, weakness, and obvious fear he asked me to lay hands upon his head to bless him and promise him that I had emunah shlemah [complete and perfect faith] that he would have refuah shlemah [complete and perfect healing] from his battle with cancer. I honored his request with all the kavanah [focused intention] I could muster and ever since then I have prayed without ceasing for him and his family including his wife and his many children. While he will always be alive in my heart and soul, I do not know whether he has survived or not and was hoping you might know if he is alive and well or if he has passed away may his soul rest in Heaven.
There is one more thing I want to share and it has to do with one of my nigunim [melodies] you can find on my website that was inspired by his cause. The melody goes to Yom Zeh L’Yisrael [This Day is For Israel] and can be found on the Sabbath Songs link of www.dirtroad.org. When I told him I wrote it for him and wanted to sing it for Shabbos [the Sabbath], he said, “Do not sing it for me, but sing it for Hashem [The Divine Name], sing for God.” So I took that to heart and do sing it for Ribono Shel Olam [Master of the Universe] but I still dedicate it to him and for all victims of terminal illness such as cancer and AIDS in hopes that the song might spread and give birth to the miracle of healing that will come on the “Wings Of The Sun”.
Eternally yours,
Avniel |
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