For the Yahrzeit, 19 Adar — The Righteous Rebbetzin Feiga

The Life Story of the Tzadeket Feiga the Prophetess, Mother of our Holy Rebbe, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov >>> Her Family and Marriage >>> Her Greatness and Burial Place >>> For the Yahrzeit, 19th of Adar, 5561

Her Parents and Brothers

The Tzadeket Feiga was the daughter of Rebbe Yechiel 'der Deitschel' [the Ashkenazi] and the Tzadeket Feiga's mother, Adel, daughter of the holy Baal Shem Tov. She was the sister of the tzaddikim Rebbe Moshe Chaim of Sudylkiv, author of the book 'Degel Machaneh Ephraim', and Rebbe Boruch of Medzhybizh. Knowing her greatness, these brothers of hers would call her 'Feiga'leh di Neviah' [Feiga the Prophetess].

Her Marriage

In the year 5523, upon reaching the age of marriage, her mother, the Tzadeket Adel, arranged her shidduch with Rebbe Simcha, son of Rebbe Nachman of Horodenka, a student of the holy Baal Shem Tov. This union was brought about according to the will of the holy Baal Shem Tov, who expressed this on two separate occasions.

Their Children

Rebbe Simcha and his wife, the Tzadeket Feiga, were blessed with three sons and one daughter: Rebbe Yisrael, named after the holy Baal Shem Tov; Rebbe Yechiel, named after Rebbe Yechiel 'der Deitschel', son-in-law of the holy Baal Shem Tov; and Rebbe Nachman—the very same holy and awesome Rebbe of Breslov—who was named after Rebbe Nachman of Horodenka. Their daughter was named Perl.

Her Greatness

The Tzadeket Feiga possessed ruach hakodesh (Divine inspiration); she would increase her prayers and also perform yichudim (unifications). The holy Baal Shem Tov would reveal himself to her while awake and in dreams. Even the tzaddikim who were students of the Baal Shem Tov knew that she possessed deep spiritual attainment. At the wedding of the Tzadeket Adel, daughter of our holy Rebbe, she saw the holy Baal Shem Tov come to the chuppah.

With Her Son - Our Holy Rebbe, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

The Tzadeket Feiga related that throughout the days of her pregnancy with our holy Rebbe, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, she experienced sublime illuminations that are impossible to describe or recount at all. The Tzadeket Feiga knitted a small kippah for the fetus, and immediately upon his birth, she placed the kippah on his head. At the time of our holy Rebbe's birth, as soon as he emerged into the world, she immediately took him and washed his hands three times alternately, and she did this every time he awoke to nurse from her.

At the time of the brit milah of our holy Rebbe, his mother, the Tzadeket Feiga, asked her brother, Rebbe Boruch of Medzhybizh: 'Boruch'l, bless him that they should not argue against him.' Rebbe Boruch answered her: 'Feiga'leh, that cannot be; it is already lost, they must argue against him.'

After the marriage of our holy Rebbe, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, he lived at a great distance from Medzhybizh (about 350 km), and he would travel to visit his parents from time to time.

Her Passing and Burial

The Tzadeket Feiga passed away on Wednesday, Parshat Ki Tisa, the 19th of Adar, 5561, and was buried in Medzhybizh, adjacent to her mother, the Tzadeket Adel, daughter of the holy Baal Shem Tov. In recent years, the 'Ohalei Tzaddikim' organization erected a memorial sign commemorating her name at the site presumed to be her burial place.