The Life Story of the Righteous Feiga the Prophetess, Mother of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov >>> Her Family and Marriage >>> Her Greatness and Burial Place >>> For the Yahrzeit, 19 Adar 5561 (1801)

Her Parents and Brothers

Rebbetzin Feiga was the daughter of Rabbi Yechiel “der Deitshel” [= the Ashkenazi] and the righteous Rebbetzin Adel, daughter of the holy Baal Shem Tov. She was the sister of the Tzaddikim Rabbi Moshe Chaim of Sudylkov, author of Degel Machaneh Ephraim, and Rabbi Baruch of Mezhibuz. Because these brothers recognized her greatness, they would call her “Feiga’leh di Neviah” [= Feiga the Prophetess].

Her Marriage

In the year 5523 (1763), when she reached marriageable age, her mother, the righteous Rebbetzin Adel, arranged her match with Rabbi Simcha, son of Rabbi Nachman of Horodenka, a disciple of the holy Baal Shem Tov. This match was made in accordance with the will of the holy Baal Shem Tov, who expressed this on two different occasions.

Their Children

Rabbi Simcha and his righteous wife, Rebbetzin Feiga, had three sons and one daughter: Rabbi Yisrael—named after the holy Baal Shem Tov; Rabbi Yechiel—named after Rabbi Yechiel “der Deitshel,” the Baal Shem Tov’s son-in-law; and Rabbi Nachman—our holy and awe-inspiring Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, named after Rabbi Nachman of Horodenka. Their daughter was called Peril.

Her Greatness

The righteous Rebbetzin Feiga possessed Ruach HaKodesh. She devoted herself to abundant prayer, and she would also perform yichudim (holy unifications). The holy Baal Shem Tov would appear to her both while she was awake and in dreams. Even the Tzaddikim, disciples of the Baal Shem Tov, knew that she possessed deep spiritual perception. At the wedding of the righteous Rebbetzin Udel, daughter of Rebbe Nachman, she saw the holy Baal Shem Tov coming to the chuppah.

With Her Son — Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

The righteous Rebbetzin Feiga related that throughout her entire pregnancy with Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, she experienced exalted illuminations that are impossible to imagine or describe at all. Rebbetzin Feiga knitted a small kippah for the unborn child, and as soon as he was born she placed the kippah on his head. At the birth of Rebbe Nachman, the moment he entered the air of this world, she immediately took him and washed his hands three times, alternating. She did the same each time he arose to nurse from her.

At Rebbe Nachman’s bris milah, his mother, the righteous Rebbetzin Feiga, asked her brother Rabbi Baruch of Mezhibuz: “Baruch’l, bless him that people should not argue against him.” Rabbi Baruch answered her: “Feiga’leh, that cannot be. It is already lost—people will have to argue against him.”

After Rebbe Nachman of Breslov married, he lived far from Mezhibuz (about 350 km away), and from time to time he would travel to visit his parents.

Her Passing and Burial Place

The righteous Rebbetzin Feiga passed away on Wednesday, Parshas Ki Sisa, 19 Adar 5561 (1801), and was buried in Mezhibuz, near her mother, the righteous Rebbetzin Adel, daughter of the holy Baal Shem Tov. In recent years, the “Ohalei Tzaddikim” association erected a memorial sign bearing her name at the estimated location of her burial place.