Holy Chutzpah by Breslov Bar Band

In Likutei Eitzos (under Azus), Rabbi Nachman discusses the concept of “Holy Chutzpah” He describes Holy Chutzpah (עזות דקדושה) as the audacity to approach God and ask for everything man desires (even miracles), the fearlessness needed to get close to the tzadikim and the truth of Torah, the fortitude to ignore scoffers and obstacles, and the courage needed to confront one׳s one drives and prioritize spiritual needs over physical desires.

This confrontation is facilitated with sound -- sounds of holiness: a screaming voice, a sighing voice, a singing voice, the voice of the true tzadikim, the call of the shofar, even the sound of the tzedaka coins jingling in the collector’s tin. We like to think of this album as playing a part in assisting that confrontation, since Rabbi Nachman teaches that the way to achieve this level of Holy Chutzpah is through simcha (joy).

Founded in 2010, the Breslov Bar Band explores the traditional and contemporary music of the Breslov Chassidim, filtered through 21st-century NYC-based musical vocabulary.

The band members blend their deep connection to Jewish music with their strong roots in rock, funk, reggae, klezmer, and improvisational music, imaginatively interpreting these rich melodies in a wide range of musical styles.