When he became bar mitzvah,³, the first day of Nisan 5532 (April 4, 1772); therefore his bar mitzvah occurred on Rosh Chodesh Nisan 5545 (March 11, 1785). This was also a Shabbat, during the Torah reading of Vayikra. his uncle, Rabbi Ephraim of Sudylkov,⁴ ("The Flag of Ephraim's Camp"). called him and pronounced over him the verse, “Today I have begotten you” (Psalms 2:7).⁵ ad loc., that this infers leadership of Israel. This verse speaks of the day a person becomes bar mitzvah, as discussed in the holy literature (cf. Zohar Chadash 10c). His uncle then spoke to him briefly regarding religious devotion, and these words were as dear to the Rebbe as if he had found a great treasure (Psalms 119:162).

footnotes: ³ On his thirteenth birthday. Rebbe Nachman was born on the Shabbat of Rosh Chodesh ⁴ Rabbi Moshe Chaim Ephraim (1746-1800) was the grandson and disciple of the Baal Shem Tov and author of the classic Chassidic work, Degel Machaneh Ephraim ⁵ Cf. Rashi

The Rebbe was married soon after this.⁶ Immediately after the wedding, he burned with enthusiasm, deeply yearning to serve God. Day by day, he moved further and further along this path of devotion.

footnotes: ⁶ Rebbe Nachman married Sasia, daughter of Rabbi Ephraim of Ossatin. The wedding took place in the nearby city of Medvedevka. See Appendix A.