Rabbi Nachman of Breslov said something like this in his Sichos HaRan#235 :
“The Rebbe was also very much against all the special stringencies that are observed on Pesach. Many people went so far in observing many fine points of custom that they were literally depressed by the holiday.
He spoke about this at length.
One of his followers once asked the Rebbe exactly how to act with regard to an ultra-stringent observance. The Rebbe made a joke of it.
The Rebbe spoke about this quite often. He said that these ultra-strict practices are nothing more than confused foolishness.
He told us that he had also been caught up in this and would waste much time thinking up all sorts of unnecessary restrictions.
Once he worried about the drinking water used during Pesach.
He was afraid that a small amount of leaven might have fallen into the well from which they drew water.
The only alternative would be to prepare water in advance for the entire Pesach week, as some people do. But this was also not good enough, for the water had to be carefully safeguarded from leaven from the day before Pesach, and this was very difficult.
The Rebbe finally came to the conclusion that the only satisfactory water would be that drawn from a flowing spring just as it emerges from the ground. He could then obtain perfectly fresh water without any possibility of its being contaminated.
The problem was that the only such spring in the area was very far from his home. He thought about traveling to a place near a spring and spending Pesach there.
This is an example of how deeply the Rebbe had become involved in such unnecessary strictness. But now he ridiculed this and taught that such ultra-strictness is unnecessary, even on Pesach.
When the Rebbe spoke about this, he continued, ‘True devotion consists mainly of simplicity and sincerity. Pray much, study much Torah, do many good deeds, do not worry yourself with unnecessary restrictions.
Just follow the way of our forefathers.
‘The Torah was not given to the ministering angels.'”
Rabbi Nachman of Breslov said something
like this in his Sichos HaRan #235 :
“The Rebbe was also very much against all the special stringencies that are observed on Pesach. Many people went so far in observing many fine points of custom that they were literally depressed by the holiday.
He spoke about this at length.
One of his followers once asked the Rebbe exactly how to act with regard to an ultra-stringent observance. The Rebbe made a joke of it.
The Rebbe spoke about this quite often. He said that these ultra-strict practices are nothing more than confused foolishness.
He told us that he had also been caught up in this and would waste much time thinking up all sorts of unnecessary restrictions.
Once he worried about the drinking water used during Pesach.
He was afraid that a small amount of leaven might have fallen into the well from which they drew water.
The only alternative would be to prepare water in advance for the entire Pesach week, as some people do. But this was also not good enough, for the water had to be carefully safeguarded from leaven from the day before Pesach, and this was very difficult.
The Rebbe finally came to the conclusion that the only satisfactory water would be that drawn from a flowing spring just as it emerges from the ground. He could then obtain perfectly fresh water without any possibility of its being contaminated.
The problem was that the only such spring in the area was very far from his home. He thought about traveling to a place near a spring and spending Pesach there.
This is an example of how deeply the Rebbe had become involved in such unnecessary strictness. But now he ridiculed this and taught that such ultra-strictness is unnecessary, even on Pesach.
When the Rebbe spoke about this, he continued, ‘True devotion consists mainly of simplicity and sincerity. Pray much, study much Torah, do many good deeds, do not worry yourself with unnecessary restrictions.
Just follow the way of our forefathers.
‘The Torah was not given to the ministering angels.'”