B.H., 19 Elul 718 (Thursday, 4 September, 1958), Tel Aviv. To an astute man who seeks and quests the palace of truth, Mr. Z. Shazar, abundant Shalom. Brudehr <brother> halt zich <hold up – keep strong>, luz zich nisht up <don't let up>. Be strong and let us be strengthened, and we shall not be like a large elephant and like a camel even when the mouse pulls it by its nose it won't kick it, gird your waist like a mighty warrior, and gird your loins with might to fly like an eagle to the tzadik who heals all sickness, and (to) a man of suffering (who) extracts souls from nethermost hell, reverses descents to ascents, and willful sins to merits. Know that there are two kinds of palaces, in one lives a king, and in the second lives a slave, and both of them are completely similar to each other and it is difficult to differentiate between them. Because there are many souls that bond until there is made from them a house and palace, because they bond one with another and one with another until there is made from the a foundation and afterwards there is made a tent, until there is built from them a house and an abode where truth lives, and whoever wants to find truth he will find (it) in this house and palace of these souls who from them was made an abode for truth. And there is correlating to this, that many souls bond and there is made from them a house where it is the house of falsehood who is the aspect of a slave. And behold between these two aforementioned houses it is possible to err, that is, between the truth and the falsehood, because the falsehood simulates itself to the truth, because also there, there is a bond from many souls, until it is extremely difficult to differentiate between the truth and the falsehood and it is possible for a person to err and not know where the truth is and where to draw himself close, however, if he looks upon his eternal tachlis (ultimate end/purpose) with a really true eye, certainly he will merit to understand which way to go and to whom to draw close. The main exile is through the sins of Israel and the main rectification is through repentance, and the main prevention of the repentance is the strife of the opponents of the true tzadik, because the majority of the multitudes of the Children of Israel would listen to him, however, the main prevention is through the opponents of the point of truth in many many aspects and from these opponents suck nourishment the aspect of the forehead of the snake and evil beasts who are the sages of nature etc. etc., and through all these evil views (there) is the main prevention from repentance. The bal duvur (-litigator-Satan-evil inclination) strengthens and endeavors with his conniving to prevent (one) from drawing close to the true tzadik in whom is contingent the complete rectification of his soul, and the greater a person is, and the higher level and aspect he has – the more he (-the bal duvur) strengthens over him to prevent him. Because if he would draw close, who know what would sprout forth from this, goodness and rectification for Klal Yisroel <the collective people of Israel> and for all the worlds. Through the bonding to the true tzadik people can traverse safely in all the deserts, in all types of darkness and grave danger. Even when traversing, Heaven forbid, a region of snakes, vipers, and scorpions, and thirst etc., for in all these places it is imperative for one who desires to approach the holy to traverse, particularly someone who already failed (-sinned) and desires to return it is compelling for him to traverse these places, and from all of them Hashem will save him through the power of the holy desire that he will merit through the bonding to the true tzadik who through him one rises from all types of darkness of the world. The transcriber and the editor who supplicates for him and mentions him (in prayer) for benefit always, blessing him with a good and blessed year from the Source of the blessings and the salvations. Yisroel Dov Odesser