קי

To: My beloved son, my dear one — peace to you and to your household. May Hashem command the blessing to be with you [יְצַו ה' אִתְּךָ אֶת הַבְּרָכָה

— D'vorim 28:8: y'tzav Hashem itcha es hab'rachah ba'asamecha — "Hashem will command the blessing to be with you in your storehouses." From the blessings of D'vorim 28 — the counterpart of the Tochachah's curses. In Letter 107 Reb Nussun invoked *timhon levav* from the curses (D'vorim 28:28); here he opens with the blessing-verse from the same chapter. The *y'tzav* — Hashem commands — makes

this not a wish but a divine decree: He commands the blessing itself to accompany you] — life and peace and all good in this world and the next — forever. Omain. [Yitzchok] Your letter I received today — together with half a new ruble — and it was a comfort to me. You did well — what you sent today — for it arrived at its proper time and its appointed moment — when I was very much in need of it. May Hashem repay your act — and may your reward be complete from Hashem — that you merit to be diligent at the doors of Torah and service day by day — until you arrive at the ultimate good of the Jewish person for which he was created — which is to recognise Him, Yisborach. And what you are distressed and longing about — not being regularly with me for Shabbos Kodesh — I too long for this greatly. But I have already written you that it is better when one breaks through obstacles and comes periodically — than to come every time without obstacles — for the main purpose for which a person comes into the world

is to break through obstacles — to stand against gates of bronze and iron bars [לַעֲמֹד כְּנֶגֶד דַּלְתוֹת נְחֹשֶׁת וּבְרִיחֵי בַּרְזֶל — Tehillim 107:16: ki shavar dalsot n'choshes u'v'richei barzel gideia — "for He broke the gates of bronze and cut through the iron bars." The verse of Hashem's deliverance of the imprisoned who sat in darkness and the shadow of death. Reb Nussun applies this image to the person who overcomes the obstacles between himself and his teacher: the obstacle-breaking is itself the essential spiritual work] [Tehillim 107:16] — and all of it is impossible to break except through intense will and yearning and burning desire [הָרָצוֹן וְהַכִּסּוּפִין וְהַחֵשֶׁק הַנִּמְרָץ — the Breslov triad: *ratzon* — will; *kisufin* — longing (Aramaic of intense spiritual desire); and *cheshek hanímratz* — burning desire. These three together are the only power that breaks through what seems impassable] — as is cited much among us about this. And behold — you will hear from the bearer of this letter the greatness of the suffering I have had at these times — and the greatness of the mental

confusion I have had from this — it is impossible to explain. A little you can understand yourself — and I had no place to hide myself from the greatness of the suffering. And amidst this — on this very Shabbos — my dear friend Rabbi Nachman — may his light shine — the grandson of the crown of our head [נֵזֶר רֹאשֵׁנוּ — the crown of our head: an echo of Eichah 5:16 — nafal ateres rosheinu — "the crown of our head has fallen." The verse of deepest mourning in Eichah — for the destroyed Temple and for all that was lost. Calling the Rebbe *nezer rosheinu* — the crown of our head — places him in direct correspondence with that lost crown: the Rebbe is the crown that remains with us even in the exile of his absence. His grandson carries that crown forward into the living generation] — of blessed and holy memory — came here together with other distinguished guests from your community and from Nemrov — and I saw the wonders of Hashem. And I trusted in Hashem that in His mighty wonders — precisely now — He will help for the sake of His great Name — to honour the Shabbos as befitting — with words of truth flowing from the springs of salvation. And Hashem helped us greatly through His great wonders — as you will hear a little from the bearer of this letter. And more than this it is impossible to explain — and how we are obligated to thank Him, Yisborach — for His miracles with us each day — and for His wonders and goodnesses at every time. And may Hashem Yisborach have mercy upon us — in general and in particular — upon each and every one — and see our affliction and our toil — and seek out those who are pursued without cause — like us [וִיבַקֵּשׁ נִרְדָּפִים כָּמוֹנוּ בְּחִנָּם — Koheles 3:15: v'ha'Elokim yivakesh es nirdaf — "and G-d seeks out the pursued." Reb Nussun adds *chinám* — without cause — intensifying the injustice: the community is wrongly pursued, and the divine promise to vindicate the pursued is invoked] [Koheles 3:15]. And save us from the hand of all our enemies and pursuers — in body and in spirit. And the essential thing — that He be with us in our help that we merit from now at least to be as His will, Yisborach, in truth. And because of the great press it is impossible to extend further. The words of your father — who waits for salvation at every time. Nussun of Breslov. [Translator's Note: Overview: Parshas Mattos-Mas'ei. The opening blessing *y'tzav Hashem itcha es hab'rachah*: now identified as D'vorim 28:8 — from the blessings section of the same chapter as Letter 107's *timhon levav*. *Nezer rosheinu*: now identified as an echo of Eichah 5:16 — *nafal ateres rosheinu* — "the crown of our head has fallen." The Rebbe is the crown that remains with us even in the exile of his absence. *Dalsos n'choshes* (Tehillim 107:16). *Ratzon, kisufin, cheshek hanímratz*. Reb Nussun's period of great suffering — the Rebbe's grandson arriving precisely at the right moment. *Nirdefim chinám* (Koheles 3:15). Key Themes Y'tzav Hashem Itcha — D'vorim 28:8 "Hashem will command the blessing to be with you." From the blessings of D'vorim 28 — the counterpart of the same chapter's curses (*timhon levav*,

Letter 107). The *y'tzav* — divine command — makes this not a wish but a decree: Hashem commands the blessing to accompany you.]

Nussun of Breslov.