# קכ
קכ
Source: https://ajew.org/reader/alim-litrufa/2/120
## Segment 1
בָּרוּךְ הַשֵּׁם, יוֹם ו' עֶרֶב שַׁבַּת קֹדֶשׁ תּוֹלְדוֹת תקצ"ד.
To: My beloved son, my dear one — may he live. [Yitzchok]
The attached letter for Petersburg — I prepared it on the eve of Wednesday past
## Segment 2
אֲהוּבִי, בְּנִי חֲבִיבִי שֶׁיִּחְיֶה, הָאִגֶּרֶת הָרָצוּף פֹּה לְפֶּעטֶערְבּוּרְג הֵכַנְתִּי אוֹר לְיוֹם ד' הֶעָבַר, וּמֵאֵת ה' הָיְתָה שֶׁסִּבֵּב בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתִּי עַד שֶׁכָּתַבְתִּי הָאִגֶּרֶת הַזֶּה אָז דַּיְקָא, וְגַם לֹא עָלָה עַל דַּעְתִּי לִכְתֹּב לוֹ כַּדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, אַךְ הַכֹּל מֵעִם ה' יָצְאָה, וְהָיִיתִי מְצַפֶּה לְשָׁלְחוֹ בְּיוֹם ד' מִיָּד וְלֹא הָיָה שׁוּם שָׁלִיחַ בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, וְגַם הַיּוֹם לֹא הָיָה שָׁלִיחַ, וּבְוַדַּאי הַכֹּל לְטוֹבָה.
— and it was from Hashem that it circulated in my mind until I wrote it then
precisely — and it had not entered my mind to write to him such things — but
everything came from Hashem. And I was waiting to send it on Wednesday
immediately — and there was no messenger that day — and today there was also
no messenger — and certainly everything is for the good.
And behold — I received your letter on Wednesday and also today — and they are
full of great and bitter cries — and I do not know what to reply. And today
too I was somewhat occupied with some matter — and it is also Erev Shabbos
Kodesh after midday. Even so — I said to prepare a letter for you immediately.
And behold — you will receive the attached letter for Petersburg — and endeavour
## Segment 3
וְהִנֵּה קִבַּלְתִּי מִכְתָּבְךָ בְּיוֹם ד' וְגַם הַיּוֹם, וְהֵם מְלֵאִים צְעָקוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת וּמָרוֹת, וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מַה לַהֲשִׁיבְךָ, וְגַם הַיּוֹם הָיִיתִי טָרוּד קְצָת בְּאֵיזֶה עֵסֶק, וְגַם הִיא עֶרֶב שַׁבַּת קֹדֶשׁ אַחַר חֲצוֹת, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן אָמַרְתִּי לְהָכִין לְךָ אִגֶּרֶת מִיָּד. וְהִנֵּה תְּקַבֵּל הָאִגֶּרֶת הָרָצוּף פֹּה לְפֶּטֶערְבּוּרְג וְתִשְׁתַּדֵּל לְשָׁלְחוֹ בִּזְרִיזוּת, כִּי הוּא עֵסֶק גָּדוֹל, וּזְכוּת הָרַבִּים כַּאֲשֶׁר תִּרְאֶה בְּעַצְמְךָ, כִּי לֹא חָתַמְתִּי הָאִגֶּרֶת הַזֶּה כְּדֵי שֶׁתּוּכַל לִקְרוֹתוֹ, וּלְדַעְתִּי גַּם זֶה הָאִגֶּרֶת הוּא תְּשׁוּבָה אֵלֶיךָ, וּמִשָּׁם תּוּכַל לְהָבִין רְמָזִים אֵלֶיךָ, אִם גַּם בְּפֶּטֶערְבּוּרְג כְּפִי מַה שֶּׁעוֹמֵד עַתָּה רַבִּי זְאֵב הַנִּכְתָּב אֵלָיו, כְּפִי מַה שֶּׁאַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ קְצָת, אִם גַּם שָׁם יֵשׁ תִּקְוָה מִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן וְכוּ', כִּי בֶּאֱמֶת כָּל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁדִּבַּרְתִּי אֵלָיו הֵם דִּבְרֵי אֱמֶת וָצֶדֶק, שֶׁבֶּאֱמֶת כִּוֵּן רַבֵּנוּ זַ"ל בִּדְבָרָיו גַּם עָלָיו, מִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן עָלֶיךָ בְּנִי חֲבִיבִי. וּלְדַעְתִּי בָּזֶה בְּעַצְמוֹ רָאוּי לְךָ לְשַׂמֵּחַ נַפְשְׁךָ מְאֹד וּלְהוֹדוֹת עַל חֶלְקְךָ שֶׁנִּצַּלְתָּ עַל כָּל פָּנִים לִבְלִי לִהְיוֹת עַתָּה בְּרִחוּק מָקוֹם בְּאַדֶעס, מִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן בְּפֶּטֶערְבּוּרְג.
to send it with urgency — for it is a great matter and a merit for the many —
as you will see for yourself. For I did not seal this letter so that you can
read it — and in my estimation this letter itself is an answer to you. And from
there you can understand hints to yourself — since even in Petersburg — according
to how Rabbi Zev who is written to there now stands — if even there there is
hope — how much more so for you and so forth. For in truth all the things I
spoke to him are words of truth and justice — that in truth our Rebbe — of
blessed memory — directed his words also to him — how much more so to you, my
beloved son. And in my estimation — in this itself it is fitting for you to
greatly gladden your soul — and to give thanks for your portion — that you were
saved at any rate from being far away in Adess — all the more so in Petersburg.
And the difference you will understand yourself — even though also now what
passes over you is passing. From this you can understand what would have been
if it had entered your mind — as many like you do. May Hashem save you from
wandering far away — G-d forbid — especially in such places. And if all this
is still not enough to ease your sorrow —
Know and remember well what our Master — of blessed memory — wrote in these
words
[Chayei Moharan 67]:
"G-d is very great — one knows nothing at all — even in
your matter — wherever each of you has fallen — there exists, however, such
a thing that is an entirely different matter — and he concluded: the main
thing is not to despair of crying out"
[גָּאט אִיז גְּרוֹיס מֶע וֶויייסְט גָּאר נִיט...
אַבִּי מֶע אִיז זִיךְ נִיט מְיָיאֵשׁ פוּן שְׁרַייעֶין — Yiddish with the
manuscript's Hebrew translation in brackets. Hashem is very great — no one
knows anything at all — even in your matter — wherever each of you has fallen.
Yet there exists something operating there that is an entirely different order
## Segment 4
וְהַחִלּוּק תָּבִין מֵאֵלֶיךָ, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁגַּם עַתָּה עוֹבֵר עָלֶיךָ מַה שֶּׁעוֹבֵר. מִזֶּה תּוּכַל לְהָבִין מֶה הָיָה אִם הָיָה עוֹלֶה עַל דַּעְתְּךָ כְּדֶרֶךְ הַרְבֵּה כְמוֹתְךָ. ה' יַצִּילְךָ מִלְּהַרְחִיק נְדוֹד חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, בִּפְרָט בִּמְקוֹמוֹת כָּאֵלּוּ. וְאִם כָּל זֶה עֲדַיִן אֵינוֹ מַסְפִּיק לְהָפִיג צַעַרְךָ, תֵּדַע וְתִזְכֹּר הֵיטֵב מַה שֶּׁכָּתַב אֲדְמוֹ"ר זַ"ל וְתַחֲזֹר דְּבָרִים אֵלּוּ וּתְשִׂימֵם עַל לִבְּךָ הֵיטֵב מַה שֶּׁאָמַר בְּזֶה הַלָּשׁוֹן (חַיֵּי מוֹהֲרַ"ן ס"ז): גָּאט אִיז גְּרוֹיס מֶע וֶויייסְט גָּאר נִיט וְכוּ', אֲפִלּוּ אַיֶיער זַאךְ וִויא הִין אִיטְלִיכֶיר אִיז גִּיפַאלִין, סֶע פַאר הַאנְדִין אָבֶּער אַזוֹי אַה זַאךְ וָואס סֶע אִיז גָּאר עֶפֶּעס אַנְדֶּערְשׁ וְכוּ', וְסִיֵּם אַבִּי מֶע אִיז זִיךְ נִיט מְיָיאֵשׁ פוּן שְׁרַייעֶין [הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ גָּדוֹל מְאֹד וְאֵין יוֹדְעִים כְּלָל וְכוּ' אֲפִלּוּ בְּעִנְיַן שֶׁלָּכֶם הֵיכָן שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד נָפַל. אֲבָל יֵשׁ עִנְיָן כָּזֶה שֶׁהוּא עִנְיָן אַחֵר לְגַמְרֵי וְכוּ' וְסִיֵּם: הָעִקָּר שֶׁאֵין מִתְיָאֲשִׁים מִלִּצְעֹק].
of reality. He concluded: the main thing is not to despair of crying out]
.
And blessed is Hashem — you are not despairing of crying at all — and
certainly the voice of your cry rises to the heavens. But my beloved son —
you are frightened more than necessary. For G-d forbid to be drawn after
the sorrow so much — especially since you have already seen the kindnesses
of Hashem many times that He performed with you. Therefore do not fear and
do not be afraid — for certainly He will never abandon you — and everything
will be turned for good. And what some man disparaged and cursed you — G-d
forbid — do not be pained by this — for this is explained in all the books
that it is for good and it is atonement for sin — and
an undeserved curse will not come to rest
[קִלְלַת חִנָּם לֹא תָבֹא — Mishlai 26:2: a curse
without cause cannot settle on its target — it returns to the sender and
transforms into blessing]
— and it will be turned to blessing. And certainly it is not for nothing
that one must pray each day: save me from brazen people and brazenness —
and to my curser let my soul be silent. With the help of Hashem you yourself
will understand how to conduct yourself in this — but G-d forbid to be so
pained about it.
The truth is that one must receive hints to draw near to Hashem Yisborach
from all that passes over a person each day — but G-d forbid to be in
melancholy and sadness so much from every matter. For it is already known
that a person is born to toil
[אָדָם לְעָמָל יוּלָּד — Iyov 5:7: the universal
human condition]
## Segment 5
וּבָרוּךְ הַשֵּׁם אֵין אַתָּה מְיָאֵשׁ עַצְמְךָ מִצְּעָקָה כְּלָל, וּבְוַדַּאי קוֹל צַעֲקָתְךָ עוֹלֶה עַד לַשָּׁמַיִם. אַךְ אֲהוּבִי בְּנִי אַתָּה מִתְפַּחֵד יוֹתֵר מִדַּאי, כִּי חָלִילָה לְהִמָּשֵׁךְ אַחַר הַצַּעַר חַס וְשָׁלוֹם כָּל כָּךְ, בִּפְרָט שֶׁכְּבָר רָאִיתָ חַסְדֵי ה' כַּמָּה פְּעָמִים אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה עִמְּךָ, עַל כֵּן אַל תִּירָא וְאַל תִּפְחַד, כִּי בְּוַדַּאי לֹא יַעֲזֹב אוֹתְךָ לְעוֹלָם, וְיִתְהַפֵּךְ הַכֹּל לְטוֹבָה. וּמַה שֶׁאֵיזֶה אִישׁ בִּזָּה וְקִלֵּל אוֹתְךָ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, אַל תִּצְטַעֵר עַל זֶה, כִּי זֶה מְבֹאָר בְּכָל הַסְּפָרִים שֶׁהוּא לְטוֹבָה וְהוּא כַּפָּרַת עָווֹן, וְקִלְלַת חִנָּם לֹא תָּבֹא וְיִתְהַפֵּךְ לִבְרָכָה. וּבְוַדַּאי לֹא עַל חִנָּם צְרִיכִין לְהִתְפַּלֵּל בְּכָל יוֹם שֶׁתַּצִּילֵנִי וְכוּ' מֵעַזֵּי פָּנִים וּמֵעַזּוּת פָּנִים וְכוּ' וְלִמְקַלְּלַי נַפְשִׁי תִּדֹּם. וּבְעֶזְרַת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ מֵאֵלֶיךָ תָּבִין אֵיךְ לְהִתְנַהֵג בָּזֶה, אֲבָל חָלִילָה לְהִצְטַעֵר כָּל כָּךְ עַל זֶה.
and so forth — and there is no day and so forth. And King David already cried
out: for I am prepared for collapse
[Tehillim 38:18]
and so forth. And Yaakov our father said:
and as I have been bereaved — I am bereaved
[וְכַאֲשֶׁר שָׁכֹלְתִּי שָׁכָלְתִּי — B'reishis 43:14:
the most bitter words of paternal grief in the Torah — even the great Yaakov
reached this point, and it did not end him]
[B'reishis 43:14]
— and many more like this. How much more so people of small account like me
today — for everything is great kindness from Him, Yisborach. And especially
that with the help of Hashem Yisborach we see each time wondrous expansions
even within the very distresses and sufferings — and from many evils and
troubles He, Yisborach, saves us entirely. It is good to give thanks to
Hashem for all the kindness that He bestows upon us each day. And above all
— that we merited to know from such a light — and not to be an opponent
against it — G-d forbid — in this we have with the help of Hashem Yisborach
wherewith to revive ourselves always in whatever passes over us — for
he went out before us
[כִּי הוּא יָצָא לְפָנֵינוּ — a military image from
Bamidbar 27:17 and Sh'muel I 18:13: the leader who goes out at the head of
the people before them into battle. Moshe's petition to Hashem to appoint a
successor: "who will go out before them and who will come in before them."
Applied to the Rebbe: he went out before us into the spiritual battles of
## Segment 6
הָאֱמֶת שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לְקַבֵּל רְמָזִים לְהִתְקָרֵב לְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ מִכָּל מַה שֶּׁעוֹבֵר עַל הָאָדָם בְּכָל יוֹם, אֲבָל חָלִילָה לִהְיוֹת בְּמָרָה שְׁחוֹרָה וְעַצְבוּת כָּל כָּךְ מִכָּל דָּבָר חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כִּי כְּבָר יָדוּעַ שֶׁאָדָם לְעָמָל יוּלָּד וְכוּ', וְאֵין יוֹם וְכוּ'. וּכְבָר צָעַק דָּוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם (תְּהִלִּים ל"ח) "כִּי אֲנִי לְצֶלַע נָכוֹן" וְכוּ', וְיַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ אָמַר (בְּרֵאשִׁית מ"ג) "וְכַאֲשֶׁר שָׁכֹלְתִּי שָׁכָלְתִּי", וְכֵן הַרְבֵּה, מִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן קְטַנֵּי עֵרֶךְ כָּמוֹנִי הַיּוֹם שֶׁהַכֹּל חֶסֶד גָּדוֹל מֵאִתּוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, וּבִפְרָט שֶׁבְּעֶזְרַת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ רוֹאִים בְּכָל פַּעַם הַרְחָבוֹת נִפְלָאוֹת גַּם בְּעֶצֶם הַצָּרוֹת וְהַיִּסּוּרִים, וּמִכַּמָּה רָעוֹת וְצָרוֹת הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ מַצִּילֵנוּ לְגַמְרֵי, טוֹב לְהוֹדוֹת לַה' עַל כָּל הַחֶסֶד אֲשֶׁר הוּא גּוֹמֵל עִמָּנוּ בְּכָל יוֹם.
this world — he leads from the front. And therefore yigmor mah
sheheitchil — he will certainly complete what he began]
— and He will certainly complete what He began and save us forever.
And because of the honour of Shabbos — and also the paper and ink are not
writing well — it is necessary to be brief. And if Hashem will be with me —
and send me more words after Shabbos — if Hashem wills — I will add to write
as He wills in His mercies, Yisborach. And for now this suffices — be strong
and resolute — and
gladden your soul in the joy of Israel
[שַׂמַּח נַפְשְׁךָ בְּשִׂמְחַת יִשְׂרָאֵל — evoking
Yeshayahu 29:19: v'yosfu anavim b'Hashem simchah v'evyonei adam
bikdosh Yisrael yagilu — "and the humble shall again rejoice in Hashem
— and the destitute among people shall exult in the Holy One of Israel."
The joy Reb Nussun wishes Yitzchok is not private spiritual contentment but
the collective messianic joy of all Israel — the *simchas Yisrael* that is
the ultimate promised state of the humble and the destitute, those who have
waited and cried out].
The words of your father — who intercedes on your behalf.
Nussun of Breslov.
[Translator's Note: Overview: Erev Shabbos Toldos. *Ki hu yatza l'fanenu*: now
identified as the military image of Bamidbar 27:17 — the leader who goes out
## Segment 7
וְעַל כֻּלָּם מַה שֶּׁזָּכִינוּ לֵידַע מֵאוֹר כָּזֶה וְלִבְלִי לִהְיוֹת מִתְנַגֵּד עָלָיו חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, בָּזֶה יֵשׁ לָנוּ בְּעֶזְרַת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ בַּמֶּה לְהַחֲיוֹת עַצְמֵנוּ תָּמִיד בְּכָל מַה שֶּׁעוֹבֵר עָלֵינוּ, כִּי הוּא יָצָא לְפָנֵינוּ, וּבְוַדַּאי יִגְמֹר מַה שֶּׁהִתְחִיל וְיוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ לָנֶצַח.
at the head of the people before them into battle. The Rebbe went out before
us into the spiritual battles of this world; therefore he will complete what
he began. *Simchas Yisrael*: now identified as evoking Yeshayahu 29:19 — the
collective messianic joy of all Israel, the ultimate promised state of the
humble and destitute who have waited and cried out. *Gott iz groys* (Chayei
Moharan 67). *Killas chinam lo tavo* (Mishlai 26:2). *Adam l'amal yulad*
(Iyov 5:7).
## Segment 8
וּמֵחֲמַת כְּבוֹד שַׁבָּת וְגַם הַנְּיָר וְהַדְּיוֹ אֵינָם עוֹלִים יָפֶה בַּכְּתִיבָה הַהֶכְרֵחַ לְקַצֵּר, וְאִם יִהְיֶה ה' עִמָּדִי וְיִשְׁלַח לִי עוֹד דִּבּוּרִים אַחַר שַׁבָּת אִם יִרְצֶה הַשֵּׁם אוֹסִיף לִכְתֹּב כַּאֲשֶׁר יִרְצֶה בְּרַחֲמָיו יִתְבָּרַךְ, וּלְעֵת עַתָּה דַּי בָּזֶה, וַחֲזַק וֶאֱמַץ וְשַׂמַּח נַפְשְׁךָ בְּשִׂמְחַת יִשְׂרָאֵל.
*V'cha'asher shokalti* (B'reishis 43:14).
Key Themes
Ki Hu Yatza L'fanenu — Bamidbar 27:17
"He went out before us" — the military image of the leader who goes out at
the head of the people before them into battle. The Rebbe went out before
us into the spiritual battles of this world. Therefore he will certainly
complete what he began and save us forever.]
## Segment 9
דִּבְרֵי אָבִיךָ הַמַּעְתִּיר בַּעַדְךָ.
And behold — I received your letter on Wednesday and also today — and they are full of great and bitter cries — and I do not know what to reply. And today too I was somewhat occupied with some matter — and it is also Erev Shabbos Kodesh after midday. Even so — I said to prepare a letter for you immediately. And behold — you will receive the attached letter for Petersburg — and endeavour to send it with urgency — for it is a great matter and a merit for the many — as you will see for yourself. For I did not seal this letter so that you can read it — and in my estimation this letter itself is an answer to you. And from there you can understand hints to yourself — since even in Petersburg — according to how Rabbi Zev who is written to there now stands — if even there there is hope — how much more so for you and so forth. For in truth all the things I spoke to him are words of truth and justice — that in truth our Rebbe — of blessed memory — directed his words also to him — how much more so to you, my beloved son. And in my estimation — in this itself it is fitting for you to greatly gladden your soul — and to give thanks for your portion — that you were saved at any rate from being far away in Adess — all the more so in Petersburg.
And the difference you will understand yourself — even though also now what passes over you is passing. From this you can understand what would have been if it had entered your mind — as many like you do. May Hashem save you from wandering far away — G-d forbid — especially in such places. And if all this is still not enough to ease your sorrow —
## Segment 10
נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב
Nussun of Breslov.