קכא

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 of reality. He concluded: the main thing is not to despair of crying out] .

My dear son

To: My dear son, my beloved one — may he live. [Yitzchok] Today too I received your letter — and they all speak with one voice.

And I already prepared a letter for you — attached here — on Friday. And now I have no time — and what more shall I add to speak? Certainly the Holy One Blessed be He does not deal harshly with His creatures [אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּא בִּטְרוּנְיָא עִם בְּרִיּוֹתָיו — a Talmudic principle (Avodah Zarah 3a and other places): the Holy One does not come in complaint or accusation against His creatures. He does not demand of them what is beyond their capacity. The divine measure is always calibrated to what the person can actually bear — the trial is always exactly at the level of what is possible for this person at this time] — and certainly everything is for the good. And today also — know and remember fresh — that Hashem Yisborach is very great — and until now His mercies have helped us very much — and believe that the kindnesses of Hashem have not ended and His mercies will never cease — and everything will be turned for good soon with the help of Hashem Yisborach. Only do not be drawn after sorrow so much — and accustom yourself to distract your mind and forget the sorrow from your heart — especially the excessive fears and melancholy that you have from what passes over you — it is all foolishness and stupidity. And the essential thing is to forget them from your heart — and to show a smiling and pleasant face — and to make yourself as if you are joyful — and through this you will truly come to joy. Especially since most of the hours you have no time to think about this at all — for you must pray and learn several things and converse your private speech a little and engage in commerce in your affairs and eat and sleep. And endeavour that you have no time at all to think melancholy and such fears. And the choice is in a person's hand to distract their mind — even from physical pain and suffering — G-d forbid — how much more so from such matters that when one distracts their mind and forgets them they disappear entirely — as you understand yourself. And there is no need to extend about this — for one need not repeat such things — only to push them away and remove them from one's mind casually and entirely — and not to pay any attention to them at all. And what happens with you on its own — do not worry about it at all. And upon the strength of the Elder of Holiness trust and lean — that he can turn everything for good. And know that this Shabbos we spoke from the stories of ancient times [סִפּוּרֵי מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת שֶׁל שָׁנִים קַדְמוֹנִיּוֹת — the Rebbe's holy stories: Sipurey Ma'asios — the *Sippurei Maasiyos* of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, whose stories are called "stories of ancient times" because they appear to be old tales but carry the deepest of hidden meanings. The Rebbe himself described them as stories of ancient times that the mouth transmits — and through them people are awakened from the sleep of exile] — through which one is awakened from sleep and so forth. Who has heard such a thing — who has seen such things [מִי שָׁמַע כָּזֹאת, מִי רָאָה כָּאֵלֶּה — Yeshayahu 66:8: "Who has heard such a thing — who has seen such things?" The verse of the miraculous birth of a nation in a single day — the ultimate wonder of divine action beyond all natural expectation. Applied to the wonders of the Rebbe's stories: what has never been heard or seen before in the world] [Yeshayahu 66:8] — let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation — that until now He has helped us to hear such awesome wonders to revive us forever. Remember — do not forget — all that was spoken between us regarding each matter and matter and so forth — and we still need to speak much about this — in His salvation, Yisborach. Only be strong and resolute — and gladden your soul always — and everything will be in order with the help of Hashem Yisborach. The words of your father — who intercedes on your behalf — and awaits your joy always. Nussun of Breslov. [Translator's Note: Overview: Parshas Vayetzei. *Ein hakadosh baruch hu ba b'truniya im briyosav* (Avodah Zarah 3a) — G-d does not deal harshly or demand beyond one's capacity. *Chasday Hashem lo samnu* (Eichah 3:22). Practical counsel: keep yourself so busy with prayer, learning, *hisbodidus*, commerce, eating, sleep — that there is no time left for melancholy. The choice to distract one's mind is always available. Then the great disclosure: this Shabbos they discussed the *sipurey ma'asiyos shel shanim kadmoniyos* — the Rebbe's holy stories — through which one is awakened from the sleep of exile. *Mi shama kazos, mi ra'ah ka'ayleh* (Yeshayahu 66:8). *Nagilah v'nismecha bishuaso*. Key Themes Ein HKB"H Ba B'truniya — Avodah Zarah 3a G-d does not deal harshly or come in complaint against His creatures. He does not demand what is beyond a person's capacity. The divine measure is always calibrated to what this person, at this time, can actually bear.]

Nussun of Breslov.