קלט

Your letter I received on the eve of Thursday — and my kidneys exult in your salvation [תַּעֲלֹזְנָה כִלְיוֹתַי בִּישׁוּעָתְךָ — Tehillim 16:7: af leilos yissruni chilyosai — the kidneys, the seat of the deepest inner counsel, are also the seat of deepest joy. Ta'aloznah chilyosai echoes Mishlai 23:16: v'ta'aloznah chilyosai b'daber sfatecha meisharim — "and my kidneys will exult when your lips speak what is right." The deepest inner organs responding with pure joy to Yitzchok's good news — a physical metaphor for the most inward and unreserved delight] — that — praised be G-d — you have acquired a fine home — for a good omen — in His kindness. Although I know that the matter weighs somewhat upon you — even so — you did well not to forgo such a house — as I heard and understood from afar — for not every day does there appear such a pleasant and spacious dwelling at such a price. And may Hashem Yisborach help you to settle it comfortably — and in His mercies may He shower upon you doubly — an abundance of goodness and blessing and great expansion into your home. And see to complete the entire Torah before you enter there — as you know. And also do what is written in the Sefer HaAlef-Beis [סֵפֶר הָאָלֶף-בֵּית — the Sefer Alef Beis of Rebbe Nachman: a collection of the Rebbe's concise teachings organized alphabetically. The specific instruction mentioned here is the custom of bringing a sword or knife into a new home first — a protective practice for entering a new dwelling to establish holiness before all else. The sword represents spiritual strength and the capacity for *teshuvah* — cutting away the impure — at the threshold of the new space] — to bring a sword or knife and so forth into it first. And may you merit to engage in Torah within your home — with all your offspring — for length of good days and years. Omain, so may it be His will.

And behold — certainly it would have been fitting for me to help in such a matter — but you know that I am not in a position to help you financially — not even a single small coin. Especially since I now need to deal with completing the building of my home for the good — and I am not able to help you except through prayer — as our sages of blessed memory said: they helped through prayer [עָזְרוּ בִּתְפִלָּה — Sanhedrin 95a: Hashem helped Chizkiyahu against Sancherev not through human military effort but through the angels' assistance — and the Talmud says: "they helped through prayer." The contribution of prayer as a genuine and primary form of practical help — not a consolation for the inability to give financially but the essential and most powerful form of help] [Sanhedrin 95a]. And even more than this will be a help and salvation for you — that I strengthen you to engage in prayer and private speech before Hashem Yisborach — for this is the essential help and great salvation above all.

To: From afar I call peace to my beloved in-law — my friend like my own soul — the eminent scholarly leader — the renowned benefactor — the chain of distinguished lineage — our Teacher the Rabbi Chayyim HaKohein [מוֹרֵנוּ הָרַב חַיִּים הַכֹּהֵן — Rabbi Chayyim the

Kohen of Lvov: the distinguished relative who visited Reb Nussun's home in Letters 136 and 137 and showed interest in enabling the printing of the Rebbe's books in Lvov]. May Hashem be with him and may he rise higher and higher in Torah and greatness — until Shiloh comes [עַד כִּי יָבוֹא שִׁילֹה — B'reishis 49:10: Yaakov's blessing of Yehudah: "the sceptre shall not depart from Yehudah — nor the lawgiver from between his feet — until Shiloh comes." A Messianic blessing applied as a formula of aspiration: may he grow until the coming of Mashiach] . Omain, so may it be His will. His pleasant words have illuminated my face — and I rejoice at his words as one who finds great plunder [שָׂשׂ אָנֹכִי עַל אִמְרוֹתָיו כְּמוֹצֵא שָׁלָל רָב — Tehillim 119:162: sas anochi al imrasecha k'motzei shalal rav — "I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great plunder." The verse of the person overwhelmed by the finding of divine words — the rejoicing is

not quiet pleasure but the exhilaration of someone who has discovered an unexpected treasure of immense value. Applied to Rabbi Chayyim's pleasant words and his openness to helping with the printing: his words are themselves a discovery of great plunder] [Tehillim 119:162]. And I requested from his excellency — that when he arrives in peace at his home — the dwelling of holiness — he should not be lax in fulfilling his promise to write to me immediately of his good welfare. And especially regarding the printing — that he see to speak with the printers there — whether I can print our books there — and how much he wishes for them — and in what manner he would agree to print — and whether there are buyers nearby for them. He should inquire about all of this according to his wisdom — and inform me immediately — to the holy community of Tulchin — to my son Rabbi Yitzchok Shterinhartz — as is known to his excellency. Beyond this — time does not permit extending. And may his peace grow — and may Hashem make him succeed in all that he turns to — may he yet flourish in fine old age [עוֹד יָנוּב בְּשֵׂיבָה טוֹבָה — Tehillim 92:15: od yenuvu b'seivah d'shenim v'ra'ananim yihyu — "they shall still flourish in old age — full of sap and fresh." The continuation of the Psalm of Shabbos (*Mizmor Shir l'Yom haShabbos*). Applied here as a blessing for R' Chayyim: may he continue to flourish and be fresh even in old age] [Tehillim 92:15] — and be like a well-watered garden [וְהָיָה כְּגַן רָטֹב — Yirmiyahu 31:12: v'haya nefasham k'gan raveh v'lo yosifu l'da'avah od — "and their soul shall be like a well-watered garden — and they shall not pine any more." The verse of the Messianic restoration: the people of Israel flourishing like a well-watered garden, no longer sorrowful. Applied as a blessing: may R' Chayyim be like that garden — perpetually nourished and flourishing] [Yirmiyahu 31:12]. The words of his true lover forever — who awaits his reply. Nussun of Breslov. [Translator's Note: Overview: Monday, Parshas Naso — written from Breslov. A letter addressed directly to Rabbi Chayyim HaKohein of Lvov, asking him to follow through on the printing possibility. *Sasos anochi al imrosav k'motzei shalal rav* (Tehillim 119:162) — his words are like discovering great plunder. Practical request: speak with the Lvov printers, get prices and conditions, report to Yitzchok in Tulchin. *Od yanev b'seivah tovah* (Tehillim 92:15). *V'haya k'gan ratov* (Yirmiyahu 31:12) — Messianic flourishing as a closing blessing. Key Themes Sasos Anoc hi Al Imrosav — Tehillim 119:162 "I rejoice at his words as one who finds great plunder." The exhilaration of discovering an unexpected treasure of immense value — applied to Rabbi Chayyim's pleasant words and openness to helping. His words are themselves a discovery of great spiritual plunder.]

Nussun of Breslov.