קמט

And peace to all our anshei sh'lomaynu with great love — and especially to my longstanding precious friend our Teacher the Rabbi Nachman — grandson of our Master, our Teacher and Rebbe — of blessed memory. See to urge him to send me his letter immediately — and see to speak with him each time and to rouse him and strengthen him — for it is a great good for him and for you — as you know from the many warnings with which our great Rebbe — of blessed and holy memory — warned us: that one should speak with one's friend words of truth and faith — and they should receive from each other [שֶׁיְּדַבֵּר אֶחָד עִם חֲבֵרוֹ דִּבְרֵי אֱמֶת וֶאֱמוּנָה, וִיקַבְּלוּ דֵּין מִן דֵּין — the Rebbe's repeated instruction that each person should speak with his fellow words of truth and faith — and draw, receive, learn from each other. The Aramaic yekablu dein min dein — receive from each other — captures the mutuality: the conversation is not one-directional teaching but mutual receiving] and so forth.

Nussun the above-mentioned.

To: Peace to my dear son — the scholarly one — our Teacher the Rabbi Yitzchok — may his light shine. [Yitzchok]

Your letter I received at this hour. And you revived my soul upon seeing your handwriting — but I am very distressed that you have still not risen from your bed. May Hashem support you and raise you up speedily — and restore

you fully to your former strength — swiftly and quickly. And please — my beloved son — for the sake of Hashem — remove worry and melancholy from your heart — and do not fear and do not be frightened at all — for the melancholy and the fear are damaging to the body — G-d forbid — greatly [הַמָּרָה שְׁחוֹרָה וְהַפַּחַד מַזִּיקִים לַגּוּף הַרְבֵּה — a specific medical and spiritual observation: *marah sh'chorah* — melancholy — and *pachad* — fear — are not merely spiritual conditions but physiologically damaging. In Reb Nussun's Breslov understanding and in the traditional medical knowledge of the time, melancholy and fear directly impair the body's capacity to recover. This is not coincidental with the Breslov teaching on joy as the essential health of the soul — the two are understood as a single integrated reality: what harms the soul harms the body, and what strengthens the soul strengthens the body] — and certainly the soul as well. Be strong and take courage — and hope in Hashem who has helped you until now — may He not forsake you and not abandon you — and may He heal you and restore your health speedily. And may you merit to be with us at the coming holy Rosh Hashana in Uman. And regarding your strong desire that I be with you once more — travel is very, very difficult for me — but even so — out of love for you — I will see to be with you this week — if Hashem wills — for good life and peace. But — my beloved son — do not multiply the yearnings greatly — for it is impossible for me to be with you every day — for my pressures are many — and the affairs of heaven — as you know. And my hands are spread to Hashem day and night [כַּפַּי פְּרוּשׂוֹת אֶל ה' יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה — expanding the gesture of *kappai perusos* already identified in Letter 144 (Eichah 1:17; I Melachim 8:22) with the addition of *yomam valaylah* — day and night — from Shlomo's dedication prayer (I Melachim 8:29): "that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day." Shlomo prays that the divine eyes remain open day and night over the Temple. Here Reb Nussun's hands are spread toward Hashem in the same continuous and uninterrupted mode — day and night — the intercession without ceasing] — may He have compassion and mercy upon us — and restore you to your former strength speedily — and may you merit to engage in Torah and service all the days of your life — for length of good days and years. The words of your father — who intercedes on your behalf. Nussun of Breslov. [Translator's Note: Overview: Sunday, Parshas Tavo. Yitzchok still bedridden. Reb Nussun revived by seeing his handwriting. *Marah sh'chorah v'hapachad mazzikim laguf harbeh*: the melancholy and fear are themselves physically damaging — body and soul are one integrated reality. Reb Nussun will try to visit this week despite the great difficulty. *Kappai perusos el Hashem yomam valaylah* — expanded with the day-and-night continuousness of Shlomo's dedication prayer. Hoping Yitzchok will reach Uman for Rosh Hashana. Key Themes Marah Sh'chorah V'hapachad Mazzikim Laguf Melancholy and fear are not merely spiritual conditions but physically damaging — impairing the body's capacity to recover. Body and soul are an integrated reality: what harms the soul harms the body; joy is not only spiritual but physiological health.]

Nussun of Breslov.