כט

With the help of G-d, may He be blessed My beloved son, my dear one — the veteran, outstanding scholar — our Teacher the Rabbi Yitzchok, may he live. Life and peace and all good in this world and the next — for eternity. Amen — so may it be His will. On Friday I wrote to you that I arrived here in peace. And thank G-d I was here for the holy Shabbos just past — and everything was in order with the help of Hashem Yisborach. And many men were with me as guests and some local residents — and I spoke some words of truth that we received from the spring that issues

from the house of Hashem. Would that they enter the heart of Israel and do their work. And behold — when one looks truly and carefully one can see each and every day a sprouting of a horn of salvation. And just as we bless each day: He who causes the horn of salvation to sprout — and so at the beginning of prayer one says: He who causes salvation to sprout — and so in the blessing of the luminaries: He who causes salvations to sprout. And surely one must believe in this with a complete heart — that Hashem Yisborach causes salvations to sprout each day and at every time and at every hour. And a little one can see from a distance — whoever sets his heart to this. And although the full salvation in its completeness is still very, very far from us — as it is written (Yeshayahu 59): Salvation is far from us — even so, one can greatly, greatly give oneself life and strengthen oneself through this that we have spoken of — through believing that Hashem Yisborach causes salvations to sprout. Set your heart well, my son, to these matters — for I know from a distance what bitterness upon bitterness passes over you. May Hashem Yisborach in His mercy sweeten them and nullify them from you speedily. But the measure of the good is greater — for I know that greatly, greatly Hashem Yisborach sends His salvation to you at every time. And I hope and long to Hashem Yisborach that in the end your salvation will sprout in completeness — and you will merit to draw close to Him, may He be blessed, in truth — to merit to the repentance of Shabbos — to fix yourself in Torah and prayer with the help of Hashem Yisborach. Only be strong and very, very courageous — beyond measure and beyond count — and pay no attention to any weakening of resolve that enters your heart. And do not listen to the words of mussar of the Adversary and the Other Side. Who deliver mussar to the heart in order to weaken the heart and push away from the little good that one wishes to seize. Do not desire and do not listen to them — for one listens to words of rebuke and mussar only to draw close — and not to push away, G-d forbid — as I have already spoken with you greatly about this (see Likutay Halachos, Hilchos Bechor Behemah Tehorah, halacha 4, paragraph 27): that the entire intention of the Reishis Chochmah and other mussar books that rebuke and demean a person greatly — their intention is not to push away from Hashem Yisborach — only to draw close. And more than this — one must set one's heart at all times to understand in oneself that no distancing or slackening should result, G-d forbid, through rebuke and mussar that enters the heart. For it can be that the arousal of rebuke and mussar that comes upon the heart is from holiness — from the daily proclamation — but the Adversary always lies in wait for a person — and in every thought, speech, and deed that passes over a person there are two aspects: the elixir of life and the elixir of death — as our Sages, of blessed memory, said (Yoma 72b): V'samtem — if you are privileged — and so forth. Therefore he mostly inverts the words of the living G-d — and desires specifically through this to push away and slacken the heart of a person, G-d forbid. And already explained among us are several counsels on how to be saved from him — and to give oneself life and gladden oneself. And in particular through the wondrous, awesome, and most exalted path that the light of lights revealed on the verse I will sing to my G-d while I yet live [Tehillim 146:2] — (Likutay Moharan, 282). Turn it over and turn it over — age and wear yourself out in it — and from it do not stir — for you have no better quality than it. And each and every day — let this path be in your eyes as new — to see oneself each day as if one is at the furthest possible distance from Hashem Yisborach. And through this very thing — specifically — to give life to oneself and gladden oneself: that despite such extreme distance — even so there is still in me a little that I am not wicked — and moreover there are in me many and many good points from so many awesome commandments that we fulfil each day. How fortunate are we — how good is our portion! Had we not come into the world except to hear this — it would have sufficed us. If only our mouths were full of song as the sea — and so forth — we would not suffice to give thanks and to say: it would have sufficed us — for what we merited to hear: this most exalted novelty. How much more so that we heard yet more and more — such and such. Until here have my few words arrived — which contain much strengthening. Beyond this it is impossible to elaborate now. The words of your father — who awaits a complete salvation at every time. Nussun of Breslov. Postscript — To the Fellowship; To Nephew Rabbi Yitzchok Ayzik Peace to all our anshay shlomaynu with great love. And in particular to the son of my sister, my dear friend — our Teacher the Rabbi Ayzik — may his light shine: Cast your burden upon Hashem and He will sustain you [Tehillim 55:23] — and do not be angry and do not sin — as our Sages, of blessed memory, said (Berachos 29b). Accustom yourself greatly in the quality of arichas appayim (long-suffering and patience). Remember wel

l, well all the kindnesses and wonders that Hashem Yisborach has done with you — so may Hashem multiply it with you a thousandfold. Only be strong and courageous greatly — to receive His goodnesses and His kindnesses at every time. And believe that all that passes over each and every one of you — all of it is for your good. Fill your hands today for Hashem — to accustom yourselves in Torah and prayer each day — even on a day when its preoccupation is great — and how much more so on other days. For what remains of a person is only what they snatch for themselves each day — as you yourselves know in truth. Postscript — The Enclosed Letter for Shakhnah My beloved son — the letter enclosed here — see to seal it and send it immediately to the hand of your brother — he is my son Rabbi Shakhnah — may his light shine.

Nussun of Breslov.

For I did not seal it so that you could read it — for I knew the intensity of your longing to hear many words of truth from me — and this is beautiful for you. For many, many words are needed — with all this effort — perhaps we will merit to arrive at what we need to arrive at in this world — for which we were created. Nussun, as above.