עג

My beloved son, my dear one, the veteran — our Teacher the Rabbi Yitzchok — may his light shine. [הַוָּתִיק — "the veteran": a term of honour for one who has been tested through many years of challenge and perseverance]

Your letter I received on Sunday — and it was a great comfort to me to hear that, praise be to G-d, Hashem has begun to show His kindness — may Hashem complete it on your behalf that she have a complete healing speedily, Omain. And know, my son, that I intend — if Hashem wills — to travel on Monday to Uman for the matter of the building. Therefore if it is easily possible for him to come here after Shabbos — how good — and if not — for the sake of Hashem, let him see to send me the sum he promised me without excuses and justifications whatsoever — for it is impossible to estimate the greatness of the urgent need for money now — as almost the entire building depends on this. For everything is already laid ready — only needing to be raised up — and we must be quick on account of various reasons and fears as is known. May Hashem Yisborach guard us and help us to raise it and to complete it speedily.

And from yourself you will understand how much I need to hasten now — and may Hashem the G-d help me — for the matter is very, very heavy upon me now — as almost the strength of the porter has given out [כִּמְעַט כָּשַׁל כֹּחַ הַסַּבָּל — Nechemiah 4:4: "the strength of the porter has given out and there is too much rubble — and we are not able to build the wall." The verse of Nechemiah's builders exhausted under persecution. Reb Nussun applies it precisely: he too builds under opposition and exhaustion, at the same breaking point]. But Hashem Yisborach helps me and will help me — and on this alone I have staked my pegs [תָּמַכְתִּי יְתֵדוֹתַי — "I have staked my tent-pegs": from Yeshayah 54:2 — "lengthen your cords and strengthen your pegs." Reb Nussun plants his stake in Hashem's help alone as the sole ground of his perseverance] — to continue engaging in this until Hashem Yisborach in His mercies completes it and brings the holy building from potential into actuality [מִכֹּחַ אֶל הַפֹּעַל — from potential to actuality: the Aristotelian philosophical term adopted into medieval Jewish thought. All the elements are present — materials, will, Torah teachings — only the final act of realisation is needed] with the help of Hashem Yisborach.

And praise be to G-d — Hashem Yisborach has helped us that we have renewed, in the matter of bringing from potential into actuality, beautiful new teachings that are needed for the work. And the essential thing is the will and the desire — as is well explained in the Torah — and may my spirit now be double upon you [וִיהִי נָא פִּי שְׁנַיִם בְּרוּחֲךָ — Melochim II 2:9: Elisha's request from Eliyahu at the moment of parting — the paradigmatic request for a double portion of the teacher's spirit to pass to the disciple. Applied here to the community's inheritance of the Rebbe's spirit of will and desire] and so forth. And we have already spoken of this on last Shabbos Kodesh — and the matter has already been written, in His kindness and His great and wondrous salvation.

Nussun of Breslov.

And I have already told you that every time I speak or write some new teaching I yearn greatly that you should see that teaching and that it should reach you — but what can we do — for the obstacles to this have multiplied. But I have already informed you, my dear son, that all is for good — for it is precious in the eyes of Hashem Yisborach the once in several weeks that you come to us through such obstacles — more than if you had come twice every week without obstacles.

And behold — now it is after midday on Erev Shabbos and it is impossible to extend at all. And may Hashem Yisborach have mercy upon us and may we merit to receive Shabbos Kodesh with joy and good heart as is fitting — and to draw the holiness and joy of Shabbos over the six weekdays [לְהַמְשִׁיךְ קְדֻשַּׁת וְשִׂמְחַת שַׁבָּת עַל שֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַחוֹל — the Chassidic teaching that Shabbos's spiritual light is drawn down into the weekdays through how one lives within Shabbos. The six days are sustained by the holiness of the one] — until we merit to the day that is entirely Shabbos and so forth.

The words of your father — who yearns for your welfare and your eternal success — writing in tears [כּוֹתֵב בְּדִמְעָה — one of the most arresting moments of personal disclosure in the entire collection: Reb Nussun says directly that he is writing through tears — from the greatness of his longing that all the toil not be in vain] — from the greatness of the longing that your toil and effort and my toil and effort not be in vain, G-d forbid — but we have hoped in Hashem — for He knows the hidden things [הוּא יוֹדֵעַ תַּעֲלוּמוֹת — a phrase from the daily liturgy: the Sh'moneh Esray's blessing of forgiveness (*Selach lanu*) includes ki Atah yodea ta'alumot — "for You know the hidden things." This is also the closing of the blessing over Torah study. Reb Nussun invokes it as the theological ground of his certainty: since Hashem knows the hidden things — and therefore knows that both Reb Nussun's intention and the community's intention are genuinely for good — there is certainty that the toil will not have been in vain. The hidden knowledge of Hashem is the guarantee] — that my entire intention is for good in truth — and your intention is also for good in truth. And certainly we will not have laboured in vain, G-d forbid. But would that the will of our holy and awesome Rebbe, of blessed and holy memory, be fulfilled — that we merit to reach the good end to which he wants to bring us — and to Hashem belongs the salvation. Nussun of Breslov. And abundant peace to all our anshei sh'lomaynu — with great love and precious affection. Be strong and let your hearts be courageous — all who hope in Hashem. Your eyes which see that all that a person wants he can accomplish — as you have already seen and understood much — and through this you will strengthen yourselves all your days to desire and yearn always to Hashem Yisborach and to true men of truth — until you merit to break all the remaining obstacles — until you merit to behold the pleasantness of Hashem [לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹעַם ה' — Tehillim 27:4: "one thing I asked of Hashem — to dwell in the house of Hashem all the days of my life — to behold the pleasantness of Hashem and to visit in His sanctuary." The ultimate aspiration: to behold the pleasantness of Hashem Himself — cited here as the good end to which all the obstacles and struggle are leading] and so forth. And then you will know what all this commotion was about — what they were trying to prevent you from, G-d forbid — then our mouths will be filled with laughter [אָז יִמָּלֵא שְׂחוֹק פִּינוּ — Tehillim 126:2: "then our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with joyous song — then they said among the nations: Hashem has done great things with these." The eschatological laughter of the return from exile — when the community finally understands what the opposition sought to prevent] and so forth — and our enemies shall see and be ashamed — with the help of Hashem Yisborach.

Nussun of Breslov.