קכז

May Hashem illuminate His face to you and be gracious to you — in the illumination of the holy Chanukah [יָאֵר ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ, בְּהֶאָרַת חֲנֻכָּה הַקָּדוֹשׁ — a direct application of the second blessing of the Birkas Kohanim — Bamidbar 6:25: ya'er Hashem panav eilecha vichuneka — "may Hashem illuminate His face to you and be gracious to you." The priestly blessing of divine illumination and grace — now applied specifically to the illumination of Chanukah: the holy light of the Chanukah candles is the bearer of this very blessing. To be lit by the Chanukah light is to receive the illumination of the divine face and the flow of divine grace] [Bamidbar 6:25].

To: My beloved son, my dear one — may his light shine. [Yitzchok] May Hashem illuminate His face to you and be gracious to you — in the illumination of the holy Chanukah [יָאֵר ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ, בְּהֶאָרַת

חֲנֻכָּה הַקָּדוֹשׁ — a direct application of the second blessing of the Birkas Kohanim — Bamidbar 6:25: ya'er Hashem panav eilecha vichuneka — "may Hashem illuminate His face to you and be gracious to you." The priestly blessing of divine illumination and grace — now applied specifically to the illumination of Chanukah: the holy light of the Chanukah candles is the bearer of this very blessing. To be lit by the Chanukah light is to receive the illumination of the divine face and the flow of divine grace] [Bamidbar 6:25]. At this hour I received your letter — before the lighting of the Chanukah candle — and it was to me a great comfort. Especially what you did well — in the matter of what you wrote to Adess — to my friend R'Sh — may his light shine. You succeeded — and you also produced fruit — praised be G-d. If you knew what a great mitzvah you performed — and what great merit in several ways — both for me and even more for him — you would certainly be full of joy. Blessed is Hashem who helped me until now. And now I have no time at all to extend — for the bearer of this letter is in urgent need — and people are standing over me that I must speak with them. And may Hashem gladden us in the miracle of Chanukah — and so may He perform miracles and wonders with us also now — that we merit to recognise Him truly from amidst great joy. And if Hashem wills — tomorrow you will come in peace — and face to face I will tell you what has passed here [פָּנִים אֶל פָּנִים אֲסַפֵּר לְךָ — face to face I will tell you: the intimate transmission that letters cannot carry — what has passed at the Chanukah gathering can only be transmitted in person. The anticipation of face-to-face meeting returns, as in Letter 106's *peh el peh adaber*]. The words of your father — who intercedes on your behalf. Nussun of Breslov. [Translator's Note: Overview: Eve of Thursday, the 6th night of Chanukah. *Ya'er Hashem panav eilecha vichunekhah b'he'arat Chanukah hakadosh* — the second blessing of Birkas Kohanim (Bamidbar 6:25) applied to the illumination of Chanukah: the holy light is the bearer of the priestly blessing of divine illumination and grace. Received just before the candle-lighting. Yitzchok's letter to R'Sh in Adess — a great mitzvah performed. *Kein ya'aseh imanu nisim v'niflaos gam ata*. Yitzchok expected tomorrow — *panim el panim asapper l'cha* — face to face I will tell you what passed here. Key Themes Ya'er Hashem Panav / Birkas Kohanim — Bamidbar 6:25 "May Hashem illuminate His face to you and be gracious to you." The second blessing of the Birkas Kohanim applied to Chanukah: the holy light of the Chanukah candles carries this very blessing. To receive the Chanukah light is to receive the illumination of the divine face and the flow of divine grace.]

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]