יג

With the help of G-d, may He be blessed Abundant peace to my beloved son, the delight of my eyes — the veteran, outstanding scholar — our Teacher the Rabbi Yitzchok — may his light shine and radiate.

Your letter I received — and it was a great comfort and a gladness of heart. But I still await the salvation — that a letter should reach me from you telling that everything is completely in order, without any suffering or worries whatsoever. And salvation belongs to Hashem. And at present I caution you with a great caution

that from now on you should not think and not worry about this matter at all — not at all. For thoughts and worries such as these damage very greatly — G-d have mercy. Only cast everything upon Hashem Yisborach — and He will complete everything for you for the good. And I am confident in Hashem Yisborach that everything is already in order. And all the thoughts in this matter are nothing but black melancholy and anxieties that damage greatly even in other matters — how much more so in such a matter as this, where black melancholy and worries and thoughts — which are called in Yiddish ibertrachtn (over-thinking) — damage and harm very greatly, G-d have mercy. For whatever it is, whatever it is — sufficient is the trouble in its hour — but one should not think thoughts about it, G-d forbid, before it or after it, G-d forbid — for this harms far more than the matter itself over which you worry and think, G-d forbid. For the one is compelled, while the other is by choice — for the flaw of thought is very very grave, as explained in all the books, and in particular in the books of our Master, of blessed memory,

in many places. And I have already spoken with you in the previous letter that, thank G-d, you have many matters with which to spend the day — namely: The day is short and the work is much — only it is not upon you to complete the work, but neither are you free to exempt yourself from it — how much more so to spend

even a single moment, G-d forbid, on such disgraceful thoughts as these. Far be it from you from them and their like. On the contrary — be strong and courageous to gladden your soul with everything possible, as I have already warned you greatly regarding this. And trust in Hashem — for He will not abandon you. And the mercies of Hashem Yisborach reach you at all times — for Hashem Yisborach is very great, and He is full of mercy, and the entire world is full of mercy, and so forth — as written in Likutay Tinyana, section 49 — see there. And as for your request of me to write you another letter like the first one — believe me, my son, my dear one, that I myself do not remember well all that is written there, and it is not in my power to write you anything except what Hashem Yisborach will make available to my mind at the time of writing. But everything you lack — all of it, as for everything — you will find in the books of our Master, of blessed memory, and in the Teffilos and in the novel teachings that Hashem has graced me with — which are in your possession. They will instruct you and speak to you and strengthen your heart to rejoice always in Hashem Yisborach and to trust in His great kindnesses that are never severed forever. And in the end everything will turn to the good. And the principle is that Hashem Yisborach is very great — and we do not know at all the wonders and the new things that are being made in the world each day and at every time — wonders upon wonders, how abundant are the works of Hashem, and so forth. For Hashem Yisborach makes new things at every time — and there is a matter where everything turns to the good. And if you cannot understand this and look upon it — at all events believe in this — be strong and strong. And you know a little. And the rest — believe with faith that it is for us a merit and a great eternal salvation — what we merited: to be in the portion of our awesome and most exalted Master, whose greatness no mind in the world can measure. And blessed is our G-d who separated us from those who go astray — who contend against such a point of truth — who speak arrogantly and contemptuously against the righteous. This is our consolation in our poverty — this is our joy. And in this you have wherewith to gladden yourself in everything that passes over you. And may Hashem Yisborach gladden your soul always and strengthen your heart to engage in Torah and prayer throughout the day — and you should merit to walk in the path that our Master, of blessed memory, showed us. And in particular to greatly strengthen yourself in hisbodidus — that you should compel yourself and strengthen yourself with new strengthening each day — to begin fresh each time — and to speak with Hashem Yisborach as a man speaks to his fellow [cf. Shemos 33:11] — to pour out your speech before Him well. And do not fall in your mind on account of anything in the world — for all that passes over you — these things and more — passed over all those who feared G-d and were upright who entered the service of Hashem. And if they had not strengthened themselves at every time they would, G-d forbid, have remained in their first place, G-d forbid — as all this is explained in Likutay Tinyana, sections 51 and 52. Set your heart well to all the words said there — and look and contemplate carefully every single word said there — for they are words of the living G-d and they greatly give life to the soul. And these conversations in those holy sections are called by some of our anshay shlomaynu a letter — for they speak like a letter written to a friend and student. And you do not need a better letter than them. And nonetheless I will see to write to you each time words of truth — whatever Hashem Yisborach makes available in my hand —

and whatever passes beneath the rod of the pen shall be holy — for all my words flow and issue from our Master, of blessed memory — from the ever-flowing stream, and so forth. And know, my son, that upon all the words of our Master, of blessed memory, it is said: And you shall draw water with joy from the springs of salvation [Yeshayahu 12:3] — for they are literally the springs of salvation. Like a spring that is never interrupted — so too his words are living and enduring and precious and faithful forever and for all eternity. And his counsel and his salvations are never exhausted. And always you can strengthen yourself with his awesome words — whatever the situation — for he illuminated in us the greatness of the Creator, may He be blessed, and His great and abundant kindness and mercy through which the world is saved. For in Him our heart will rejoice from all the places we are in. We will exult and rejoice in Him and in His salvation always. The words of your father — compelled to be brief and to bring to a close — on account of the honor of His holy Name: for thousands upon thousands and tens of thousands of tens of thousands of sheets would not suffice to explain and complete what there is to say in this — in which I have begun to enter — for His greatness has no measure. And enough in this for now. May there be peace — as your soul and the soul of your

father desires — who seeks your welfare and prays for you and awaits hearing the good from you. The lowly Nussun, son of our Teacher the Rabbi

[Hebrew: נָתָן הַנַּ"ל...]

And know, my son, that upon all the words of our Master, of blessed memory, it is said: And you shall draw water with joy from the springs of salvation [Yeshayahu 12:3] — for they are literally the springs of salvation. Naftali Hirtz — of Breslov.