קמז

And for this it is good for us to give thanks to Hashem at every time — that at any rate we know the truth more clearly than the rest of the world — even more than the Chassidim of today. And if even so your deeds do not go well — even so it is very good and precious, very very precious, that you know the truth in its truth. But just as it is a great virtue that you yearn so much toward the true purpose — so too there is in it a great deficiency: that you burn and cry out more than necessary. For more than necessary is — G-d forbid — close to destruction [h'risah]. And have we not already spoken to the very last point — that one must give oneself life even with a single point of our holy Jewishness which we hold in His great kindness?

[Hebrew: אֲהוּבִי בְּנִי חֲבִיבִי....]

To: My beloved son, my dear one. [Yitzchok] Your letter I received now. And although I have sorrow from this — that

you came to such a state — to suffer so much on the road — for such a gain.

Even so — this is my consolation — what you wrote: that you remembered the words of our Master, our Teacher and Rebbe — of blessed memory — that the road is a tikkun habris [דֶּרֶךְ הוּא תִּקּוּן הַבְּרִית — one of the Rebbe's distinctive teachings: the hardships of travel — the discomfort, uncertainty, and exposure of the road — constitute a *tikkun* for the *bris* — a rectification of the covenant of purity. The road strips away the comforts and protections of home, placing a person in a condition of vulnerability that corresponds spiritually to the state of rectification of the *bris*. The Rebbe saw commercial travel not as spiritually neutral but as a form of sacred service] — and with the intention of Elul [כַּוָּנַת אֱלוּל — the specific spiritual intention associated with the month of Elul: the awareness of Hashem's nearness, the practice of searching and returning. The Rebbe's teaching connects the hardships of the road with the inner work of Elul — both involve stripping away comfortable illusions and standing before the divine in vulnerability and truth]. And by implication you were thinking then of several words of Torah. And also — in the meantime — you had the opportunity to converse your private speech before Him, Yisborach — as we have spoken of this many times. And presumably you fulfilled some of this. And through this — to Hashem is the hope — that everything will be turned to good. And also one must have the intention during commerce — that all the efforts and labors are considered as labors of a mitzvah [טְרָחוֹת שֶׁל מִצְוָה — the Talmudic concept of *tircha d'mitzvah* — the exertion invested in performing a mitzvah, which itself carries merit. Applied to honest commercial toil undertaken to support a family and enable Torah: the exertion is not merely practical but spiritually precious, even when painful] — which are very precious. And behold — blessed is Hashem — they worked here on the preparation of the Sukkah all of last Friday — eve of the holy Shabbos — and also tomorrow — and afterwards — if Hashem wills — we will engage in this. But the money has run out — and through Rabbi Nachman I will inform you of this. And may Hashem the Good act — and provide for us with dignity — and be with us to be as He wills for good in truth — and to complete the Rebbe's affairs — of blessed memory — to give merit to the many forever. The words of your father — somewhat occupied. Nussun of Breslov. [Translator's Note: Overview: Sunday, Parshas Re'eh. Yitzchok suffered on a commercial journey. The consolation: he remembered the Rebbe's teaching that the road is a *tikkun habris* and the *kavanas Elul*. *Tircha shel mitzvah*: commercial toil is itself spiritually precious. Sukkah being prepared but money has run out. The Shabbos third meal: Reb Nussun was heavy and broken- hearted but Hashem helped him to great joy that reached to the feet. The tension between *shikcha* — forgetting as a great quality — and the necessity to remember and reflect at appropriate moments. *Navon yavin la'ashurav* — the discerning person knows when to apply each quality. Key Themes Derech Hu Tikkun HaBris / Kavanas Elul The road is a *tikkun* for the *bris* — the hardships of travel strip away the comforts of home, placing a person in vulnerability and rectification. Combined with the *kavanas Elul* — the inner work of awareness and return — commercial travel becomes a form of sacred service.]

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]