קנג

Overview: Monday, first day of Selichos — the last letter of 5594. Reb Nussun is literally boarding the wagon for Uman when he stops to write. *B'chad kar'a al ha'agalah* — one foot on the wagon — the vivid Aramaic image of love that holds one back at the last moment. Yitzchok has a recurring fever (*kaddachas* — *rachmana litzlan*). A *pidyon* to Rabbi Yudl. *Kessivah vachasimah tovah l'chayyim tovim aruchim v'l'shalom* — the expanded High Holiday blessing. This letter closes the year 5594; the next letter opens 5595.

Yesterday I arrived toward evening — and I found your letter — and you greatly revived my soul with it. But my sorrow is very great that you have still not returned to your health.

My beloved son, my dear one. [ Yitzchok ]

I am standing now with one foot on the wagon [בְּחַד כַּרְעָא עַל הָעֲגָלָה — Aramaic: literally "with one leg on the wagon" — the vivid image of someone in the act of boarding, one foot already on the step, already in motion. Reb Nussun is literally in the middle of his departure for Uman — and stops himself to write these lines. The Aramaic register of the phrase marks it as an idiom: the person who is already half-gone but turns back for one more moment of love] — to travel to Uman — and I remembered my love for you and held myself back to write you these few lines. And yesterday I wrote to you through Rabbi Moshe — son of the Rav — and certainly it has reached your hand. And afterwards I received your letter — and you did not mention that you had received my letter. And how very great is my sorrow and pain over your illness — especially over the matter of the fever [קַדַּחַת — a recurring fever: in Reb Nussun's time a serious and debilitating condition, often indicating malaria or a related illness. The Aramaic *rachmana litzlan* — "the Merciful One preserve us from it" — marks the word itself as something frightening, requiring divine protection even to name] — may the Merciful One preserve us. May the Master of Mercy awaken His great mercies upon you and upon us — and remove from you every illness swiftly — and may you return to your former strength in fullness swiftly — Omain, so may it be His will.

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]

The words of your father — who intercedes on your behalf. Nussun of Breslov. And let your heart be firm and trusting — for certainly you do not leave my thoughts. And I will also ask all my dear *anshei sh'lomaynu* to pray for you. And send a pidyon [פִּדְיוֹן — a redemption-contribution given to a *tzaddik* as part of the act of bringing one's situation before him in prayer. The *pidyon* is not merely a monetary gift but a spiritual act of connection: the person whose name and need is bound to the money is brought before the *tzaddik* and thus before Hashem through the *tzaddik's* prayer] to our dear friend — the honored Rabbi Yudl — even some small amount you can send. And may Hashem Yisborach hear our prayers with mercy — and may you merit to be written and sealed for good — for long good life and peace [לִכְתִיבָה וַחֲתִימָה טוֹבָה לְחַיִּים טוֹבִים אֲרֻכִּים וּלְשָׁלוֹם — the High Holiday greeting formula: *l'shana tovah tikaseiv v'seichaseim* — "may you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." Reb Nussun expands it: *kessivah vachasimah tovah l'chayyim tovim aruchim v'l'shalom* — written and sealed for good — for *long* good life and peace. The *aruchim* — long — intensifies the prayer: not just survival but extended flourishing] .