קנד

Overview: Friday, Erev Shabbos — the Ten Days of Repentance, 5595. Back from Uman the previous evening. Yitzchok still not recovered. *Ki lo l'netzach yariv* (Yeshayahu 57:16) — Hashem's self-limitation: the contention cannot be forever. *Ki hu yach'iv v'yachavosh* (Iyov 5:18) — the Rebbe's teaching: the same One who wounds also heals, from the same divine hand. *Einai tzofiyos kol hayom* (Tehillim 25:15) — eyes watching all day. Two gold coins paid to Rabbi Yudel for a *pidyon* on Yitzchok's behalf.

Behold I am writing with tears — as I remember the greatness of your sorrow — that we did not merit that you be with us at the past Rosh Hashana.

[ Yitzchok ]

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. But I have placed great hope in Hashem that soon you will be saved — for He will not contend forever [לֹא לָנֶצַח יָרִיב — Yeshayahu 57:16: ki lo l'olam ariv v'lo lanetzach ektzof — "for I will not contend forever — and I will not always be angry." The verse of Hashem's self-limitation: the divine anger and affliction have a natural end — they cannot go on forever. The illness, however prolonged, has a temporal limit decreed by divine mercy. The hope for recovery is grounded not in optimism but in the divine promise that contention will not be eternal] [Yeshayahu 57:16] — for He wounds and He binds up [כִּי הוּא יַכְאִיב וְיַחֲבֹשׁ — Iyov 5:18: ki hu yach'iv vayachavosh yimchatz v'yadav tirpenah — "for He wounds and He binds up — He strikes and His hands heal." The verse of Job's friend Eliphaz — cited in the Rebbe's teachings as a principle: the same One who wounds also heals. The affliction and the healing come from the same divine hand. This is not a platitude but a theological foundation for hope: if He sends the illness He will also send the recovery — because they flow from the same source] [Iyov 5:18] .

For the sake of Hashem — be strong and resolute — and strengthen yourself to distance the melancholy in all that you can. And may the Master of Mercy have compassion on you — and gladden your soul in His salvation — and may you return to your former strength speedily — and may everything be turned to good — and may He complete the sealing for long good life and peace. And now I am very busy — and the time of prayer has arrived — the bearer of this letter is very urgent. Please — very much — write to me also on Sunday — if Hashem wills — and afterwards — for my eyes are watching all day [עֵינַי צוֹפִיּוֹת כָּל הַיּוֹם — Tehillim 25:15: einai tamid el Hashem ki hu yotzi mereshet raglai — "my eyes are ever toward Hashem — for He will release my feet from the net." The Psalm of complete dependence: the eyes that watch continually for Hashem's response. Here applied to watching for Yitzchok's good news: Reb Nussun's eyes watch all day for any word of improvement — the same urgency and constancy as the Psalmist's watching for Hashem] [Tehillim 25:15] — to hear the good from you — and may Hashem Yisborach have mercy upon us and let us hear joy and gladness from you speedily. And know that I gave two gold coins to our dear friend — the Rav — our Teacher the Rabbi Yudel — may his light shine — for a pidyon on your behalf. The words of your father — who intercedes on your behalf. Nussun of Breslov.

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]