קעז

Overview: Tuesday, Parshas Ki Tisa — Uman — after Purim. To Rabbi Shmuel Weinberg. The vandalism of the beis midrash on Purim night: four windows smashed, the chandelier stolen, the bimah destroyed. *Chasday Hashem lo samnu* (Eichah 3:22). *Lahafoch hayagon va'anachah* (Esther 9:22) — performed literally on Purim itself. Reb Nussun's personal *b'tumi* moment: Blessed is Hashem that I did not break the windows. The Megillah read; great dancing on Purim. *Attun mehatam va'anan mehacha* (Taanis 23b) — united prayer from Breslov and Uman. *Im kabanim im ka'avadim* (Rosh Hashanah 17b). *Chedvas Hashem hi ma'uzechem* (Nechemiah 8:10). The battle is not for one day. The closings: to Reb Nussun's wife; to Rabbi Shakhna; to Marat Adil; to Rabbi Shmuel Tzvi; letter to be forwarded to Yitzchok in Tulchin.

On the day of my arriving in peace to my home — I wrote immediately my letter to his honor through the wagon driver — and certainly it reached his hand.

Abundant peace to the honor of my beloved dear one — like my own soul — our Teacher the Rabbi Shmuel Weinberg — may his light shine.

Their letter we received on Sunday — after the reading of the Megillah — and it was for us a great comfort and joy of the soul. And through this Hashem Yisborach added us strength to strengthen ourselves to rejoice on Purim — within such distresses — may the Merciful One preserve us from now on — especially what passed over us on that night — which was Motzei Shabbas Kodesh of the past — belonging to Sunday of Purim — when the people of worthlessness gathered and surrounded our beis midrash — and they demolished the door — and uprooted four windows — and broke and threw the shutters outside — and some were found with the chief ruffian — a certain Shneior David — may his name be blotted — and they also took out the hanging chandeliers — and the other lamps and chandeliers that were stored inside the bimah — and they demolished the bimah — and took out all the above-mentioned on that above-mentioned night. And immediately it became known to our *anshei sh'lomaynu* — and they also informed me at night — but what could we do at night. And yesterday we informed all of this to the distinguished ones here — and all of them were very angry at them — and all of them say that it is necessary to file a complaint with the governor. But yesterday it was not possible — and also today his father — may his light shine — sent after scribes — and the day passed and they did not come — as is known to us that for everything we need — there are great obstacles. And even so we will strive tomorrow — with the help of Hashem Yisborach — to write the complaint. And we hoped to Hashem that it would turn to good — that precisely through this they would have a great downfall — and would no longer be able to frighten us.

But at present we need salvation and great mercy — for many distresses have surrounded us from every side — in general and in particular. And from yourselves you will understand the greatness of the comfort that was ours on Purim morning — until I wept with tears from the greatness of the sorrow that reached to the soul. But the kindnesses of Hashem have not ended — that He gave me strength to strengthen myself according to the paths of his holy counsels [Eichah 3:22] — until I turned somewhat the grief and sighing to joy and gladness — [לַהֲפֹךְ הַיָּגוֹן וַאֲנָחָה — Esther 9:22 — the Purim reversal — identified in this collection. Applied here literally: it is Purim itself — and Reb Nussun performs the inner Purim-reversal from the grief of the vandalism to the joy of the day] — and I went in my integrity and said: Blessed is Hashem that I did not break the windows of such a holy beis midrash — called by the name of our Master our Teacher and Rebbe — the very awesome one — of blessed memory [בָּרוּךְ הַשֵּׁם שֶׁאֲנִי לֹא שָׁבַרְתִּי הַחַלּוֹנוֹת בְּבֵית הַמִּדְרָשׁ — Reb Nussun's personal Purim *kaparah* moment: turning the grief of the vandalism into gratitude. In simplicity (*b'tumi*) he says: Blessed is Hashem that I am not the one who did this. The gratitude for not being on the side of the wickedness is itself the Purim-reversal — from grief over what was done to gratitude for what was not done] — and Hashem Yisborach was in my help — that I prayed somewhat with joy — and we read the Megillah as is fitting — and afterwards we began to rejoice somewhat — and I went to his father — may his light shine — to inform him of all this. In the meanwhile I received from there the above-mentioned letters — and I was somewhat afraid to read them — for who knows what is written in them that might confuse — G-d forbid — our Purim joy. And Hashem Yisborach had mercy on us — for some salvations were written in them — and through this there was added to us strength in His great kindness — and praised be G-d — we were very glad for several hours on the holy Purim day — and we danced greatly. And also I danced greatly — with the help of Hashem Yisborach. And the joy that we have now on Purim is a novelty and salvation of Hashem — that we merit to rejoice at such a time — may Hashem complete for us that it should be a sign of salvation for us. And in the late afternoon we went to the home of the distinguished ones — I and Rabbi Naftali — may his light shine — and we lingered with them — and we did not eat the evening meal at all — for this was more necessary for us — to speak with them — as you will understand yourselves. I have written this so that it should be for you a remembrance — and to tell to the next generation all that passed over us in this winter — and especially in these Purim days — and certainly all is for good.

And behold — I was already prepared to travel to my home today or tomorrow — but because of the matter of the breach that was made in our beis midrash — I am compelled to linger here a few more days — and as it appears I will linger here until after the coming Shabbas. Therefore see to write me immediately by the post about all that has been renewed there after the writing of their above-mentioned letter — and also write me explicitly about the Purim days that have passed — if G-d forbid there was any damage in my home or to one of our *anshei sh'lomaynu* — inform me of all clearly. And also inform me in reply regarding what his heart stings him about — because some youths who came here told us on last Friday evening — namely Rabbi Yosef and the young man Leizer — that the officer with his men searched for me in the house of the Rav Yisrael son of Itziya. Therefore see in your wisdom to ask the governor whether this was by his knowledge. And if it was not by his knowledge — see to warn the above-mentioned officer and all the minor officials under him — that they be careful not to come to me — G-d forbid — without his permission — so as not to frighten me G-d forbid. And from himself he will understand how to strive in this for my good — and to write me immediately a clear reply — in what authority the above-mentioned came to search for me.

And may Hashem Yisborach have mercy on me and on all our *anshei sh'lomaynu* in our surroundings — and take us out quickly from all our distresses — and fell our enemies beneath us quickly — and may I merit to return to my home in Breslov in peace quickly — at any rate after the coming Shabbas — and may we merit that our beis midrash remain standing and to complete the building in completeness in this year. And we must strive with all that we can — to receive force through the judgment of the Tsar — may his majesty be exalted — for certainly the judgment of the king does not agree with the robbery and murder that they do to us. But our essential hope is only on Hashem Yisborach alone — for we have no one to lean on but our Father in Heaven. You from there and we from here [אַתּוּן מֵהָתָם וַאֲנַן מֵהָכָא — Aramaic from Taanis 23b (Choni HaMe'agel's circle) and related: the division of labor in divine service — those in one place serve from there, those in another from here. Applied here as a call to united effort across distances: you in Breslov — cry out from there; we in Uman — cry out from here. Together the prayers rise from both sides] — call to Hashem and plead before Him — with weeping and supplications we will come before Him — Yisborach — as a son before his father and like a servant before his master — whether as children — whether as servants [אִם כְּבָנִים אִם כַּעֲבָדִים — Rosh Hashanah 17b: the great Talmudic passage on the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy: *im kabanim rachamenu k'rachem av al banim, im ka'avadim einenu l'cha techinos apenu* — "if as children — have mercy on us as a father has mercy on children; if as servants — our eyes are toward You until You will be gracious to us." The two modes of approach: child and servant. Whichever mode befits us in the moment — we come. Applied here as the call to united supplication from Breslov and Uman together] [Rosh Hashanah 17b] — strive and multiply supplication and request before Him — Yisborach — until Hashem looks down and sees from Heaven.

And we also need to strengthen ourselves and gladden our souls every day — for this battle is not for one day. And even when Hashem Yisborach will help us to be saved from them — as our trust is firm in the greatness of the power of the elder of holiness — that they will certainly not prevail against us — with the help of Hashem Yisborach — even so — it is impossible for each person to be saved from obstacles and sufferings and battles. May Hashem Yisborach have mercy that all will be in great kindness. Therefore of necessity each person must go with what he taught us — of blessed memory — to designate one or two hours — and pour out his speech before Hashem Yisborach — and the rest of the day to be in joy — for the joy of Hashem — she is your stronghold [כִּי חֶדְוַת ה' הִוא מָעֻזְּכֶם — Nechemiah 8:10: ki chedvas Hashem hi ma'uzchem — "for the joy of Hashem — she is your stronghold." The great declaration of Letters 165 — repeated here: joy is not an optional addition to the spiritual life but the fortification of the soul — the *ma'oz* — the stronghold that makes everything else possible] [Nechemiah 8:10] — and in these times one needs to go with this more and more. And all this noise is in order to push away and expel those who do not stand in the trial — and to draw even closer those in whose hearts the point of truth has touched — to strengthen themselves to stand in the trial in all that has passed and will pass over them — so that they will be aroused even more — to go with all the words of his holy Torah — to receive counsels and strengthening through all his holy words explained in his holy books — and especially according to how I explained and poured out the things to you in all the conversations and words that were spoken between us — in His great kindness and His great wonders. For it is not an empty thing from you — what was spoken between us. Place in your hearts and remember well all that was spoken between us — how our Rebbe — of blessed memory — already hinted to us long ago all of this that is now passing over us — and how I preceded in our speech — that of necessity great obstacles would pass over each person. Go see the works of Hashem — who would believe that all that is now passing over Rabbi Shimshon son of Mordechai would pass over him — who was as beloved to his father as the apple of his eye — and so with his father-in-law — and there was no obstacle over him from any side. And so with the other youths of Breslov — and how many many times I spoke with them about this until some of them agreed that obstacles would pass over them — and behold what they wished has been fulfilled for them — even more than they wanted. May Hashem Yisborach say to their distresses and to our distresses: enough — and may everything turn to good. And to Hashem belongs the salvation — that I return in the coming week that comes upon us for good to my home in peace. But for Hashem's sake — write me immediately a clear reply on all the above. And also do not forget to write the letter to Tcherin as I spoke with you — and to hasten greatly in this if you have delayed until now — and do not add further delay. And inform me of the peace of all my household — and of all our *anshei sh'lomaynu* — and especially of the peace of the righteous woman Marat Adil — may she live — and of the peace of her son and daughter — may they live. And they will see to send immediately a letter to Kremenchug. And peace and life and great salvations to you and to us — as their souls and as the soul of their true lover forever. The one who writes with tears and with some joy — and who awaits the salvation of Hashem at every time — and I also see wondrous salvations every day — but I await complete and full salvation — swift and speedy. And peace to my wife — may she live — and to all my household — and to my son Rabbi Shakhna — may his light shine — I received their letter and it was a comfort to me. And so from each and every one who wrote to me in his own handwriting — to all of them I give warm thanks for what has passed — and I request for what is to come — that each one write to me in his own handwriting according to the truth and the good in his heart — until I merit to return home in peace. Nussun the above-mentioned. And peace to the house of the righteous woman Marat Adil — may she live — and to the house of the Rav — may he live — and to all our *anshei sh'lomaynu* — and to my dear ones the distinguished ones Yoel and Rabbi Shmuel Tzvi — may their lights shine. Although I have heard that one of them came with a signature on the side against me — and he certainly acted foolishly — even so I know that their love is complete with me — and so I do not budge from loving them. And if Hashem wills it — when I come home in peace we will speak of this. And peace to the distinguished one our Teacher the Rabbi Matye Sima — may his light shine — and to Rabbi Litman and his brother Rabbi Yakil — they too deserve to regret what they did against me — but I hope to Hashem that all will be in order — and the covenant of our love and peace will never be broken forever. Nussun the above-mentioned. And see to send this letter through a trustworthy person to Tulchin — to my son — may he live — for I do not intend to write to him by this post — and you know that his soul longs for my words — therefore see to fulfil the desire of my son Rabbi Yitzchok in this. Nussun the above-mentioned. Nussun of Breslov.