קפב

Overview: Sunday, Parshas Tazria — Breslov. A brief urgent letter — written as *minchah* time arrives. Rabbi Chaim and his companions have been released from prison four hours ago. The wicked youth fled; his mother arrested in his stead and still sitting in prison. The legal complaint has been filed; investigation pending. *Tov l'hodos laHashem al he'avar* (Tehillim 92:2). *Hashem haros shinemom b'fimo* (Tehillim 3:8). *Ashreinu min ha'emes misitara dimina* — how fortunate that we are on the side of truth — on the right side. And then the extraordinary Breslov Yiddish phrase: *un takke fort ashreinu* — and truly — how fortunate are we.

We have already sent you two letters about the greatness of our distresses — and I was astonished — very very greatly — that you are as if hiding your face from us and you do not reply a word.

My beloved son.

His letter I received at this hour. And thanks be to G-d — Rabbi Chaim and his companions have already left the prison — approximately four hours ago. And the wicked worthless youth who was known — they sent after him in the morning to seize him — and his mother pleaded greatly for him — and in the meanwhile she smuggled him out. And they seized her herself and put her in the prison — and she is still sitting there. And the legal complaint has already been submitted — but there is still no clear reply — for they said they will investigate afterwards. Beyond this there is nothing new to inform. It is good to give thanks to Hashem for what has passed — that until here He helped us greatly in His great mercies [טוֹב לְהוֹדוֹת לַה' — Tehillim 92:2: *tov l'hodos laHashem* — the opening of the Shabbas Psalm. Applied here as a call to gratitude for the salvations of the past even while the battle continues] — and to ask greatly for the future — that He fell our enemies beneath us — for they still gnash their teeth — as is known to you. Hashem — break their teeth in their mouth [ה' הָרֹס שִׁנֵּמוֹ בְּפִימוֹ — Tehillim 3:8: kuma Hashem hoshi'eni Elokai ki hikita et kol oyevai lechi shiney resha'im shibarta — "Arise Hashem save me my G-d — for You have struck all my enemies on the cheek — You have broken the teeth of the wicked." The Psalm of Dovid fleeing from Avshalom — applied to the community's enemies who gnash their teeth against them] [Tehillim 3:8] and so forth — and humble them and break them — may they fall and not rise — and our souls will exult in Hashem — rejoice in His salvation. How fortunate are we that we merited to be on the side of truth — on the right side [מִסִּטְרָא דִּימִינָא — from the right side: the side of *chesed* and truth — the side of the holy — as opposed to the *sitra achra* — the left side of impurity and falsehood. Reb Nussun affirms that to be on the side of the Rebbe's truth — even in persecution — is to be on the right side of all of existence] — and indeed — how truly fortunate are we [אוּן טַאקֶע פָארְט אַשְׁרֵינוּ — Yiddish-Hebrew: "and truly — nevertheless — how fortunate are we." The word *takke* in Yiddish means "really" or "actually" — here conveying the meaning: despite everything that has happened — and precisely *because* of it — how truly and really fortunate are we. A phrase of defiant, joyful gratitude in the midst of suffering] . And there is no free time to extend — for the time for *minchah* has arrived.

And even so I was compelled to go — and I had no path to walk — from the multitude of the mob that surrounded me — and the soldiers were compelled to drive away the mob with sticks and beat them so that there would be a path for me. And in the midst of my walking in such great humiliation — the worthless woman Miriam Raitze the daughter of Elka — may her name be blotted — who is the wife of our dear friend Rabbi Avraham Ber — may he live — and who has turned into a very very great opponent — more than all of them — came out and humiliated me publicly with great insults. And afterwards I entered the governor — and since they had already somewhat appeased him — he spoke with me a little and dismissed me in peace. And the above-mentioned wicked woman entered also to the above-mentioned governor and humiliated me even before him — and this was for me somewhat for good — for the above-mentioned governor and his wife shamed her and rebuked her for being so impudent as to humiliate an elder like this — and she left from them in disgrace. And now — from yourselves you will understand the greatness of the distress and the uproar and the humiliation that we all had — and especially the righteous woman Marat Adil — may she live. And also for this we were compelled to spend expenses — to delay the officer somewhat — so that meanwhile they could appease the above-mentioned governor so that he would not seize me in custody as he said at first. And afterwards on Motzei Shabbas — we were compelled to write a legal complaint — and on Sunday they released all our imprisoned ones — and there were wounds among them — and he ordered them to receive medical attention from the doctor — and for this too we were compelled to spend expenses as they will understand from themselves. And afterwards the opponents beat yet another of our *anshei sh'lomaynu* — a poor and destitute man — and we were compelled to submit yet another complaint.

And as yet there has been no investigation and no judgment on any complaint. But even so — the complaints are effective — for through this a fear falls upon them — and were it not for this they would be killing us openly — G-d forbid — for our blood has already been declared permitted — as is well known. And afterwards the opponents gathered on Sunday — and collected a large wicked collection from all the wealthy ones — and took counsel what to do to me — and their evil counsel was settled — and they bribed the officials: that the officer would give a complaint against me — that it had become known to him that I am a false prophet — which they call among them *sanigag* [סַאנִיגָאג — a false prophet or sectarian leader in the language of the Russian authorities — the accusation used against Jewish sectarians to bring them before state authorities. Applied to Reb Nussun: the opponents told the authorities he was a *sanigag* — a false prophet leading an illegal movement — in order to have him arrested on religious-criminal charges] — and also that there are illegal assemblies in my possession — and further accusations. And the officer has already submitted such a document to the police — and they wanted the governor and the district governor to sign on it as well.

And from yourselves you will understand the greatness of the uproar and the fear and the distress that we had — until no spirit was left in any person of our *anshei sh'lomaynu*. And in the mercy of Hashem — He placed words in the mouth of our dear friend Rabbi Shmuel Weinberg and his wife — and they spoke greatly with the governor — until he held back his hand from signing immediately. And they also spoke somewhat with the district governor — and he too held back. And according to what is heard — they did not send the matter to Kamenitz. But we still do not know the matter clearly in its truth. And our heart — and especially my heart trembles within me [לִבִּי יָחִיל בְּקִרְבִּי — Tehillim 55:5: libi yachil b'kirbi v'eiimos mavet naflu alai — "my heart trembles within me and the terrors of death have fallen upon me." The Psalm of Dovid in the time of mortal danger from those who once were close — the verse of existential fear] [Tehillim 55:5] and so forth. Alas — my brothers and companions — O heavens — look and see — is there a pain like our pain — and is there a humiliation and fears like our humiliation? [אֲהָהּ אַחַי וְרֵעַי אִי שָׁמַיִם הַבִּיטוּ וּרְאוּ אִם יֵשׁ מַכְאוֹב כְּמַכְאוֹבֵנוּ — an allusion to Eichah 1:12: havi'u v'reu im yesh mach'ov k'mach'ovi — "look and see if there is any pain like my pain." The language of the destruction of the Temple — applied to the ongoing destruction of the Breslov community.

But Reb Nussun does not despair: he immediately turns to the divine gift that sustains him] Our lives — and especially my life — hang in the balance at every moment. Blessed is the One Who gives strength to the weary [בָּרוּךְ הַנּוֹתֵן לַיָּעֵף כֹּחַ — Yeshayahu 40:29: noten laye'ef koach ul'ein onim atzumah yarbeh — "He gives strength to the weary — and to the one with no strength He multiplies power." The verse of Reb Nussun's own exhaustion and the divine gift that sustains him — iron strength to bear all of this] [Yeshayahu 40:29] — Who gave me strength of iron to endure all of this. Therefore — for the sake of Hashem — do not delay further — and send immediately without fail — at any rate — the sum that we wrote to you twice — without any excuse. For you will understand from yourselves that it is a very small sum relative to the magnitude of this distress. And there is no one who will stand in our defense — for all the wealthy men are our opponents — and there remain with us only the poor and some householders — and even they are afraid of the oppressor and the wealthy ones to help us. And even so — they have already spent for this matter much more than one hundred rubles — besides the fact that they need to support my livelihood — for they have cut off my livelihood from all sides [קִפְּחוּ אֶת פַּרְנָסָתִי מִכָּל הַצְּדָדִים — the economic warfare running alongside the physical persecution: the opponents systematically cut off all sources of Reb Nussun's income from every direction]. And besides what they do not give to me and to all our *anshei sh'lomaynu* — neither flour nor wheat-money and so forth for Pesach — and on top of all this the above-mentioned Moshe the Overturned himself goes personally to ruin the livelihood and the sustenance of each and every one.

Not enough parchment scrolls to describe what Moshe and all the opponents do to all our *anshei sh'lomaynu* every day in the matter of livelihood — but we do not look at this at all — only they are digging to denounce me — G-d forbid — with every kind of false accusation and denunciation — G-d forbid. May Hashem frustrate their counsel and ruin their plan. So that — G-d forbid G-d forbid — they should not need to send double and double — and who knows if it will help afterwards. For now there is still hope to rescue ourselves with small expenses — but to depart with nothing at all is impossible — for a horse is prepared for the day of battle — and to Hashem belongs the salvation [סוּס מוּכָן לְיוֹם הַמִּלְחָמָה וְלַה' הַתְּשׁוּעָה — Mishlai 21:31: "a horse is prepared for the day of battle — but salvation belongs to Hashem." The verse of the required human effort combined with the knowledge that the ultimate outcome is Hashem's alone. Applied here: we must do our part — prepare the horse — spend the money — take the legal steps — and then trust that Hashem will provide the salvation] [Mishlai 21:31]. And from the greatness of the sorrow and the busyness — it is impossible to extend further. And I am confident in the goodness of your hearts — that even though the matter is heavy upon you — you will fulfil my words without any delay — for it is forbidden to hesitate even a single day.

For the opponents are not quiet — and the wicked are like the tossing sea. And it is impossible to express the greatness of the miracles and wonders that Hashem Yisborach does with us every day to rescue us from them — but even so — Hashem Yisborach arranges it through some light cause — and money answers everything — as they will understand all of this from themselves. And there is no need to extend further for the wise and the generous of heart such as them. For the sake of Hashem — do not be silent and do not be quiet — from praying for us and especially for me every day — to rescue us from them — for the matter touches all of us. And certainly you have heard what happened in Tirahovitz. And just now it is heard here — that an investigator has come to Uman regarding the matter of the breaches they made in our *kloyz* — and that several of the opponents have been seized in jail — and they were compelled to spend a great sum to bring them out on bail.

But we still do not know the details of how it is — whether all the above is clearly true. And even so — we still need great salvation — that we succeed in the legal proceedings against them.

Adil — may she live — and all her children — and the Rav — may his light shine — and all our *anshei sh'lomaynu* — spread peace with great love.

May Hashem Yisborach have mercy. The words of your father who awaits salvation. Nussun of Breslov.