קצו

Nussun of Breslov.

[Hebrew: אֲהוּבִי בְּנִי חֲבִיבִי....]

My beloved son — my dear one. I received your letter just now — and there is nothing new to inform. And as yet we have done nothing — for we do not know how to advise ourselves what to do — for many rise against us — and we have no one to lean on except our Father in Heaven [רַבִּים קָמִים עָלֵינוּ — Tehillim 3:2: the Psalm of Dovid fleeing from Avshalom — applied here to the rising tide of opponents and officials. And *ein lanu al mi l'hisha'en ki im al Avinu shebashamayim* — one of the recurring formulae of trust through the entire *machloket* arc] [Tehillim 3:2] . And even so — perhaps we will strive to engage with this — as Hashem Yisborach will guide us in His immense mercies — for the counsel itself must be received from Hashem Yisborach in great mercy and great kindness — and to Hashem belongs the salvation. At present it is a time of great distress — and also for these are the days of the distresses of Israel — *Bein Hametzarim* — the Three Weeks [בֵּין הַמְּצָרִים — the Three Weeks of mourning between 17 Tammuz and 9 Av — the period when both Temples were destroyed. Written during this very season of communal mourning — the personal crisis of the *machloket* and the national mourning of the Churban are woven together] — and we have no vitality just now except through the holy teaching of *batzar hirchavta li* — in distress You gave me expansiveness [LM I:195; Tehillim 4:2] — for I see wondrous expansions every day within the flight of trouble and distress — besides what we hope to Hashem Yisborach that He will quickly bring us out from the distress entirely — for certainly Hashem will not abandon us and all of us — and certainly everything is for our good in this world and the next forever. And also what you informed me of regarding the known money — it is a wondrous expansion at such a time. How great are the kindnesses of Hashem — for they have not ended — for His mercies have not been exhausted [Eichah 3:22] . I have hopefully hoped to Hashem that everything will be properly on track with the help of Hashem Yisborach — but at present we are greatly in need of salvation and very great mercies. And behold — my dear friend Rabbi Ayzele of Hayshin [רַבִּי אִיצֶילֶי מֵהַיְיסִין — a devoted follower who came to Breslov and stayed for Shabbas during these most difficult days — an act of loyalty and love that gave Reb Nussun great strength] stayed here for Shabbas Kodesh. And Hashem Yisborach was in our help — that we spoke many true conversations yesterday on Shabbas Kodesh — conversations that arouse and greatly strengthen the heart to be strong and resolute in all the good points — to snatch in this world all that we can — and that we have nothing in our world except what we unify His Name — Yisborach — every day — within which all the other forms of service are included [מַה שֶּׁאָנוּ מְיַחֲדִים שְׁמוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּכָל יוֹם — the *yichud* — the unification of Hashem's Name — the act of *emunah* and *tefillah* by which each person affirms the divine unity. This is the central act that encompasses all other service — for all is included within *emunah*] — what each one snatches every day according to his level — for all is included in *emunah* which is the foundation of everything. For time flies very very quickly — and the days of our lives are vanity of vanities [הַזְּמַן פּוֹרֵחַ מְאֹד מְאֹד וִימֵי חַיֵּינוּ הֲבֵל הֲבָלִים — Koheles 1:2. The double urgency: time itself is flying — and even were it not flying, what remains after all? Only *emunah*] — and what remains for us is only what we merited through His mercies to His holy faith — which our holy forefathers planted within us from time immemorial — through the true *tzaddik* of the generation whom we merited to receive from him face to face. And therefore even now — how fortunate are we — how good is our portion. And certainly Rabbi Fayvil was right in his words when he gloried in *ashreinu* — how fortunate are we — every time. And even now we must give ourselves life with this — so that we have strength to say the *kinos* with all our heart — and to break our hearts appropriately — each one for his portion that he has in the Churban Beis Hamikdash and the distresses of Israel in general and in particular. May Hashem Yisborach have mercy on us — that we merit to be among those who mourn for Yerushalayim — to see her joy — and to see the sprouting of the horn of salvation at every time — and may He do with us a sign for good — and our enemies will see and be ashamed — they will fall and not rise. And our souls will exult in Hashem — rejoice in His salvation — all my bones will say: Hashem [Tehillim 35:9–10] and so forth — Who rescues the poor from one stronger than him [Tehillim 35:10] and so forth. And abundant peace to all our *anshei sh'lomaynu* with great love and precious affection. Be strong and let your hearts be courageous — all who hope in Hashem [Tehillim 31:25] . It is a time of trouble for Yaakov — and from it he will be saved — SPECIFICALLY FROM IT [עֵת צָרָה הִיא לְיַעֲקֹב וּמִמֶּנָּהּ יִוָּשֵׁעַ — Yirmiyahu 30:7: eis tzarah hi l'Yaakov u'mimennah yivvashe'a — "it is a time of trouble for Yaakov — but from it he will be saved." The Rebbe's teaching: *mimennah daika* — SPECIFICALLY from the distress itself — not despite it but through it — the distress itself is the vehicle of the salvation. This is one of the Rebbe's most characteristic teachings on suffering and redemption] [Yirmiyahu 30:7] — through the distress itself will come to us a great salvation — and the distress will turn into great expansiveness — in His wondrous kindness — through the great power of the holy elder. And praised be G-d — we have One to rely on — and there is hope for our future — in this world and the next forever. The words of your father — who sighs and is crushed — and speaks in great brokenness of heart — and even so gives himself life in truth with all the above — to be strong and resolute and hope for the salvation of Hashem quickly. Nussun of Breslov.

[Hebrew: דִּבְרֵי אָבִיךָ...]

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]