ר

My beloved son — my dear one.

ppening here in Nemirov the bearer of this letter — Rabbi Nachman of Tulchin

This morning I sent you my letter at length. Afterwards — the order arrived from the police that I am compelled to leave here for Nemirov [פָּאלִיצְיֶע — the Russian word for the police or constabulary — the local enforcement authority. The expulsion order has arrived. The moment the entire arc has been building toward. Reb Nussun had sent his longer reflective letter (Letter 197) this very morning — and hours later the order came] . And with great difficulty I managed to arrange to stay here for a few days — as Rabbi Nachman of Tulchin — the bearer of this letter — will tell. At present we must give ourselves life through the dimension of *batzar hirchavta li* — in distress You gave me expansiveness — through the expansions that are within the distresses themselves [הַרְחָבוֹת שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַצָּרוֹת בְּעַצְמָן — the expansions that are hidden within the distresses themselves — not as a consolation from outside, but as an inner dimension of the distress itself. The deepest teaching of *batzar hirchavta li*: the *hirchavah* — the expansiveness — is already present within the *tza'ar*] — for even in Nemirov one can live true life. And to Hashem is the hope to return here soon. Beyond this — from yourself you understand my preoccupation and confusion just now — and it is impossible to extend at all.

em is the G-d [וְיָדַעְתָּ הַיּוֹם וַהֲשֵׁבוֹתָ אֶל לְבָבֶךָ כִּי ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹקִים — Devarim 4:39: the great declaration of the unity of Hashem — "and you shall know this day and take it to heart that Hashem is the G-d — in the heavens above and on the earth below — there is no other." Written from Nemirov — after the expulsion — Reb Nussun reaches for the verse of absolute divine sovereignty: Hashem rules in Breslov and in Nemirov and in all the places of His dominion equally] [Devarim 4:39] — in Breslov and in Nemirov and in all the places of His dominion. And all that they did to me — everything is for good — praised be G-d — as I understand a little from afar — and the essential is th

at I believe that everything is for good in this world and the next forever. And behold — my brother Rabbi Yudl came at night from Breslov and told me reports of the extreme bitterness of the informers — who are busy giving themselves over to the depths of Gehinnom. And in the kindnesses of Hashem I was not frightened — on the contrary — praised be G-d — I am joyful and glad and exulting in our portion and our lot. Now — now — it is fitting for us to say *ashreinu ashreinu* — thousands and tens of thousands of times every single day — and at every time may it never depart from our mouth [אַשְׁרֵינוּ אַשְׁרֵינוּ אֶלֶף וְרִבְבוֹת פְּעָמִים — the doubled *ashreinu* — the word of ultimate fortune and blessedness — said thousands of thousands of times — a cascading praise of thankfulness and wonder from Nemirov itself, from the place of exile and expulsion] — that we are fortunate to know of this true *tzaddik* who brought us in to feel a little of the sweetness of the praise of *ashreinu* — which all of Israel — and we among them — say every day. But few are those who pay attention to this — and who feel the sweetness and pleasantness of the words they say with their mouths [זְעִירִין אִנּוּן שֶׁיָּשִׂימוּ לֵב לָזֶה — Aramaic: "few are they who pay attention to this." A phrase from the sacred literature applied here: of all those who recite *ashreinu* daily — how few truly feel what they are saying]. And praised be G-d — Who had mercy on us — Hashem Yisborach — in His great and wondrous kindness — not to be an opponent — and to draw close somewhat to the point of truth that brings us in to strengthen ourselves — and to be joyful in the eternal purpose — and the essential — in the holy faith in Hashem Yisborach and in the true *tzaddikim*. How fortunate are we — how good is our portion — that we merited to be saved from the opponents of such truth — and to be in his portion and his lot forever. This is our portion — this is our consolation in the time of trouble — this is our salvation and our hope — in this world and the next forever. And certainly we need now to multiply in prayer and supplication and in much speech between myself and my Maker — regarding the greatness of our distresses and the dangers that pass over us. But even more than this we need to be strong and trust in Hashem — and hope for salvation — and be joyful in the strength of our hope — for praised be G-d we have One to rely on. And certainly Hashem will not forsake us for the sake of His great Name — and also: ad aggid zero'acha l'dor* — even to old age and grey hair — O G-d — do not forsake us — until I proclaim Your arm to the generation [Tehillim 71:18] and so forth.

The words of your father who awaits salvation. Nussun of Breslov.

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]