ריא

Overview: Wednesday, Parshas Vayeitzei — Nemirov. Addressed to his son-in-law Rabbi Baruch, his daughter Chana Tzirl, and his granddaughter Esther Sheyndil. Great pain from the daughter's toothache — added to all their distresses. Blessed is Hashem — this week heard her pain has stopped. Very pleased by Rabbi Baruch's letter — saw his yearning toward the *tachlis.* Warning: be careful not to enter into debates and arguments for victory with other young men — *nitzachon* comes from turbid blood not yet worked through in service of Hashem. Accustom yourself to *temimus* — Torah and prayer and conversation with your Maker — cast off childish ways — do not enter into difficult questions at all — even about me do not entertain doubts. Then the Yiddish postscript to his daughter: *Libbe Techter* — don't worry — believe in Hashem — He Who gives life gives livelihood. And to his beloved children: *Libbe Kinder* — praised is Hashem that we don't tear holy books and we learn from them — I have already given you a good inheritance for eternity — no wealthy man can leave such an inheritance — we have nothing to be ashamed of.

I received your letter from yesterday at around midday — and it was a comfort to me.

Peace — to my beloved son-in-law — my dear one — as my own son — the distinguished graduate — the veteran — our Teacher the Rabbi Baruch — may his light shine — and to my modest daughter — the honored Maras Chana Tzirl — may she live — and to my granddaughter Esther Sheyndil — may she live.

I received your letter before last Shabbas — and I had great pain from my daughter — may she live — from her toothache — which is added upon our worries and upheavals — may Hashem Yisborach have mercy. And blessed is Hashem — this week I heard that her pain has stopped. May Hashem Yisborach have mercy and save her from now on from all illness and pain and ailment. And may He give you livelihood and life and peace — which is above everything — Amen.

And behold — I was very much pleased by your words which you wrote in your letter — for I saw your yearning toward the ultimate purpose [תְּשׁוּקָתְךָ אֶל הַתַּכְלִית — the yearning toward the *tachlis* — the ultimate purpose and goal — the eternal spiritual destination. This is the essential quality Reb Nussun looks for in a young person — the genuine orientation toward what truly matters] . Would that this heart of yours remain in truth all your days — to fear Hashem and to trust in Him — for He will certainly not abandon you and all of us — for the kindnesses of Hashem have not ended and so forth.

And be careful from now on — my beloved son — not to enter into debates and arguments for victory with the other young men — who are also argumentative as is the way of young men. And from this come many *machlokos* and conflicts that greatly obstruct and cut off from the true path — for the argumentativeness comes from turbid blood that has not yet been worked through in the service of Hashem Yisborach [מִדָּמִים עֲכוּרִים שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא עָבַד בָּהֶם — the blood of a young person is still agitated and turbid — not yet refined through years of prayer and service. The impulse to win arguments is a physiological-spiritual phenomenon of youth that must be overcome through the work of *temimus* — wholeheartedness and simplicity] . Accustom yourself to draw yourself toward *temimus* in truth — to engage in Torah and prayer and conversation between yourself and your Maker — and cast away the ways of childhood from your heart — and especially — do not enter into difficult questions and investigations at all. And even about me — you are forbidden to entertain doubts — G-d forbid — for Hashem Yisborach knows that my entire intention is genuinely toward the truth in truth — to guide you in the path of Torah in truth — in the path of our forefathers from time immemorial — as I received from the mouth of our master our teacher and our holy rabbi — *zacher tzaddik v'kadosh livrachah.* Direct your heart well to the truth in truth — what is my intention — and likewise the intention of all our *anshei sh'lomaynu* — in the matter of our engagements — whether our intention — G-d forbid — is for imagined honor as is the fashion now — or for wealth. Hashem Yisborach knows — and also anyone who has a brain in his head can understand — that praised be G-d we are clean and I am clean of this and the like. More than this there is no leisure to extend.

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]

The words of your father-in-law — who speaks in truth and wholeheartedness for your eternal good. Nussun of Breslov. *Libbe Techter* — Dear daughter! [לִיבֶּע טֶעכְטֶיר — Breslov Yiddish: "Dear daughter!" — Reb Nussun turns to address his daughter Chana Tzirl directly — in Yiddish — the language of the heart and the home — with great warmth and tenderness] For the sake of Hashem — do not worry! Believe in Hashem Yisborach — He will not abandon you. Look at those who are lower than you — how many young married men leave their father-in-law's table — and even that they do not have. Follow me — do not worry about tomorrow. [Hebrew translation in the original: My dear daughter — for G-d's sake do not worry — believe in Hashem Yisborach — He will not abandon you — look at those lower than you — how many young husbands leave their father-in-law's table and don't even have that — listen to my voice and do not worry about tomorrow] And if possible — establish some livelihood for yourself. And when my son Rabbi Shachna is here — ask him to consult with me — perhaps you can establish some livelihood. Only — for G-d's sake — just now do not worry at all. G-d is great — He Who gives life gives livelihood. And more — I have no time at all to write — be well and joyful. *Libbe Kinder* — Beloved children! Praised is Hashem Yisborach that we do not tear any holy books and that we also learn from them — praised be Hashem — there is something to learn. Praised be Hashem — I have already given you a good inheritance for eternity — no wealthy man in the world can leave such an inheritance. [אִיךְ הָאבּ אַייךְ שׁוֹין גִּיגִיבִּין אַגִיטֶע יְרוּשָׁה — I have already given you a good inheritance. The holy books and letters of Rebbe Nachman and Reb Nussun himself — these are the inheritance left to his children. No material wealth can compare to this inheritance] We have nothing — praised be Hashem — to be ashamed of.