רכו

Overview: Monday, Parshas Chukas — Nemirov. To Yitzchok. Today in his house — his brother-in-law from Meya'askipka and Rabbi Yona Hirsh and Rabbi Shmuel b"r Moshe from Ladyzhin — in connection with a *shidduch* matter — who came yesterday. And today also came his brother-in-law Rabbi Matisyahu from Ladyzhin. All of this is from Hashem — who knows His wondrous ways that He arranges thought speech and action every day — all wondrous hints. No leisure to extend — Yitzchok should receive the enclosed letter for Rabbi Shmuel Weinberg — who will read it and understand the hints for himself as well. If Yitzchok were to see Rabbi Shmuel's letter to him — he would see and hear bitter cries that are hard to hear — and he has already replied to him somewhat as Yitzchok will see with his own eyes. Tell Rabbi Shmuel not to be particular that the letter was sent open by Yitzchok's hand. For *anashim achim anachnu* — we are brethren — and all as one person in the immensity of our love. Fortunate is one who does not separate himself from us. And we in the power of the holy elder — *"k'veirosh ra'anan"* — like a fresh cypress — that whoever wishes to draw from the well of living waters — let him come and merit. And if the obstacles spread against them like iron bars and brass doors — what can be done? Also he himself has obstacles to draw near him even more — as is known — especially now. It is impossible to draw close and gather together and to speak the true words — except through breaking great obstacles. Then: And now my beloved son — be strong and resolute — rejoice your soul — and *"chatof v'echol — chatof v'eshti"* — snatch and eat — snatch and eat — the food and drink and garments of Torah and prayer and *mitzvos* — and remember well what our Rebbe said (*Sichos HaRan* 23): *"Ashrei mi she'ochel kamah perakim Mishnayos v'shosseh kamah kapitlach Tehillim u'mislabesh b'kamah mitzvos."* For outside of this everything is vanity — return to this every day — guard the memory well — remember the World to Come in general and in particular — not as old but as new. It was not for nothing that our Sages reminded us in many such languages — not to waste our days. King David: *"ach hevel yeheameyun... ach hevel kol adam"* (Tehillim 39). King Solomon: *"hevel havalim amar Koheles"* (Koheles 1:2). Rabbi Meir kad siyem sifra d'Iyov: *"sof adam lamus... ashrei mi she'amalo baTorah"* (Sanhedrin 99). And so the other books of *mussar.* But counsels to save oneself — even the least of the least — our master revealed whose like has no parallel — *ashrei she'yochaz bahem.*

[Hebrew: אֲהוּבִי בְּנִי חֲבִיבִי....]

Behold — I have prepared a letter to Lemberg to send it now via the post — and the post is pressed — for it is now near midnight.

[Hebrew: דִּבְרֵי אָבִיךָ...]

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]

Peace — to my beloved son — my dear one — the veteran rabbinical scholar — our Teacher the Rabbi Yitzchok — may his light shine. Behold — today in my house — my brother-in-law from the holy community of Meya'askipka [מְיַיאסְקִיפְקֶא — a town in the region, one of the communities surrounding Nemirov and Breslov where Reb Nussun had family and *anshei sh'lomaynu*] — and my brother-in-law Rabbi Yona Hirsh — and Rabbi Shmuel son of Rabbi Moshe from Ladyzhin — all in connection with a *shidduch* matter from here — who came yesterday. And today also came my brother-in-law Rabbi Matisyahu from Ladyzhin. And all of this is from Hashem — and who knows His wondrous ways — that He arranges thought speech and action every day — and all of it is wondrous hints and so forth. And behold — I have no leisure now to extend at all because of this — and he should receive the enclosed letter for Rabbi Shmuel [ר"ש — Rabbi Shmuel Weinberg — to whom Letter 220 was addressed — a close companion and *nagid* of the community — his letter of anguished crying prompted this response] — and he will certainly read it and will understand the hints for himself as well. And if you were to see Rabbi Shmuel's letter to me — you would see and hear bitter cries and bitterness that are hard to hear — and I have already replied to him somewhat — as you will see with your own eyes. And tell Rabbi Shmuel not to be particular that I sent the letter open by your hand — for in truth the thought arose in my mind to seal it before you — but then I looked at his letter where he wrote that I should reply to him within your letter — therefore I understood that he does not mind regarding you — and also it is not fitting for him to be particular about this at all. The words of your father who awaits salvation. Nussun of Breslov. For *anashim achim anachnu* — we are brothers and brethren [Bereishis 13:8] — and we are all as one person in the immensity of our love. Fortunate is one who does not separate himself from us. And we — in the power of the holy elder — *"k'veirosh ra'anan"* — like a fresh cypress [כִּבְרוֹשׁ רַעֲנָן — from Hoshea 14:9: "I am like a fresh cypress — from Me your fruit is found." A verse the Rebbe applied to himself — he is like the ever-fresh cypress tree — a source of living fruit for all who seek. Even now — even after his passing — his power remains fresh and living] [Hoshea 14:9] and so forth — that whoever wishes to merit to draw from the well of living waters — words that give life to the soul for all the worlds and for eternal eternity — let him come and merit. And if the obstacles spread against them like iron bars and brass doors — what can be done? Also I myself have obstacles to draw near him even more than him — as is known to you — especially now. May Hashem improve things in the future. But this is known for some time — and now more than ever — that it is impossible for us to draw close and gather together — and to speak the true words that need to be spoken — except through breaking great obstacles. And now my beloved son — be strong and resolute — and rejoice your soul in all that is possible — and snatch and eat — snatch and eat — the food and drink and garments of Torah and prayer and *mitzvos* [חֲטֹף וֶאֱכֹל חֲטֹף וֶאֱשְׁתֵּה — "snatch and eat — snatch and drink" — from the Talmud (Eruvin 54a): this world is like a wedding feast where one must snatch quickly. Reb Nussun masterfully extends the image: the food and drink and garments are Torah chapters and Tehillim chapters and *mitzvos* — the truly nourishing provisions for eternity] — and remember well what our Rebbe — of blessed memory — said [*Sichos HaRan* 23] : *"Ashrei mi she'ochel kamah perakim Mishnayos v'shosseh kamah kapitlach Tehillim u'mislabesh b'kamah mitzvos"* — "Fortunate is one who eats several chapters of Mishnah and drinks several chapters of Tehillim and clothes himself in several *mitzvos.*" For outside of this — everything is vanity — and *"mah yisron la'adam b'chol amalo"* — "what profit does a person have from all his toil" [Koheles 1:3] and so forth. And even though this is a thing known to all — one must return to this every day and guard the memory well — to remember the World to Come every day in general and in particular. And may they not be in your eyes as old — but as new. And it was not for nothing that our Sages reminded us in many such languages — not to waste our days — G-d forbid. And King David — upon him be peace — said [Tehillim 39:6–7, 12] : *"ach hevel yeheameyun"* — "they are but vanity — *ach hevel b'nei adam kazav b'nei ish* — vanity are the children of men — a lie the children of man — *ach hevel kol adam* — vanity is every person." And King Solomon — upon him be peace — cried out: *"hevel havalim amar Koheles hevel havalim"* — "vanity of vanities — said Koheles — vanity of vanities" [Koheles 1:2] and so forth. And *"Rabbi Meir kad siyem sifra d'Iyov havah amar: sof adam lamus v'sof b'heima limot... ashrei mi she'amalo baTorah"* [רַבִּי מֵאִיר כַּד סַיֵּם סִפְרָא דְּאִיּוֹב הֲוָה אָמַר — "When Rabbi Meir would finish the book of Iyov he would say: the end of a person is to die and the end of an animal is to die — and everything dies — and fortunate is one whose labor is in Torah" — from Sanhedrin 99b. The most sobering of all conclusions drawn from the book of human suffering] [Sanhedrin 99b] — and so the other books of *mussar.* But counsels to save oneself — even the least of the least — our master revealed — whose like has no parallel — *ashrei she'yochaz bahem* — fortunate is one who holds fast to them. More than this there is no leisure to extend just now. And peace to all our *anshei sh'lomaynu* with great love.