רלה

My beloved son — my dear one. I received all your letters and it was a comfort to me. Just now I do not know what to write — for I have already written you much — but from the urging of your friend Rabbi Nachman — the bearer of this letter — to write you — I was compelled to take up the scribe's pen to inquire about your welfare at any rate. And now my son — be strong and resolute — and gladden your soul always. And praised be G-d — the days of Chanukah passed in peace — and some of the *anshei sh'lomaynu* were with me with great efforts [בְּיגִיעוֹת עֲצוּמוֹת — with immense efforts — overcoming great obstacles to reach Reb Nussun during Chanukah in Nemirov] — and who can understand the ways of Hashem — for it seemed to me that Yitzchok and the people of Tultshin would certainly be with me for *Shabbas Chanukah.* And regarding the others — it seemed very far in my eyes. And now the thing was overturned — and we see every day that one knows nothing at all — but you were under compulsion — and one who is compelled — the Merciful One exempts him [אָנוּס רַחֲמָנָא פָּטְרֵהּ — Aramaic from the Talmud (Bava Kamma 28b): one who acts under duress or compulsion is exempt — the Merciful One releases him. Reb Nussun absolves Yitzchok of all concern that he was absent from *Shabbas Chanukah.* Circumstances beyond one's control carry no guilt] . And behold — the bearer will certainly tell you what was spoken here on that aforementioned *Shabbas* — and you have certainly already heard a little from Rabbi David. And know — that praised be G-d — you had a great share in what was innovated through His salvation on that aforementioned *Shabbas.* For your good yearning — until the point that he wrote the previous letter — caused many true and wondrous novellae to be innovated through His wonders on *Shabbas Chanukah* the past. Great are the deeds of Hashem — who can understand His wonders and chasadim every day and at every time. Therefore be strong and resolute — my beloved son — and renew yourself at every time — and especially every morning — and fulfil what we spoke much about — that one must believe that Hashem Yisborach makes new things at every time — as it is written: *"chadashim labekarim rabbah emunasecha"* — "they are new every morning — great is Your faithfulness" [Eichah 3:23] — and as we say every day *"oseh chadashot"* and so forth. And also you will hear from the bearer of this letter what I spoke with him today — a wondrous strengthening hinted in the verse: *"anochi eireid imcha... v'anochi a'alcha"* — "I will descend with you... and I will also bring you up" [אָנֹכִי אֵרֵד עִמְּךָ וְאָנֹכִי אַעַלְךָ — Bereishis 46:4. Hashem's promise to Yaakov as he descended to Egypt. In Reb Nussun's teaching: wherever one descends — however low the descent — the promise stands: *"and I will also bring you up."* The descent itself contains within it the seed of the ascent. This is the wondrous strengthening — and it flows directly from the teaching on *"chadashim labekarim"* — the renewal that comes after the darkness] [Bereishis 46:4] — and you will understand the wonders of Hashem. And the essential is that you understand from all this for yourself — in the aspect of *"ner Chanukah l'chol echad v'echad"* — one Chanukah candle for each and every individual [נֵר חֲנֻכָּה לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד — from the halacha of Chanukah : the most preferred way (*mehadrin min hamehadrin*) is for each individual to light his own candles. Reb Nussun applies this as a spiritual teaching: every person must internalize and apply these teachings for himself — *l'chol echad v'echad* — each and every one individually] — for those who are *mehadrin.* More than this there is no leisure to extend. And peace to all our *anshei sh'lomaynu* with great love. The words of your father. Nussun of Breslov.