רמו

Nussun of Breslov.

[Hebrew: אֲהוּבִי בְּנִי חֲבִיבִי....]

And abundant peace to all our anshei sh'lomaynu with great love.

My beloved son — my dear one.

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]

I received your letter in Vinitze — and also here upon my arrival — and just now it is already close to the entrance of *Shabbas* — but from the immensity of your yearning I was compelled to write you these few lines — that praised be G-d all is well established. And I read your letter well — but to reply to you just now — there is no leisure to agree to. And I have already replied to you greatly in advance — through our words in writing and by mouth — and especially in his holy books — *"hafoch bahem v'hafoch bahem"* — "turn them over and turn them over" — for upon them there is nothing to add [הֲפֹךְ בָּהֶם וַהֲפֹךְ בָּהֶם — the famous teaching of Ben Bag-Bag in Pirkei Avos 5:22 about the Torah. Reb Nussun applies it to the Rebbe's holy books: turn them over and turn them over — for everything is in them — and upon them there is nothing to add] [Pirkei Avos 5:22] and so forth. The words of your father. Nussun of Breslov. And remember well well — that you are now in this passing world — upon which it is impossible to stand on the deed done under the sun — especially in these generations. And as King Solomon — upon him be peace — said [Koheles 8:17] : *"v'gam im yomar hechacham lada'as lo yuchal limtzo"* — "and also if the wise man says he knows — he will not be able to find it" and so forth. And every person is full of trials and refinements and combinations — every day and every time and also every hour [נִסְיוֹנוֹת וּבְחִינוֹת וְצֵרוּפִים — trials and spiritual refinements and letter-combinations. In the Breslov worldview every event in a person's life is a customised spiritual refining-process — like metal in a furnace — drawing out what is precious and burning off what is dross. And every person's combinations are unique to them — there are many immeasurable changes between the times and between people and between each individual] — and we have no one to lean on except our Father in Heaven — and upon the power of the holy elder. What shall I say to you my beloved son — I understand your letters well — and I know your pains — but according to what appears — you still have not even reached the end of my mind — all the more so the mind of our Master our Teacher and our Rebbe — may the memory of the righteous and holy one be for a blessing. Remember well all that I have spoken and hinted to you — innumerable times — that it is inevitable that whatever passes over a person at every time shall pass. And there are many immeasurable changes between the times and between people — between each and every one. Be strong — be strong — my beloved son — for also your outcry from your letters is not lost. Even so — you need all the more to strengthen yourself to gladden your soul — in all that is possible. And the time of the entrance of *Shabbas Kodesh* has arrived — and it is impossible to extend more. And abundant peace to all our anshei sh'lomaynu with great love.