רפב

The words of your father.

Nussun of Breslov.

Abundant peace — to my beloved son — my dear one — the veteran rabbinical scholar — our Teacher the Rabbi Yitzchok — may he live.

Yesterday I received your letter immediately upon arriving — and replied to you at once via the post. And just now I received yet again your letter via the messenger — the bearer of this letter. And he does not know what to write to him to restore his soul — for he has already spoken and written greatly. Only be careful to fulfil that the true words of our Master our Teacher and our Rebbe — zacher tzaddik v'kadosh livrachah — should be every day in your eyes as new — as our Sages taught. For they are awesome words — every single word is true Torah novellae — wondrous and awesome — flowing from the wellsprings of salvation — and they are renewed at every time and time for all who study them in truth. And every day new things and wonders are made with every creature in the world — all the more so with the human species — all the more so thousands of times *kal v'chomer* with every individual of Israel — all the more so with those who truly desire to draw close to Him Yisborach — and are called by the name of the true tzaddik — the true tzaddik foundation of the world — as is explained in the Torah *B'reishis.* And certainly not for nothing — G-d forbid — did our Sages who possessed the holy spirit institute for us the order of prayer — to say every day *"oseh chadoshos"* and so forth — *"adon haniflaos ham'chadesh b'tuvo b'chol yom tamid ma'aseh B'reishis"* — and so in the *Shmoneh Esrei* to say *"al nisecha sheb'chol yom imanu — v'al nifleosecha v'tovosecha sheb'chol eis — erev vavoker v'tzahorayim"* — stand and contemplate the wonders of G-d at every time. And after all these — one must give oneself life every time anew — through his holy words that restore the soul — with seven restorers of taste: [שִׁבְעָה מְשִׁיבֵי טַעַם — seven restorers of taste — meshivei ta'am — the seven central teachings of the Rebbe that Reb Nussun identifies as having the power to restore the soul and give it life — he lists them here as a practical guide for daily use] Azamra lelokai b'odi — finding the good point in oneself and in every Jew — and singing to Hashem through this; sasson v'simchah yassig — to turn all grief and sigh to joy; a master in halachah — im esak shamayim and so forth; the story of Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua; Hakitzu v'rannenu shochney afar; ki melo kol ha'aretz k'vodo and so forth. And these and so many more — *"rabbot asita atah Hashem Elokai — nifleosecha v'machshevosecha eleinu"* — His wonders and thoughts toward us — to give us life this day — in this impoverished generation — to give life and restore the souls of such pursued ones from every side — from livelihood and desires and character traits and the many enemies for no reason. But this is our comfort in our poverty — that we feel at intervals the verses of Tehillim that were said about us — about each and every one in particular — and through this we can gladden our soul at every time. For Hashem Yisborach anticipated the remedy for our grievous wound — for our Master our Teacher and our Rebbe was already in the world — and tzaddikim in their death are called living — as our Sages taught (Brachos 18) — and still he stands and prays for us. And his words are living and enduring and give us life also now — forever. Only beware — lest they become old in your eyes — G-d forbid — for they flow from the mouth of the elder of elders — who boasted of himself that he is zaken v'yanik — old and young [זָקֵן וְיָנִיק — old and young. The Rebbe used this expression of himself — a paradox: he is simultaneously ancient — the oldest of the old — rooted in the most primordial sources of kedushah — and also young — perpetually fresh — flowing with new revelations at every moment. Therefore his Torah can never grow old] — *"mi shama k'zos"* — and how is it possible that they should become old? On the contrary — the desires and the foolishnesses and the preoccupation of livelihood — those are old things from the old and foolish king. But true words of Torah — in particular such awesome novellae and such wondrous and deep and wholesome conversations — they are truly new every day and every time — forever. And in particular when thoughts come to confuse and weaken your mind — G-d forbid — remember truly anew that there are in you many good points. And remember truly anew that you wrap yourself in tzitzis every day. And the immensity of the wonders of the holy and awesome segula of tzitzis — for tzitzis saves from licentiousness — and one merits to receive the counsel of the tzaddikim which is entirely seed of truth — and merits to faith and prayer and miracles and the Land of Israel and so forth — all in one Torah. And ashreinu that we merited not to oppose such a revelation in our days — and we merit to wear tzitzis every day and likewise tefillin — and to know such Torahs — and to know from the Torah Azamra — that every single good point is very very precious. Let us exult and rejoice every day in this Torah — for it is for us strength and light. And greet with love all our anshei sh'lomaynu — with great love and eternal love — forever and ever. The words of your father who awaits to give life and to gladden your soul and the soul of your friends — in the joy of Israel — all the more so in the joy of the holy Torah — at every time from now and forever — Amen. Nussun of Breslov.

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]