רצז

Is not this so — the words of one who awaits salvation and intercedes for you — and awaits to see them in joy.

Nussun of Breslov.

My beloved son — my dear one.

He received his letter just now — and he yearned to write to him at length — but his mind is not clear. And it is necessary to inform him of his pain. For his son Dovid Tzvi — may he live — fell ill again yesterday before the light of morning of Wednesday — and cried out in a bitter voice about his pain — and he has been lying on a bed of illness from yesterday until now — the likes of which has not passed over him. And yesterday his pain was very heavy — and in the night it was somewhat eased for him for some hours — and likewise today — but he is still lying on a bed of illness. And the mercy upon him is beyond measure.

And he has only to Hashem his eyes raised and his hands spread toward His abundant mercies and chasadim — from the treasury of free gift may He graciously grant him — through the merit and great power of the great eshel upon which we lean [הָאֵשֶׁל הַגָּדוֹל — the great eshel — Bereishis 21:33: Avraham planted an eshel in Be'er Sheva. The Sages interpret eshel as an acronym for *achilas* (eating), *sh'tiyah* (drinking), *linah* (lodging) — hospitality — or as a tree under which the wayfarers could rest. Reb Nussun uses the term for the Rebbe — the great *eshel* — the great tree — the shelter and support — under whose shade and merit he appeals to Hashem for his son's healing] — and send him quickly complete healing from heaven — healing of the soul and healing of the body — and to Hashem the salvation. And even so one must strengthen oneself to believe that all is for good. And praised be Hashem he is firm in this — but His mercies Yisborach are very abundant — and he beseeches and pleads: *"El Shaddai yitein lachem rachamim"* — "and may G-d Almighty give you mercy" [Bereishis 43:14] — plainly — that he return to his strength in completeness quickly.

And you — warn all the anshei sh'lomaynu that they pray and beseech greatly to Hashem Yisborach for him — have much mercy on him — in particular since our pain touches all of them — and Hashem Yisborach will have mercy. And the bearer of this letter is pressing — and it is impossible to extend. And even so — my son — do not be drawn after sadness — G-d forbid — too much — rather beseech mercy and trust in Hashem — for He will certainly heal him quickly and will not let loose all His anger — G-d forbid. For the chasadim of Hashem are not finished and His mercies do not cease. And if Hashem wills — he will inform him of his salvation — with Hashem's help.

Nussun of Breslov.

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]

Overview: Thursday, Parshas Vaychi — 5600. To his beloved son. He received his letter just now — yearned to write at length — but his mind is not clear. It is necessary to inform him of his pain. For his son Dovid Tzvi fell ill again yesterday before the light of morning on Wednesday — and cried out in a bitter voice about his pain — and he has been lying on a bed of illness from yesterday until now — the likes of which has not passed over him. Yesterday his pain was very heavy — in the night it eased somewhat for some hours — likewise today — but still lying on a bed of illness. The mercy upon him is beyond measure. He has only to Hashem his eyes raised — and his hands spread toward His abundant mercies — from the treasury of free gift may He graciously grant him — through the merit and great power of the great eshel upon which we lean — and send him quickly complete healing from heaven — healing of the soul and healing of the body. Even so one must strengthen oneself to believe that all is for good. Praised be Hashem he is firm in this — but His mercies Yisborach are very abundant — and he beseeches and pleads: "El Shaddai yitein lachem rachamim" — plainly — that he return to his strength in completeness quickly. And you — warn all the anshei sh'lomaynu that they pray and beseech greatly for him — have much mercy — in particular since our pain touches all of them. And the bearer is pressing — impossible to extend. And even so my son — do not be drawn after sadness too much — rather beseech mercy and trust in Hashem — for He will certainly heal him quickly and will not let loose all His anger. For the chasadim of Hashem are not finished and His mercies do not cease. And if Hashem wills — he will inform him of his salvation. Nussun of Breslov. He did not want to do any action at all — rather he leaned only on Hashem Yisborach alone. And he prayed many times to Hashem. And even though he saw that he had not yet succeeded — for he returned and cried out about his pain — even so he strengthened himself and prayed — and so many times. And Hashem in His mercies made His chesed wondrous — and suddenly his intestines returned inward — without any human action — and without any cause or stratagem through a person — and immediately sleep fell upon him for several hours — which he had not slept during all the above-mentioned time except very very little — for he would only doze a little — until he said that he feared he was losing his mind — G-d forbid. What shall he say to you — my beloved son — how much one must strengthen oneself in prayer and supplication — every person — in all that passes over him — and not to rely on any stratagem — in particular in the matter of healings. If he were to tell — the time and paper would not suffice. But for the time being he informed him of their salvation and His *chesed* and His wonders Yisborach — so may Hashem add His chesed — that he never again come to illness and pain and malady at all — and may he merit to be rectified in all things in body and soul — and may he have true domestic peace. And to Hashem the salvation.

[Hebrew: נָתָן הַנַּ"ל...]