שט

With the help of Hashem Yisborach — Motzo'ei Shabbas — the eve of Sunday — Parshas Sh'mos — 5604 — Uman.

Peace — to my beloved son — my dear one — the rabbinical scholar — and so forth — our Teacher the Rabbi Yitzchok — may he live.

He received his letter yet again — yesterday evening — here in the congregation of Pilichinits. And he has already sent him his letter via the post from Berdichev on the past Friday. Just now he is prepared to travel to Berdichev — and from there he will see to hire a wagon for his journey to Radivil — may Hashem lead him in peace. And he read his letter well — and he knows his cry from long ago. And he does not know just now what to reply to him — he has already heard much about this — that the thought is in the hand of a person to bend it as he wills. And if even so — even so it returns and mightily comes back with bad thoughts and many and varied confusions — which is called in the words of our Sages *"timhon lev v'ol barzel"* — "confusion of heart and a yoke of iron" [תִּמְהוֹן לֵב וְעֹל בַּרְזֶל — from Devarim 28:28 — one of the curses in the tochacha. Our Sages (Berachot 61a) identify this as rayyon — anxious thought — the runaway imagination. Reb Nussun cites this to validate his correspondent's struggle: the confusions of the mind are real — they have a name and a source — and they are known from the beginning of time. But they do not remove the power of choice] — as our Sages said: this is rayyon. Even so — the choice is in the hand of a person every time. And just as it has the power to prevail every time — even though it has already many times escaped from it — so too and more than this — there is power in the inwardness of the good that is in a person — to return and prevail over it every time — for midah tovah merubbah — the measure of good is greater.

And all of this through the simple and deep ways of counsel of the Nachal Novea Mekor Chachmah. And above all — to lift his eyes heavenward every time — and to cry out from the depth of the heart. And more than this — one must strengthen oneself in joy — according to all the ways and counsels that we have spoken much about. And praised be Hashem — there is for you something to rejoice in — that you give him life every time through your letters and your exertions in his affairs — and you assist him praised be G-d in this matter — assistance that has real substance. For (Sukkah 49b) *"g'dolah g'milas chasadim yoser min hatzedakah"* — "great is the doing of kindness — more than charity." And also praised be G-d you were at the past holy Shavuos. And you were among those who trust in His name in truth — crying out in joy from a broken heart (Tehillim 22): *"b'cha vatchu avoseinu — vatchu vat'falteimo"* — "in You our fathers trusted — they trusted and You delivered them." More than this there is no leisure to extend just now — as you will understand from yourself my preoccupation.

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]

Nussun of Breslov.

On Monday he came a second time to Berdichev. And today Wednesday he hired a wagon praised be G-d to Radivil — and in another few hours — about 3 or 4 hours before nightfall — he will travel from here if Hashem wills. May Hashem in His mercies lead him in peace. And according to what appears — he will spend Shabbas on the road — and if Hashem wills — 2 or 3 days after the next Shabbas he will be in Radivil — with Hashem's help. From the immensity of his love and his longing for his words — he wrote on the other side of the page — in the above-mentioned village — some words of truth. And more than this it is impossible to extend just now. Be very strong and resolute my beloved son — and trust in Hashem — for He will not abandon you. And if you were to know a fraction of a thousandth of what we are seeing just now of what is happening in the world — you would rejoice greatly over your portion. Ashreinu that we merited to know from the point of truth. And the obligation to stop in the middle — even though there is much to say about this just now — but he is hurrying on his journey in peace. May Hashem lead him in His righteousness and bring us in peace to the destination of our desire.

[Hebrew: נָתָן הַנַּ"ל...]

And peace to all our anshei sh'lomaynu with great love. Just now he returns to express a little of his conversation — since he already heard what happened in Uman — that the upper roof of our Beis Midrash fell. And he came on the tenth of Teves to Uman — and was still somewhat confused in his mind whether to conduct travels here. And suddenly upon coming to the Beis Midrash he saw this ruin — and his heart went out. And your father — may his light shine — told him immediately the greatness of the commotion and the fear he had at the time it fell — with a great trembling and loud noise — until he nearly fainted. And our many enemies and adversaries rushed running to their Beis Midrash with joy to announce this — and said — G-d forbid — that our entire Beis Midrash fell. Kol oy'veinu yal'igu lanu — and we did not know what to do — for our eyes are to You. Added to this — immediately in those days that he was there — the decree went out to expel from Uman all those who are not registered there. And from the police they announced loudly outside — as is the custom they speak — everyone to leave from there shortly. Whoever has no residence may linger only two months — and whoever has a residence may linger until the month of May. And from yourself you will understand — that your father — may his light shine — is also included in this threat. The words of your father who seeks your peace and good — and waits at every time for salvation. And also they must begin to speak in these vicinities about the matter of the mamdos. And he has already spoken somewhat of this from Tshehrin. And behold — now he came here — and did not find you in this time of necessity — to speak with you about such a great matter — and the past is gone. Just now — understand from yourself — that it is essential that you urge yourself to come to him — to engage with you in this. In particular since even without this — he knows — that your heart burns with sparks of flame of our love — to gather with him. Perhaps Hashem will send through his mouth words to give his soul life and to advise him and to strengthen him in trust and joy and hisbodidus — and to remind each other where we are in the world — and what is done with us at every time and every day and every hour. Therefore know — that he intends to travel for Shabbas — if Hashem wills — to Tshehrin. And there he will remain until Thursday Parshas B'shalach — and travel in His salvation Yisborach for Shabbas Shirah to the congregation of Medvedivka. And from there he will see — if Hashem wills — to return to Tirahowitz. And presumably he will travel from there on Monday — if Hashem wills — which is the 15th of Shevat. Therefore — when you come — if Hashem wills — home in peace — if you can urge yourself to come to them for Shabbas Shirah to the congregation of Medvedivka — very good. Or in any case — on the above-mentioned Monday — only that you come on Monday morning. For he intends to urge himself — with Hashem's help — to travel on Monday after the prayer immediately with alacrity. And if they merit to gather there — very good — and confer together. And perhaps you will travel with him from there to Uman — as above. And if the time is not sufficient for him to come to Medvedivka as above — understand from yourself — to see to come to our vicinity soon — and there they will speak together face to face — and the counsel of Hashem will stand.

[Hebrew: נָתָן הַנַּ"ל...]