שמח

The words of your father who awaits salvation.

Nussun of Breslov.

Peace and life — to his dear friend as his soul — the veteran rabbinical scholar — the nagid — and so forth — our Teacher the Rabbi Avraham Ber — may he live — with the peace of his modest wife — may she live — with all their children who go forth from their loins — may they live — and in particular to his son Nachman — may he live. May Hashem Yisborach grant them to raise him to Torah and to the wedding canopy and to good deeds — for long days and years. And may they merit to see from him children and grandchildren engaged in Torah and in the commandments — and his offshoots will go forth and they will be as the olive in their glory — they will still be fruitful in good old age — Amen so may it be His will.

Know my dear friend — that it has been three weeks since he traveled from his home to Uman — and he remained there some days — and last night he arrived at his home in peace. And he had been hoping that money would reach him from him and from the anshei sh'lomaynu before Pesach — as he himself promised in his letters several times. And also his friend Rabbi Abba — may his light shine — sent him some letter with a sum of money — and wrote that if Hashem wills when you come you will certainly send — and likewise he himself wrote several times. And behold — Pesach has already passed — and more than four weeks after it — and today is already the 36th of the Omer. And there is no voice and no silver — neither from him nor from the anshei sh'lomaynu — neither for his livelihood — nor what was promised explicitly by his father-in-law — his dear friend — may his light shine — and Rabbi Hirsh — may his light shine — what remained that they owe — according to what they promised explicitly on Rosh Hashana — as registered with him. And he has already borrowed greatly against this sum — and the creditors are pressing — and he does not know what to do. And it has been several years now. And he does not remember there being such pressure for him before Pesach as in this year. And in the end — after he toiled to borrow for the Pesach expenditures — thieves stole from him on the night of the 14th of Nisan — Erev Pesach — all the meat and the fish and the wine that he had prepared for Pesach — and he was compelled on Erev Pesach to toil again — to borrow and to buy the needs of Pesach. And certainly all that the Merciful One does He does for good — but from the immensity of his love for him in his heart — to the very soul — and his love for all the fit and generous anshei sh'lomaynu — likewise — he could not restrain himself from expressing his pain — and from making known to him what is in his heart regarding him — that he is being so negligent in sending to him as he promised.

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]

And behold — this is the day that he arrived at his home at the beginning of this night — and he found his letter to his righteous mother — may she live — and he read it. And even though he vindicates himself — even so — already he himself knows and wrote in this very letter — that there is no excuse at all — neither regarding his mother — may she live — nor regarding him. And behold — he stands today in a great work that they began — and also he needs to spend greatly — to send the books from here — and it is a very great necessity for several reasons — and a mitzvah without limit — and a merit of the many. And the only delay is because of money. And also today there is a man here from there — and there is much to tell him — but it is impossible in the open field. And he had been hoping that he would come for Shavuos coming upon them for good — and he would speak with him face to face. Nussun of Breslov. And behold — this is the day that he arrived at his home at the beginning of this night — and he found his letter to his righteous mother — may she live — and he read it. And even though he vindicates himself — even so — already he himself knows and wrote in this very letter — that there is no excuse at all — neither regarding his mother — may she live — nor regarding him. And behold — he stands today in a great work that they began — and also he needs to spend greatly — to send the books from here — and it is a very great necessity for several reasons — and a mitzvah without limit — and a merit of the many. And the only delay is because of money. And also today there is a man here from there — and there is much to tell him — but it is impossible in the open field. And he had been hoping that he would come for Shavuos coming upon them for good — and he would speak with him face to face. And now he intends — that even if — G-d forbid — he will not come for the holy festival of Shavuos — he should at any rate see to fulfil from now to send to him as he promised — and also to receive from the anshei sh'lomaynu all that he can — and in particular what has long been due to him from his father-in-law and from Rabbi Tzvi — may his light shine — as they promised — as he wrote several times — and let him not be negligent any further at all. And if Hashem wills — when Hashem Yisborach will help them to gather together — they will speak face to face — as to how to engage in their work — with His help and His great salvation. And also in his mind — it would be better — that even if — G-d forbid — he will not come for Shavuos — at any rate he should see to come here for the wedding of his granddaughter — may she live — with his son-in-law Rabbi Peretz — may his light shine. For they need to speak together face to face greatly — immediately after Shavuos. For he is compelled to send Rabbi Nachman of Tultchin with a bilet to the place where he was last year — and there are also many more matters to speak with him about. And also he should do a great comfort for his righteous mother — may she live — and fulfil in this the positive commandment of the Ten Commandments — which is the honour of one's mother — and "mitzvah she'ba'ah l'yadcha al tachmitzenah" — a mitzvah that comes to your hand — do not let it pass. And in particular such mitzvos as these that they are speaking about. For was not a person created only for the sake of engaging in Torah and mitzvos all his days — and besides this — vanity. And since he is confident in the goodness of his heart and the hearts of the anshei sh'lomaynu — that they will certainly take his words to heart — therefore there is no need to extend further. And may the Master of Mercy — the Giver of Torah — help them to prepare themselves from now at any rate — as befitting — to receive the holy festival of Shavuos coming upon them for good — in holiness and in purity — in love and in reverence and in joy — in a way that they merit from now to guard and to do and to fulfil all the words of His Torah — in love and peace and life and joy and all good — as their soul and the soul of one who loves him — who is bound closer than a brother — who always seeks their peace — and intercedes for him — and awaits his response quickly. And peace to all our anshei sh'lomaynu with great love — to each and every one — in general and in particular. And there is no leisure to address each one separately as befitting his honour.