שסב

And to my beloved Rabbi Shimshon — may his light shine — abundant thanks to you for having fulfilled your words to lend me for the work. And he has already paid his son Rabbi Itzik — may he live — and warned him to pay you in full — and he certainly fulfilled his words. And his request from him and from all the beloved and pleasant anshei sh'lomaynu — that they watch over his household to support them in all that is possible. And let them be careful not to avert their eyes — G-d forbid — from his household — that he not be a debtor — G-d forbid. And strengthen yourselves every day in Torah and prayer — and in particular in hisbodidus — as they have spoken of this countless times. Ashreickem if you fulfil his words — for they are not from his heart — G-d forbid — only from the heart of the holy and very awesome tzaddik — the memory of the righteous and holy one for a blessing. And all of them flow and come out from the source of true and complete wisdom — very awesome — whose understanding is beyond reckoning. And the days of Elul are approaching — and the seven weeks of consolation have already begun — and they must prepare themselves for Rosh Hashana — the holy and awesome and very terrible day. "Is the shofar sounded in the city and the people not tremble?" And remember well what they merited to hear regarding the holiness of Elul and Rosh Hashana — "Es l'vavcha v'es l'vav" — "oz v'hadar l'vushahvet'schak l'yom acharon" — Tishrei Tashuri. And let not such awesome new novellae — which renew themselves at every time for each and every person in every place — become old in your eyes. And it is impossible to extend now on this.

The words of your companion and your teacher and your disciple — who hopes that his portion will be with you forever.

Peace — to my beloved son — my dear one — may he live.

In the past week he sent him his letter with the sum of one hundred and sixty-five silver rubles — and presumably it reached his hand. And now he is prepared to travel today to the congregation of Krumintchag. And there is nothing new to say — and also he has no leisure at all. And the days of Elul are approaching — and he is preoccupied with his traveling — and the time of prayer has arrived — and it is impossible to extend at all. And extend his peace to all his household in Breslov — and the peace of all our anshei sh'lomaynu in Breslov — and the peace of all our anshei sh'lomaynu in your congregation and in all their surroundings — to all his brothers and friends he speaks peace and great salvation. And may the Master of Mercy have mercy and purify their hearts to serve Him in truth — and strengthen their thought to seize it in holiness — not to allow it to wander outward — G-d forbid. And the true holiness of Elul and Tishrei should illuminate upon them — that they merit at any rate from now to draw close to Him Yisborach in truth — each one from the place where he is. For this is the entire secret intention of Elul — that they merit to go in the path that Moshe Rabbeinu trod — and the true tzaddikim after him — in these forty holy days — from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Yom Kippur — as is explained in his holy words.

The words of your father — who loves you in truth forever.

Nussun of Breslov.

Overview: Wednesday, Parshas Re'eh — Tshehrin — 5601. To his beloved son. In the past week he sent him his letter with the sum of 165 silver rubles — and presumably it reached his hand. And now he is prepared to travel today to Krumintchag — and there is nothing new to say — and also he has no leisure at all. And the days of Elul are approaching — and he is preoccupied with his traveling — and the time of prayer has arrived — and impossible to extend at all. Extend his peace to all his household in Breslov — and the peace of all the anshei sh'lomaynu. And may the Master of Mercy have mercy and purify their hearts to serve Him in truth — and strengthen their thought to seize it in holiness — not to allow it to wander outward — G-d forbid. And the true holiness of Elul and Tishrei should illuminate upon them — that they merit at any rate from now to draw close to Him Yisborach in truth — each one from the place where he is. For this is the entire secret intention of Elul — that they merit to go in the path that Moshe Rabbeinu trod — and the true tzaddikim after him — in these forty holy days — from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Yom Kippur — as is explained in his holy words.

He received his letter from the past Sunday — Parshas Re'eh — in Krumintchag — where it was sent to him from here. And it was a very great comfort. And on the past Shabbas — Parshas Shoftim — he returned here. And on the past Sunday he received his letter a second time — and today he received his letter a third time — with the letters from his son — may he live — from Breslov. And all of them greatly gave life to his soul. Even though all of them greatly pained him — from the immensity of the bitterness of your cry in every letter — even so he greatly magnified the joy over the melancholy — upon seeing the immensity of the strength of your good heart — in the point of truth. And you understand from afar — praised be G-d — how much and how much you need to always strengthen yourself — and every day anew — however it will be — however it will be. For the sake of Hashem Yisborach — hold fast to this — for it is your life forever. And know and believe my beloved son — that all that passes over you — has already passed over many more people — who are far more fitting than you. And in particular now in this generation — as you also know from afar a little of the evil deed that is done under the sun — and in particular in these times — may Hashem Yisborach forgive — may Hashem Yisborach forgive. But any person who slipped and whose steps stumbled — and who was caught in the net of the Adversary as he was caught — no one speaks of him at all — as though he was wicked from his mother's womb — and he does not comfort himself with what he was saved from such a net — G-d protect us. But in truth — even he certainly — his heart desired the goal — but all his fall — the majority of it — was because he did not draw close to the light of truth that illuminates in this generation. For through this — he too would have been strengthened — and he would not have fallen and become so very far from Hashem Yisborach and His Torah. And it is impossible to extend the speech about this — in particular in the open field. And what do we have to speak about the world — upon us to give thanks and to praise and to laud Hashem Yisborach always. "Mah nashiv laHashem kol tagmulohi alai" — What shall we return to Hashem for all His bestowals upon us — that the Master of Mercy bestowed upon us — with such great compassion and such tender mercies — that we know a little and believe that there is a secret intention of Elul. And examine well his holy words that he said — and this is the secret intention of Elul — that it is to be expert in the halacha — expert in the going out — expert in the returning — expert in entering — expert in departing — which is the aspect of "im esak shamayim sham atah — v'atziyah she'ol hineka" — "if I ascend to the heavens — You are there — and if I make my bed in the netherworld — behold You." [Tehillim 139:8] [בָּקִי בִּרְצוֹא בָּקִי בָּשׁוֹב — expert in the going out — expert in the returning — from Yechezkel 1:14 — the movements of the Divine creatures — this is the Rebbe's incomparable teaching on Elul: the true work of these forty days is not merely repentance in the ordinary sense but an attainment of divine expertise — a mastery of the entire arc of spiritual movement — outward and inward — ascending and descending — until one is at home in all states. And the supreme expression of this: v'atziyah she'ol hineka — even if I make my bed in the very depths of hell — there too I say: behold You. Hashem is there too.] And his intention is according to its plain meaning — that even one who is in the aspect of "v'atziyah she'ol" — literally — let him say "hineka" — behold You. But this is not a simple thing — to give life and to hold a person — that he not fall further — when he is literally in the lowest depths of hell — G-d forbid. Only there is in this a great and awesome secret — a very very deep and hidden secret — which is the secret intention of Elul — and this secret — no one knows it except the one who spoke and revealed this awesome Torah — which is the secret of the attainment of ma'aseh merkavah at the very highest level — to the very uppermost point — to complete the aspect of the Person Who sits on the Throne. And there is no one who can give life just now to the fallen souls in these generations — except the one who revealed the above-mentioned Torah — and explained it to them in simplicity — and warned them to fulfil "v'atziyah she'ol hineka." And also through many more such holy languages as these — He gave them life with the utterances of Hashem — pure utterances — which restore all the fallen souls in the world with seven flavors of taste. And the simplicity and guilelessness of his holy words gives life and restores the soul greatly. But in truth there are matters within — very deep and hidden secrets. And it is impossible to explain even what is in his heart of this — all the more so the hidden things that belong to Hashem our G-d. But what is revealed to them and to their children — to guard — to fulfil his holy words in simplicity and guilelessness.

And now — after G-d has made known to them and to you and to all of them all this and more and more — be very very careful to fulfil also what he warned very much — not to be old — G-d forbid. In particular now — in the days of Elul and Tishrei — when each and every one needs to draw upon himself a renewal for the entire coming year. [ … missing text … ] Rosh Hashana at Rosh Chodesh etc. — in the aspect of "chadesh aleinu shanah tovah" — renew — specifically renew — for this is the essential [ … missing text … ] in the aspect of "mi'maamakim k'rasticha Hashem" — "from the depths I have called to You Hashem." And the essential is to accustom oneself every day [ … missing text … ] the renewal of all the intention of Rosh Hashana. "Tzaak libam el Hashem." And to remember [ … missing text … ] is not lost at all. And likewise what is written that even [ … missing text … ] and one cries [ … missing text … ]

All will be turned for good. All these words — and more than them — have strengthened his soul and how many and many more souls — in all that passes over them. You too — hold fast to them — "hafoch bahem v'hafoch bahem" — for also to you all of them were said. And also fulfil what he said — that one must be a great stubborn one in the matter of drawing close to Hashem Yisborach from every place where one is. And more so to strengthen oneself to be in joy at every time — as he warned them countless times through many wondrous counsels.

And today — Wednesday — arrived with Hashem's help. And just now he arose from his bed — and chadashim la'b'karim rabbah emunasecha — "new every morning — great is Your faithfulness" — [Eichah 3:23] and chasdei Hashem ki lo samu — strengthened him in His abundant compassion to write to him these words — that flow from the wellsprings of salvation — which give life and restore every soul that truly desires — every one in whom the breath of the spirit of life is in his nostrils — and so forth. And it is necessary to conclude his words — for the time of prayer has arrived and he is very preoccupied — for he intends to travel today to Medevedivke for the holy Shabbas coming upon them for good. And after the holy Shabbas coming upon them for good he will travel to Uman — with Hashem's help. And may the Master of Mercy restore his soul and your souls — and lead him in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]

The words of your father — who loves you in truth forever.

Nussun of Breslov.

[Hebrew: נָתָן הַנַּ"ל...]

And peace to all our anshei sh'lomaynu with great love. And peace to my dear friend as my soul — the rabbinical scholar — the distinguished nagid — our Teacher the Rabbi Yaakov — may his light shine.

I could not restrain myself — from the very immensity of my love for you — to strengthen you and to urge you — that you should have no doubts whatsoever — G-d forbid — in your heart — regarding Rosh Hashana coming upon us for good. Only say with a whole heart: Baruch she'hecheyanu v'kiyemanu v'higianu laz'man hazeh — that we merited to gather together with true people — worthy people — to assemble at the holy tziyun of the holy tzaddik — who promised to help all who come to him — in particular on Erev Rosh Hashana — and to be counted together on Rosh Hashana among us. What shall I say to you my brother — a little you heard and understood from afar — but more than this my son — be very very careful — that you should not be — G-d forbid — in the category of the deficiency that cannot be counted — that our Sages — of blessed memory — expounded (Chagiga 9b) — this is one whose companions were counted and so forth — in particular for such a holy and awesome work as this. And if you wish — you can read the above-mentioned letter — which was said also to you — and to each one according to what passes over him. And also remember well all that was spoken between them — and all the glimmering that glimmered in your heart — the light of truth — and so forth. And strengthen your soul to come in joy — bo tavo b'rinah — come with singing — with my son — may he live — and with our anshei sh'lomaynu. Nagila v'nismecha bishu'aso. And I am confident that without my words — certainly you would not have refrained — G-d forbid — from coming. But I come to add urgency. For well known to them is the multitude of the obstacles that spread themselves just then — specifically. And in truth all of them are mere illusion — for the essential is the obstacle of the mind — as is known to you all. Therefore it is necessary to urge at the time of action — as our Sages of blessed memory said (Bamidbar Rabbah 7). Blessed are you if you fulfil my words — certainly you will be grateful for this in this world and in the World to Come — forever.

And peace to my son — the rabbinical scholar — our Teacher the Rabbi Dovid Tzvi — may he live. He received his letter twice. May Hashem Yisborach strengthen his heart — that he merit to engage in Torah and prayer and good deeds every day as befitting — for besides this all is vanity. And he does not know what you wrote — that it is hard for you to break the evil inclination in the matter of the garments — are you not compelled to break it — for just now you do not have it in your hand. And you already admitted in your letter that it is also hard to buy yourself a coat for three or four new rubles — therefore do not add to think about this at all. May Hashem Yisborach make you successful and provide for you with dignity. And the essential is that you force yourself to learn and to say prayers and Tehillim every day — and guard yourself very very much from evil thoughts — and in particular from imaginings — G-d forbid — and draw your thought from bad to good. And always remember the weekly Torah portion and what is written in it. And there is much to speak of this — but there is no leisure at all.

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]

Overview: Tuesday, Parshas Teitzei — Tshehrin — 5601. Note: significant portions missing — torn. To Yitzchok and all his household. He received his letter from the past Sunday in Krumintchag — and on the past Shabbas — Parshas Shoftim — he returned here. And on the past Sunday he received his letter a second time — and today a third time — with the letters from his son from Breslov — and all of them greatly gave life to his soul. Even though all of them greatly pained him — from the immensity of the bitterness of your cry in every letter — even so he greatly magnified the joy over the melancholy — upon seeing the immensity of the strength of your good heart in the point of truth. And you understand from afar how much and how much you need to always strengthen yourself — and every day anew — however it will be — however it will be. For the sake of Hashem — hold fast to this — for it is your life forever. And know and believe — that all that passes over you has already passed over many more people — who are far more fitting than you. And in particular now in this generation. And examine well his holy words — and this is the secret intention of Elul — to be expert in the halacha — expert in the going out — expert in the returning — expert in entering — expert in departing — which is the aspect of "im esak shamayim sham atah — v'atziyah she'ol hineka." And his intention is according to its plain meaning — that even one who is literally in the lowest depths of hell — let him say "hineka." Only there is in this a great and awesome secret — the secret of the attainment of ma'aseh merkavah at the very highest level — and there is no one who can give life to the fallen souls in these generations — except the one who revealed this Torah — and warned them to fulfil "v'atziyah she'ol hineka." All will be turned for good. All these words — and more — have strengthened his soul and how many more souls. "Hafoch bahem v'hafoch bahem." And today — Wednesday — arrived with Hashem's help — and just now he arose from his bed — and chadashim la'b'karim rabbah emunasecha — chasdei Hashem ki lo samu — strengthened him in His abundant compassion to write these words — that flow from the wellsprings of salvation. He is preoccupied — for he intends to travel today to Medevedivke for Shabbas — and after Shabbas he will travel to Uman with Hashem's help. And may the joy of Hashem be their strength — in particular on the holy Rosh Hashana. Then: postscript to Rabbi Yaakov — he could not restrain himself from the immensity of his love — to urge him — that he should have no doubts whatsoever in his heart regarding Rosh Hashana — only say with a whole heart: Baruch she'hecheyanu — that they merited to assemble at the holy tziyun of the holy tzaddik — who promised to help all who come to him — in particular on Erev Rosh Hashana. Nagila v'nismecha bishu'aso. And postscript to his son Dovid Tzvi — force yourself to learn and to say prayers and Tehillim every day — guard yourself very much from evil thoughts — and draw your thought from bad to good — and always remember the weekly Torah portion.

He received his letter twice — and the flour and the wine and sixty-three large ones. May Hashem Yisborach in His mercy sweeten all the judgments from upon you and from all your household — and send complete healing to your wife — may she live — and to all your household — and save you from the physicians of falsehood — and may it be fulfilled: "ki ani Hashem rof'echa" — "for I am Hashem your Healer" — Amen so may it be His will. [Sh'mos 15:26] You gave him life with your words — in what you wrote — that you wish to begin from now — b'reishis bara — "in the beginning He created" — this is the proper measure — and this is fitting for you and for all of us. And you do not know yourself what you wrote — for it is very deep. Amok amok mi yimtza'enu — "deep deep — who can find it" — what happens in the world — and in particular with each and every person every single day — and in particular in these awesome and holy days of the month of the mighty ones — it is Tishrei — which are very very exalted and awe-inspiring — each day and each day — and in particular the end and the completion — which is this holy and awesome and very exalted day called Hoshana Rabbah. [יֶרַח הָאֵיתָנִים הוּא תִּשְׁרֵי — the month of the mighty ones — it is Tishrei — from Melachim Alef 8:2 — the Tishrei of the awesome Patriarchs — the month of the primordial eternal ones — each day more awesome than the last — and its peak and completion: Hoshana Rabbah — when the judgment of the year is sealed and sent forth] On that day — "vayashav Yitzchak vayachpor es b'eros hamayim" — "and Yitzchak returned and dug the wells of water" — which are the aspect of the deep waters — "eitah b'lev ish" — "counsel in the heart of a person" — which one digs by crying out in truth and simplicity: "mi'maamakim k'rasticha Hashem." [Bereishis 26:18; Mishlei 20:5; Tehillim 130:1] [The entire inner journey of Hoshana Rabbah — the day itself is an act of digging — digging the deep wells of the soul — calling out from the very depths — mi'maamakim — and it is specifically Yitzchak — the one bound upon the altar — the one who learned to live in the space of pure transcendence — who goes back and digs the wells that others had stopped up] And even though — when he wrote this — a great weeping was stirred in his heart — in his remembering how greatly the materiality of a person and of the world distances one from such awesome and fearsome holy things — even so — now is not the time to weep — only the time to rejoice and to dance with a whole heart in great joy! And let everyone say ashreinu — ashreinu Yisrael — in particular since they merited to know from the one who does not remember anything at all — and who is old and nursling — and so forth — for all is vanity — and "kol dayarei ara k'la chasivin" — "all the inhabitants of the earth are as nothing" — and as it is written in the holy Zohar: "kula kamei k'la chassiv — k'la mammash" — "all before Him is as nothing — as utterly void." [He is referring to the awesome teaching of the Rebbe about the state of one who has truly attained the knowledge of Divine nothingness — who does not remember anything — who is simultaneously old and a nursling — an elder and an infant — the ancient and the newborn — one who has truly internalized that all is vanity and all created existence is as nothing before Him. Only the one who told the story of this state — the Rebbe — merited to this in completeness] And who merited to this in completeness — except the one who told the above-mentioned story. And how good is our portion — when we do not oppose the one who is truly ayin — true nothingness. And it is impossible to extend further. Joy and gladness will they attain — as your soul desires — and the soul of the one who rejoices and weeps from within joy — and awaits complete salvation. Nagila v'nismecha bishu'aso. Nussun of Breslov.