שסג

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

Nussun of Breslov.

Peace and life and a good inscription and sealing — to my beloved son — my dear one — the rabbinical scholar — and so forth — our Teacher the Rabbi Yitzchok — may he live — with all his children who go forth from his loins — may they live.

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.

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]

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 … ] Nussun of Breslov. 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. 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. The words of your father — who hopes to see you quickly — in life and peace and great joy — and may the joy of Hashem be our strength — in particular on the holy Rosh Hashana coming upon them for good.