שעב

Nussun of Breslov.

And extend peace to all our anshei sh'lomaynu with love.

My beloved son — my dear one.

This hour — before the evening prayer — he received his two letters. And it was a comfort to him — that he informed him that he received his letter via Rabbi Sh.B. — may he live — for he could not endure your cry in your letters so many times — asking to receive his letters — and until now it was not known to him whether you had received the above-mentioned letter. B'rich Rachmana d'sayaan ad k'an — praised be the Merciful One Who helped him until now — that they merited to live until close to the holy Chanukah coming upon them for good. And he trusts they will merit to light the Chanukah candle in its time — for the publicizing of the miracle — to make known that Hashem is G-d and He chooses His people Israel with love — and He makes wondrous miracles in every generation. And also now still — chavivu'sa gavan — His love is upon them — and in their bondage their G-d has not forsaken them — and He has inclined upon them wondrous chasadim also in these generations — and it is impossible to extend on this.

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]

The words of your father — who sighs and is very very bowed down — iskrit ruichi b'go nidanah — "my spirit was troubled within its sheath" — and even so His chesed prevailed over me and over all of us — and he strengthens himself in His chesed to turn all to joy and gladness — agila v'esmecha b'chasdecha — "I will exult and I will rejoice in Your chesed."

[Hebrew: נָתָן הַנַּ"ל...]

Nussun of Breslov. For now it is fixed in his mind to remain here in Uman for Shabbas Chanukah coming upon them for good — and presumably he will not move from here before Shabbas Chanukah. And how very hard and very heavy it is upon him — even to remember the matter of his work at the time of the gathering — it is impossible to explain. And he cannot speak of this just now. Their friend Rabbi Ephraim — may his light shine — from Krumintchag — wrote here before the past Shabbas Vayishlach — that if he knows for certain that he will be here for Shabbas Chanukah — he will come himself — and people from Krumintchag and Tshehrin and Medevedivke. And he did not reply to him then — only his father their friend Rabbi Naftali — may his light shine — wrote to him via the post on the past Friday — that he will remain here with Hashem's help. The words of your father — who sighs and is very very bowed down — iskrit ruichi b'go nidanah — "my spirit was troubled within its sheath" — and even so His chesed prevailed over me and over all of us — and he strengthens himself in His chesed to turn all to joy and gladness — agila v'esmecha b'chasdecha — "I will exult and I will rejoice in Your chesed." More than this he does not know at all what to write to you my beloved son. Gadol Hashem u'm'hulal m'od — He created the world and all it contains for the sake of the human being — and all for the sake of b'chirah — free choice. And therefore the power of b'chirah is very great and wondrous. And we do not know at all what happens in the world — only this we know with clarity — and we are obligated to return this every time — that all is vanity. Only ashrei yoshvei veisecha — "blessed are those who dwell in Your house" — and so forth. Only ashrei temimei darech — "blessed are those of wholesome way" — and so forth. Only ashrei adam oz lo bach — "blessed is the person whose strength is in You." And we are not saying ashrei in vain — G-d forbid. Certainly — ashrei ashrei — blessed blessed. [Three of the most beloved verses in the Psalms — each beginning with ashrei — blessed — and each pointing to a different dimension of Divine connection: the one who dwells in His house — the one who walks the wholesome path — and the one whose very strength is sourced in Hashem alone. Reb Nussun places these three as the only three genuine certainties in a world otherwise veiled in vanity and confusion] And also we — in our poverty — in this poor generation — we too are included in this — for we enter synagogues and study halls every day. And even more so — ashreinu — and an added love is known to us — for we know that there is no other good fortune in the world — except this — when one merits to dwell in His house. And as Rashi explained on the verse "ashrei ha'ish asher lo halach ba'atzas r'sha'im" — the steps of a man — and so forth — for there is no other good fortune in the world. The longing of your good heart compelled him to write these words. Be strong and resolute my beloved son — and gladden your soul always — in particular in the holy days of Chanukah coming upon them for good — however it will be. And may Hashem pour upon you and upon us the good oil — to bestow all good in the physical and the spiritual. And may it be fulfilled [Melachim Alef 17:14] : "kad hakemach lo sichle — v'tzapachas hashemen lo techsar" — "the barrel of flour will not be exhausted — and the cruse of oil will not fail" — in the power of the true tzaddikim who draw at every time the holy anointing oil — l'amshacha meishach r'vus kudsha u'l'adlaka butzina — to draw the sacred royal anointing and to kindle the lamp. And may we merit to see the growth of the horn of David His servant — and the setting of the lamp for the son of Yishai His anointed. For in His holy name He swore to him that his candle will never be extinguished forever and ever. At that very moment they brought him the items. Good to give thanks to Hashem also for this — for on every single detail one must give thanks. And everything comes in its time and season — "ki es hakol asah yafeh v'ito" — "for He made all things beautiful in their time." [Koheles 3:11] How great are the deeds of Hashem Who watches over every particular matter. And behold — from yourself you know how greatly he longs and desires to hear some small or great information from his dear friend Rabbi Nachman — may his light shine. May Hashem Yisborach lead him in peace and rectify him with good counsel from before Him — and may he return to them in peace quickly. And certainly all that you hear of this — in writing and orally — you will inform him with speed. And to Hashem the salvation. And you be at peace and your household be at peace. Just now it is close to the light of day — sabeinu vaboker chasdecha — yomam y'tzaveh Hashem chasdo — "satisfy us in the morning with Your chesed — by day may Hashem send His chesed." His heart is full of words to write to you — but he has already written to you greatly — and also it is impossible to extend as one wishes in the open field. And multiply the study and meditation in his holy books — and in what Hashem has graced him to make new and to explain in them. In them you will give life to your soul. Az yibbaka kashachar orecha — "then your light will burst forth like the dawn."