שפו

Overview: Wednesday, Parshas Sh'mini — after Pesach — Breslov — 5602. To his beloved son. He received his letter via his son Rabbi Shakna during Chol HaMo'ed — and it was a comfort. In particular that their friend Rabbi Nachman — the grandson of our Master — was with him and longs for the truth of their love. Would that he merit to overcome the obstacles — and hold on to the ways of his holy ancestors — and not go after the vanity. And it is very hard to counsel a person for his eternal good when the truth is so greatly lacking. Would that he come here at least in passing on his way to Berdichev — and face to face he will speak with him — words of truth flowing from his holy grandfather. And certainly he will strive to speak greatly with him of this — and show him this letter — in order to urge him to be here — for his good in all ways. And it may be that he can strive for his good in some other good as well. He intends to travel immediately to Uman — and therefore it is essential that he come for the coming Shabbas. Then: postscript to Rabbi Nachman himself — Hashem knows how much and how much he is pained by his pain. He recalls him every time — in particular at the holy tziyun. But it is very hard to help a person without any awakening from himself at all. And for this reason people bring redemption payments to the tzaddikim — even though it is known that the tzaddikim always pray for the sufferings of Israel. But it is hard to help a person without any is'arusa d'l'tata at all. And he is obligated to serve our Master and strive for the good of his precious children. And with Hashem's help — the words of truth that he received from him are help and salvation more than thousands of gold and silver — "tov li torat picha mei'alfei zahav va'chasef."

Until now he was standing and waiting for you to come — and what can one do — and from Heaven he was delayed. And at this hour — Rabbi Dovid — may his light shine — arrived and brought his letter with the money for the pidyon nefesh. May Hashem Yisborach have mercy on you and on him — and send you complete healing from Heaven — healing of the soul and healing of the body — among the rest of the sick of Israel — Amen so may it be His will. And from yourself you understand the immensity of the pain he had from this — but even so it gave their souls very great life — in seeing at any rate the handwriting from him — to know why he was delayed — for they were waiting greatly for this — that some information would arrive from him in any case. And on this too one must say — certainly everything is for good — and all that Heaven does — it does for good — even if it prevents from holy matters. And one can also attribute the lack to oneself — that one did not overcome the obstacle as one should. But even so — G-d forbid that you fall in your mind because of this my beloved son — for the ways of Hashem are very very exalted. And he already heard from him — of blessed memory — explicitly (Sichos HaRa"n 14) — that even when one does not bring from potential to actual what one desires — in any holy matter — even so — the will itself is very good. Even though it is explained in the Torah "vihi na pi sh'nayim" (Likutai Moharan part 1 ch. 66) that this is not sufficient — even so — if only they would hold on to this — that the will at any rate be very strong toward Hashem and His Torah. As they have already heard greatly from him of this. And praised be G-d — your will is good and very strong. And what can one do — ones Rachmana patrei — the Merciful One exempts one who is forced. And he is standing and waiting now — that you will merit at any rate to come here on Sunday if Hashem wills — as you wrote. And although he is very eager for his road — even so he will not travel before the coming Sunday. And if only he will travel after midday on the coming Sunday — for it may be that he will remain until Tuesday — if Hashem wills. And "u'mei'Hashem mitz'adei gever konanu" — "and from Hashem the steps of a man are established." More than this there is no leisure to extend — out of honor for the holy Shabbas. And this letter he is sending via a non-Jew — the bearer of this letter. And may Hashem in His mercies support you quickly — and you will return to your former strength in completeness — and you will strengthen and fortify yourself with all strength to receive the Shabbas in great joy — in what you merited — that you have good desires to be with them together. And to Hashem the salvation — that they always be together — even when they do not see each other — for the bodies are far apart and the souls are close — and all of us are bound together in the root of nefesh-ruach-neshamah in the true tzaddik — and so forth — and this is all our hope forever.

The words of your father — who awaits to see you quickly — in life and peace and joy.

Nussun of Breslov. Overview: Friday, Erev Shabbas Kodesh Parshas Sh'mini — after midday — Breslov — 5602. To Yitzchok. Until now he was standing and waiting for him to come — and from Heaven he was delayed. And just now Rabbi Dovid arrived and brought his letter with the money for the pidyon nefesh. May Hashem have mercy on him and on them — and send complete healing — healing of the soul and healing of the body — among the rest of the sick of Israel. From yourself you understand the immensity of the pain he had from this — but even so it gave their souls great life — to see at any rate the handwriting from him — to know why he was delayed. On this too one must say — certainly all is for good — and all that Heaven does — it does for good. And one can also attribute the lack to oneself — that one did not overcome the obstacle as one should. But even so — G-d forbid that you fall in your mind because of this — for the ways of Hashem are very very exalted. He already heard from him — of blessed memory — explicitly (Sichos HaRa"n 14) — that even when one does not bring from potential to actual what one desires in any holy matter — even so the will itself is very good. Even though it is explained in the Torah "vihi na pi sh'nayim" (Likutai Moharan part 1 ch. 66) that this is not sufficient — even so — if only they would hold on to this — that the will at any rate be very strong. And praised be G-d — your will is good and very strong. And what can one do — ones Rachmana patrei. He stands and waits now that he will come on Sunday — if Hashem wills. He will not travel before the coming Sunday. And may Hashem in His mercies support him quickly — and he will return to his former strength in completeness — and he will strengthen himself with all strength to receive the Shabbas in great joy. And to Hashem the salvation — that they always be together — even when they do not see each other — for the bodies are far apart and the souls are close — and all of us are bound together in the root of nefesh-ruach-neshamah in the true tzaddik — and this is all our hope forever. Know my beloved son — that he arrived here to Berdichev on the past Tuesday. And he will remain here for the coming holy Shabbas — may Hashem Yisborach grant them to receive the holy Shabbas as befitting. And everywhere one comes — and in particular here — one hears cries and sighs and sounds of wants — almost without measure. And one who understands hears from all of them hints — that there is no place to flee from the afflictions — G-d protect us — and from all the lacks — except to Hashem Yisborach — to the Torah and to the prayer. And even one who does not fulfil this as befitting — must strengthen himself to rejoice in his portion — that he knows at least something of this — and accustom himself to walk in the ways of truth that our Master our Teacher and our Rebbe — the memory of the righteous and holy one for a blessing — brought to light. And to give thanks for the past — for all the expansions found within the troubles and the distress themselves — and to rejoice in them — and to request for the future. If he were to tell — how much and how much one must go in this — pages of parchment would run out. Be strong my son — and be strong — for Hashem is still with you and thinking of your rectification — and certainly He will not abandon you. And begin now to long for the holiness of the holy Rosh Hashana — for the holiness of the holy gathering. And be very accustomed to the books of our Master our Teacher and our Rebbe — the memory of the righteous one for a blessing — and in what they merited to explain and to make new in them — and you will find rest for your soul — to strengthen yourself every day in Torah and conversation which is prayer — and to strengthen yourself in joy in all the ways of his holy counsels — however it is — and to await salvation always. For Hashem will never abandon — la shavek v'la sh'vak.

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]