תלב

Overview: Thursday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av — Uman — 5603. To his beloved son. From Teplik he replied via the messenger — and on Tuesday he arrived here in peace praised be G-d. He gave Rabbi Sho'el twenty new rubles — with detailed instructions on how to distribute. He awaits every day for good tidings from the merchandise. And regarding him — he already wrote a little — and just now there is not a word on his tongue from the great preoccupation. But be strong my son — and believe in all that our Master — of blessed memory — said — that every movement from evil to good is very very precious before Hashem Yisborach. And the essential — accustom yourself — that in the very intensity of their strengthening — you gladden your soul as much as possible. Not to be afraid at all — only to divert your mind completely — and accustom yourself to forgetfulness — to forget at every moment what has passed. Even if it was what it was — all will turn to good. For we have a very great powerful elder-father — who can convert sins to merits. Only be strong and bold greatly. Remember well — what a person must pass through in this world on the narrow bridge — the essential is not to be afraid at all. Gadol Hashem u'm'hulal m'od. Gott iz groys — me veyst gor nit — afilu ayyer zach. And also — this matter called "ibber trachtein" — thinking too much — throws a person greatly. If you are accustomed to this from before — it is essential to strive to break this — and to overcome every time to divert your mind — and not to think excessively — in particular regarding evil thoughts — one must flee from them completely — and forget completely at every time what has passed. Trust in his great power — that all will turn to good.

Behold — he sent a letter to his son — he is your brother — Rabbi Yitzchok — may his light shine — in Tultchin. And he will send the nine new rubles to his daughter — she is your sister — Maras Chana Tzirel — may she live. They are six new rubles that he received in Teplik for the Torah scroll from Savran — and three new rubles he is sending — which are to be in the hand of his daughter — for the Torah scroll from Tshehrin. Perhaps the scribe will not need money for hides. And you my son — you know how to conduct yourself with the scribe — that he should not snatch money before the writing — neither for the Torah scroll of Rabbi Tzvi from Tshehrin nor for the Torah scroll from Savran. And tell the scribe — that he has matters with him — for he said before him that he received from Rabbi Shlomo of Savran only an advance deposit — and Rabbi Shlomo told him that he gave him six new rubles — three for the advance and three for hides. Therefore it is fitting that he have hides for three new rubles — for the Torah scroll from Savran. And he has distress from this — that there should not be — G-d forbid — a desecration of the Name of Heaven — when one does not conduct himself properly in this. Therefore from now — see that you not give him money for hides except when you see that he takes the money immediately to buy hides. And presumably you will understand how to conduct yourself with him properly — as he spoke with you in his home.

And now my son — be strong and bold greatly — to begin from now to engage every day in Torah and prayer. And fix regular times in Gemara and the *posskim* and Chumash with the commentary of Rashi — and in the scripture. And in particular to engage every day in the books of our Rebbe — of blessed memory. And sometimes learn with companions — and look carefully in them to understand well in practice. And if you cannot learn with companions — learn by yourself. And guard — guard greatly — from anger and irritability and a broken spirit — very greatly — that you not destroy your life force for nothing — G-d forbid. And fulfil: "v'haseir ka'as mi'libecha v'ha'aveir ra'ah mi'b'sarecha." For Hashem's sake — spare yourself — for if not now — when? For upon you is laid no burden and no occupation — except to engage in Torah and prayer and mitzvos. And remember your Creator in the days of your youth. And there is no leisure to extend further.

The words of your father — who urges you for your eternal benefit — and who intercedes for you.

Nussun of Breslov. Overview: Thursday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av — Uman — 5603. To his son Dovid Tzvi. He sent a letter to Rabbi Yitzchok in Tultchin — who will send nine new rubles to his daughter Chana Tzirel — six for the Torah scroll from Savran and three for the Torah scroll from Tshehrin. Regarding the scribe — you know how to conduct yourself with him — so he not snatch money before the writing. The scribe said he received only an advance from Savran — but Rabbi Shlomo said he gave him six new rubles — three for the advance and three for hides. Therefore he should have hides for three new rubles for the Torah scroll from Savran. Do not give him money for hides except when you see him taking the money to buy hides immediately. And now my son — be strong and bold greatly — to begin from now to engage every day in Torah and prayer. Fix regular times in Gemara and the posskim and Chumash with Rashi. And in particular every day in the books of our Rebbe — of blessed memory. Guard greatly from anger and irritability and a broken spirit — that you not destroy your life force for nothing. "V'haseir ka'as mi'libecha v'ha'aveir ra'ah mi'b'sarecha." For upon you is laid no burden except Torah and prayer and mitzvos. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth. On the past Sunday he sent him another letter — via our anshei sh'lomaynu who were here at the holy tziyun — Rabbi Matil — son-in-law of Rabbi Sh. A. — and Rabbi Nissan — a relative of the Rabbi. And certainly it reached his hand. And there he informed him — that he gave twenty new rubles to Rabbi Sho'el — and that he should give from them nine to his daughter — may she live — for the scribe. And five he should receive for himself and note that they are money of the work. And six he should send to Rabbi Shimshon and Rabbi Shmelka — for the livelihood of his household.

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]