מד

Peace and life — to my beloved son, my dear one, our Teacher the Rabbi Yitzchok — may he live. Your letter I received before Shabbos. And behold — no doubt you have already heard that in my household the children have been ill with the illness of the mazlin [מָאזְלִין — measles; the text adds in parentheses the contemporary term ademes — scarlet fever or rubella. Both were life-threatening in the nineteenth century with no medical treatment] — and they were in great danger. And by the kindness of Hashem they returned to their health with the help of Hashem Yisborach. But my son Yosef Yonah — may he live — is still laid on the sickbed of illness [עֶרֶשׂ דְּוַי — eres d'vai: a direct biblical phrase from Tehillim 41:4 — Hashem will support him on the sickbed of illness [ה' יִסְעָדֶנּוּ עַל עֶרֶשׂ דְּוָי]. Reb Nussun then immediately prays ה' יִסְעֳדֵהוּ — "may Hashem support him" — using the very same verb from that same verse. The verse in Tehillim continues: "You have transformed all his lying down in his illness" — the whole passage is a prayer for miraculous recovery through divine support, not human remedy]. May Hashem support him speedily. Also in the household of my son Rabbi Shakhnah — may he live — two children were ill with the aforementioned illness — and thank G-d they are returning to their strength with the help of Hashem Yisborach. And now my eyes are strained all day to hear the good from your son — may he live. Please, very much — inform me quickly of his good welfare. And a prayer to the Living G-d that I merit quickly to hear good tidings from him — that he has returned to his health. And may Hashem Yisborach lengthen his days and years — and may you merit to raise him to Torah, to the chuppah [marriage canopy] and to good deeds — Omain. And behold — we already know that in all that passes over a person we have no refuge except to Him, Yisborach, alone. And all His intention, Yisborach, in all He brings upon a person — everything is only so that he remember Him and pray to Him — as it is written: Call out to Me in the day of distress — I will rescue you and you will honour Me [Tehillim 50:15]. And now, my son — take upon yourself the yoke of Heaven at every time — and pray to Him at every time about every matter — and hope in Hashem and He will save you. And on account of the urgency it is impossible to extend further. The words of your father — who seeks your peace always with love, and who intercedes on your behalf, and who awaits to hear the good from you always. Nussun of Breslov.