סב

My beloved son — may he live. [Yitzchok]

Your letter I received at this very hour — at the moment when I am ready immediately to wrap myself in tallis and tefillin and to pray [לְהִתְעַטֵּף בְּטַלִּית וּתְפִלִּין — a rare and vivid detail of setting: the letter arrives at the precise moment of morning prayer preparation. Reb Nussun pauses at the threshold of his own prayer to respond — the pastoral and the devotional completely integrated] — and at this very hour a traveller has also presented himself. And may Hashem Yisborach send a complete healing to your daughter and your son — may they live. And for the sake of Hashem — be careful regarding physical remedies — only to rely on Hashem Yisborach — for they are all healers of vanity, all of them nought [רוֹפְאֵי אֱלִיל כֻּלָּם תֹּהוּ — Yeshayah 57:3, applied in the Breslov tradition to reliance on secular physicians rather than on divine healing] and so forth. May the Healer for free heal you speedily [רוֹפֵא חִנָּם — the Healer at no cost: a beloved Breslov name for Hashem as physician, drawing on the Shabbos morning prayer — Rofeh chol bosor u'mafli la'asos — the One who heals all flesh and acts wondrously. The formulation contrasts divine healing with the costly and fallible remedies of physicians] — in the midst of all the sick ones of Israel — Omain, so may it be His will.

And since the time of prayer has arrived it is impossible to extend the speech at all. And may Hashem Yisborach put it in your heart and in the heart of all our community — that you hear and understand well everything we spoke about last Shabbos — and walk in it — to know and to believe always that Hashem Yisborach hears your prayer always — and no word is lost [שׁוּם דִּבּוּר אֵינוֹ נֶאֱבָד — "no word is lost": every utterance of prayer reaches Hashem and makes an impression — none falls unheard. This principle is the foundational Breslov antidote to the despair that prayer is futile] — but rather each and every word makes a great impression. And through this His mercies will be kindled [יִכָּמְרוּ רַחֲמָיו — from the root כמר: the specific biblical verb for the deep stirring or kindling of compassion — not mere arousal but a physical sensation of mercy being moved from within. The same root appears in Hoshea 11:8 (nichm'ru nichumoi — "My compassions are kindled") and in B'reishis 43:30 (vayichm'ru rachamov — "his compassion was deeply stirred") when Yosef sees his brother Binyomin. It is the strongest biblical word for the igniting of divine or human compassion — more than aroused, more than moved: kindled] — and He will turn His face to us and have mercy on us and save us in all that we need to be saved.

The words of your father — who awaits to hear all good from you and from those who come forth from you — may they live — and from all your household. May Hashem Yisborach bless you with peace.

Nussun of Breslov. And extend loving peace to my wonderful friend our Teacher the Rabbi Nachman — grandson of our Master, our Teacher and Rebbe, of blessed memory — may Hashem Yisborach establish peace in his home. [The grandson of Rebbe Nachman — Rabbi Nachman — greeted openly and with the specific blessing of peace in his home. He is the young man whose identity was to be concealed in Letter 64; he is now present in the community and greeted directly] To all our anshei sh'lomaynu — abundant peace — with great love and precious affection [וּרְחִימְתָן עֲזִיזָא — Aramaic: precious/beloved affection — an Aramaic phrase of endearment, the intimate register of love between close companions]. May Hashem Yisborach strengthen your hearts in Torah and this service — which is prayer — and good deeds. Omain. Nussun, as above.

[Hebrew: נָתָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב...]