Ullim LeTroofah – Letter One | Leaves for Healing

Ullim LeTroofah

עלים לתרופה

Leaves for Healing

The Sacred Letters of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov and Reb Nussun of Breslov, of blessed memory

LETTER ONE

Year 5567 (1806–1807) · Written from Ostroha

Editor's Introduction This letter was written by our Master, Teacher, and Rabbi — Moharán — of blessed memory, from Ostroha, to the general community of his followers, requesting that they pray on his behalf, for at that time he was suffering a grievous physical ailment. He implored them greatly to pray for him — and afterward he recovered. Upon returning home he declared that it was their prayers that had restored him from the above-mentioned illness.

(Found in the possession of R. Sender Travitzer of Tzfas; copied by R. Shmuël Horowitz, z"l.)

To my good and dear friends — my beloved and pleasant companions and partners.

I beg you most earnestly, most earnestly, that you give to my wife one hundred adumim (red coins). For I am in great need of much money for expenses — the expenses here are very great — as the bearer of this letter will tell you. Not doubled, mind you — but four times as much; for I have not even a single perutah (the smallest coin).

I earnestly beg you — Rabbi Mosheh son of Rabbi Yisroel, together with Rabbi Mosheh son of Henyeh — to send me the money as stated above.

If G-d wills it that I return home, I shall settle the account however you wish. The matter is doubled and tripled — there is no other course of action — only to send the hundred adumim.

Also, urge my wife to travel — that she should depart immediately and without delay.

Also, inform my dear friend our Teacher, the Rabbi Reb Nussun of Nemirov — and all our anshay shlomaynu (our fellowship of followers) — that they should pray to G-d for me, that He send me a refuah shleimah (a complete healing). My illness I will not write to you — ki haychay d'lo lisra mazlalay — so as not to worsen one's fortune (Nedarim 40). Only: let them pray for me in every single prayer.

And do not forget the kindnesses I have shown to each one of you until now.

And perhaps when Hashem Yisborach grants me healing, you will yet again be able to receive good from me.

· · · ✦ · · ·

My beloved brothers and friends — I beg you most earnestly to beseech on behalf of my downtrodden soul — to beseech with kavanas ha'lev (with the full devotion of the heart). Let each one of you recall how you were when I first came to Breslov — and how much spiritual and material kochos (strength and vital energy) I expended on your account. It is therefore right and just that you now pray to Hashem Yisborach for me — that Hashem Yisborach heal me — as Hashem shows me the sweetness of His radiance (no'am zivo).

Also, urge my wife to travel — for a eshes ne'urim (a wife of one's youth) is not easily replaced — and especially given that this involves only great expenses.

Also, I ask of you that no one among you should dare come to me. I myself, if G-d wills it, will soon travel and come.

Are these not the words of one who truly loves you — with every one of you dwelling in the yearning of my heart?

Nachman, son of our Teacher, the Rabbi Simcha — may his Rock protect him and give him life.

Postscript

Greetings of peace to all our anshay shlomaynu — to each and every one, according to his high standing.

Nachman, as above.

Postscript — Repeated with Urgency

I repeat urgently: urge my wife that she should travel quickly — and do not say anything about this matter, neither to her nor to the children.

Nachman son of our Teacher the Rabbi Simcha, as above.

Overview: This is the opening letter of the Ullim LeTroofah collection, written by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov in 5567 (1806–7) while seriously ill in Ostroha. Its raw urgency is striking — the Tzaddik who poured himself out for his followers now turns to them in vulnerability, pleading for their prayers with his characteristic passion and directness.

Key themes:

Reciprocity of the Tzaddik Rebbe Nachman reminds his followers of all the spiritual and material effort he invested in them — and on that basis calls on them now to pray for him. The bond between Tzaddik and disciple runs powerfully in both directions.

Healing Through Prayer Following the teaching of Nedarim 40, the illness is not named publicly lest it worsen one's fortune. Yet communal prayer — especially with kavanas ha'lev — is the primary means of healing sought throughout this letter.

The Downtrodden Soul Rebbe Nachman calls his own soul ha'aluva — the "downtrodden" or "lowly" soul. This reflects the profound humility (anavah) at the core of Breslov teaching, even in the Tzaddik himself.

Urgency and Repetition The instruction to urge the Rebbetzin to travel appears three separate times. This is not carelessness — repetition in Rebbe Nachman's language signals spiritual weight and absolute necessity.