Ullim LeTroofah – Letter Two | 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 TWO

Thursday, 6th of Iyar, Parshas Emor · Year 5567 (1807)
Written from the holy community of Zaslav

With the help of G-d, may He be blessed

Delivered to My beloved son-in-law, the distinguished scholar and communal leader, our Teacher the Rabbi Yoshua — may his light shine and radiate — together with the welfare of his wife, she being my modest and wise daughter, Marat Adil, may she live. Amen.

Your honored letter reached me on Sunday of Parshas Emor, and likewise the hundred rubl (roubles) came to hand. I hereby inform you that I am currently residing in the holy community of Zaslav, and that your mother-in-law has undergone a great improvement. I also inform you that I will not be coming to your holy camp for Shavuos, for I shall remain here in the holy community of Zaslav. Nothing further for now — only life and peace. From me, your father-in-law, who loves your soul and always seeks your welfare.

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

Postscript — On the Matter of Healing

I hereby inform you that I am no longer engaged in healing — for Hashem has helped me, and has not withheld His kindness and His truth from me.

Nachman, as above.

Postscript — Greetings and a Question of Healing

Extend greetings of peace to my dear friend our Teacher the Rabbi Mosheh son of the Rabbi, and to their neighbor my dear friend our Teacher the Rabbi Yisroel, and to my partner my dear friend our Teacher the Rabbi Mosheh son of Henyeh. Regarding what he wrote to me — to advise him whether he should engage in healing — my mind is not clear on this at present, and I do not know what to answer.

Nachman, as above.

Postscript — General Greetings

Extend greetings of peace to all our anshay shlomaynu (our fellowship of followers).

Nachman, as above.

Postscript — Mailing Address

When you send me a letter, send it to the holy community of Zaslav, to the house of the Rabbi of the tailors — as recorded in the list that is enclosed within this letter.

Postscript — From the Rebbetzin and Daughter; Charge to Son-in-Law

My wife Marat Sasye, and likewise my daughter Marat Miriam, may she live, extend to you their warm greetings of peace. My request of my beloved son-in-law is that he study each day a shiur (set daily lesson) in Gemara and in Posek (halachic ruling) — so that he should not, G-d forbid, make the secondary into the primary — but rather: Fear G-d, and so forth — for this is the entire purpose of man [Koheles 12:13].

Nachman, as above.

My dear friend, the distinguished Rabbi Shmuël, extends greetings of peace to all.

Overview: Written from Zaslav shortly after Rebbe Nachman's recovery from the illness of Letter 1, this brief letter confirms receipt of funds, updates on his wife's improving health, and notifies his son-in-law that he will not return for Shavuos. Its most striking features are the terse but weighty declaration that he has ceased practicing healing — and the closing charge on Torah study, citing Koheles.

Note on "B'ezras Hashem Yisborach": Every letter in this collection opens with this invocation — "With the help of G-d, may He be blessed." It is never merely formal; in Breslov understanding it reflects the foundational awareness that every act, including the writing of a letter, depends entirely on Divine assistance.

Key themes:

Cessation of Healing Rebbe Nachman declares with finality that he no longer engages in healing — crediting Hashem's kindness and truth. The Tzaddik acts only as a conduit for Divine will, never as an independent power.

Torah as Primary The charge to his son-in-law — daily Gemara and halachah, lest the secondary displace the primary — echoes a core Breslov warning: worldly involvement must never overshadow one's foundational Torah obligations.

Zeh Kol Ha'adam The citation from Koheles — "fear G-d… for this is the entire purpose of man" — is the lens through which Rebbe Nachman evaluates all human activity. Everything else is secondary to this one north star.

The Tzaddik in Daily Life Even in a short practical letter — money, travel, addresses, illness — the Tzaddik's every word carries instruction. The mundane and the sacred are inseparable in Breslov.