What shall I say to you — my truly beloved son — my soul was nearly consumed from the greatness of the sorrow that was mine all the days I was on the road — because I had no letter at all from you — and I could not remove it from my mind. And this sorrow confused me very, very, very much in all the sufferings and adventures that passed over me in all those days. What shall I say — what shall I speak — you revived my soul greatly — when I found your letter in Uman [הֶחֱיֵיתָ אֶת נַפְשִׁי מְאֹד כַּאֲשֶׁר מָצָאתִי מִכְתָּבְךָ בְּאוּמַאן — the letter's arrival at the sacred threshold of Uman — the Rebbe's resting place — is itself a sign of divine providence. The revival arrives precisely where renewal is most possible]. You have done well [הֵטַבְתָּ לַעֲשׂוֹת — the *heitivosa* formula from Letters 98, 107, 110, 125, 126: formal biblical commendation for a sacred act] — with the help of Hashem Yisborach. May my mouth be filled with the praise of Hashem who has helped us until now — and here too I received your letter yesterday and also today. And now — be strong and resolute — and gladden your soul with all your strength — for Hashem is with us — do not fear.
And praised be G-d — I brought a Torah scroll — valid and very carefully proofread — the like of which is not commonly found within a hundred parasangs — and its script is wondrous [סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה כְּשֵׁרָה וּמֻגָּהָה מְאֹד אֲשֶׁר אֵין שְׁכִיחַ דֻּגְמָתָהּ בְּמֵאָה פַּרְסָאוֹת — a Torah scroll of exceptional rarity for the Breslov community at Uman — beautifully written, carefully proofread, not findable within a hundred parasangs (c. 400 km)] . I also brought a Torah crown with other wondrous sacred vessels — also a Shas and Ayin Yaakov [עֵין יַעֲקֹב — the compendium of Aggadic teachings from the Talmud compiled by Rabbi Yaakov ibn Chaviv (c.1460–1516), especially beloved in Breslov circles] — and all of it through the salvation of Hashem and His awesome wonders. This poor man cried — and Hashem heard [זֶה עָנִי קָרָא וַה' שָׁמֵעַ — Tehillim 34:7: "this poor man cried — and Hashem heard — and saved him from all his distresses." The procurement of the Torah scroll and sacred vessels was achieved through prayer alone — and Hashem heard] [Tehillim 34:7]. Until now His mercies helped us — and may He not forsake us forever. Were our mouths full of song as the sea [אִלּוּ פִינוּ מָלֵא שִׁירָה — the opening of the *Nishmas* prayer: "were our mouths full of song as the sea — and our tongues of joyous praise as the multitude of its waves... we could not sufficiently give thanks." The most expansive liturgical expression of the inadequacy of all human praise before divine kindness] — we cannot sufficiently give thanks — and so forth.
The words of your father — who awaits seeing you with joy — and to recite the blessing of shehechianu with a full mouth — with the help of Hashem Yisborach.
Nussun of Breslov.
And convey peace to my longstanding dear friend — the young scholar — the holy fruit of praises [פְּרִי קֹדֶשׁ הִלּוּלִים — Vayikra 19:24: v'haya ba'shanah har'vi'is yihyeh kol piryo kodesh hilulim laHashem — "and in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy — a praise-offering to Hashem." The fruit of the fourth year of a newly-planted tree: consecrated entirely to Hashem, the most sacred and precious fruit before it may be eaten. Applied to R' Nachman the grandson as his precise and exalted title: he is the *pri kodesh hilulim* of the Rebbe's lineage — the fourth-year-fruit, wholly consecrated to Hashem — not merely a general expression of preciousness but a specific grade of sanctity drawn from the Torah's own vocabulary] — our Teacher the Rabbi Nachman — may his light shine. And convey to him the two necessary letters from his relative and from his sister — may she live. And they very much wish that he be here to speak with him face to face. And may Hashem strengthen his heart to walk in the path of truth in the ways of his holy ancestors — and may we not be ashamed of him and may he not be ashamed of us.
The words of his true lover forever. — Nussun the above-mentioned.
And abundant peace to all our anshei sh'lomaynu. Be strong in Torah and prayer and supplications each day — for outside of this everything is vanity. Remember — hevel havalim — there is nothing real in it. Even though everyone knows this — one must repeat it each day and snatch each day all one can — perhaps we can save ourselves from the flooding of the world's vanities. And in any case — the holy desire itself is very good and precious — and the effort to save oneself — even if one does not merit it as befitting — is also very good and precious. No effort and longing and good desire is ever lost — for eternity. And ultimately all the efforts and good longings will gather together — and will bring a person up from the pit of destruction — from the thick mud — to the light — to behold the pleasantness of Hashem [לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹעַם ה' — Tehillim 27:4: achas sha'alti me'eis Hashem osah avakesh: shivti b'veit Hashem kol y'mei chayyai lachazot b'noam Hashem — "one thing I ask of Hashem — that I seek: to dwell in the house of Hashem all the days of my life — to behold the pleasantness of Hashem." The verse of the single focused desire — the ultimate aspiration of the person whose trust in Hashem is complete. Here it is the destination of the entire arc: from the pit of destruction and the thick mud — through all the gathered efforts and good longings — to arrive ultimately at the direct vision of divine pleasantness. This is where the circular postscript ends: not merely at rescue, but at the vision of Hashem] [Tehillim 27:4] and so forth.
The words of your true lover forever. — Nussun the above-mentioned.
You have gladdened me with your good tidings regarding the writing of Torah scrolls in the home of R'D — may his light shine. It is certainly the salvation of Hashem and His wonders — but we still need salvation and great mercy — that his springs spread outward [יָפוּצוּ מַעְיְנוֹתָיו חוּצָה — Mishlai 5:16: the verse of the spreading of the Rebbe's Torah beyond the inner circles outward to all of Israel] throughout all the dispersions of Israel — to revive them forever.
Overview: Writing from Uman after the forced journey. Soul nearly consumed from having no letter during the entire journey. Yitzchok's letter found in Uman revived him. *Heitivta la'asos*. Torah scroll — like not found within a hundred parasangs. *Keser Torah*, Shas, *Ayin Yaakov*. *Zeh ani kara vaHashem shomeia* (Tehillim 34:7). *Ilmalay pinu malei shirah* — *Nishmas*. *Shehechianu* anticipated. *Pri kodesh hilulim*: now identified as Vayikra 19:24 — the fourth-year fruit consecrated entirely to Hashem — the precise and exalted title of R' Nachman the grandson. *Lachazot b'noam Hashem*: now identified as Tehillim 27:4 — the single focused desire — the ultimate destination of all gathered efforts. *Yafutzu mayanosav* (Mishlai 5:16).