I received your letter together with the letter from Rabbi Henich and the two gold coins. And just now there is nothing new to inform — for you have already heard that Rabbi Nissan son of Rabbi Kalman sat in prison for a full day and night [מֵעֵת לְעֵת — literally "from time to time" — the Talmudic expression for a full twenty-four hour period, a *yom umaylah*] — and on Monday they released him. And the youth are still digging and throwing some stones — but a great fear has already fallen upon them — for on Sunday they searched to seize all of them. And Moshe the Overturned was by the Rav here yesterday — and cried out greatly about himself — and his mind is confused as it has always been — but now he is more confused — and he is in very very great distress. May Hashem Yisborach have mercy upon him — that the evil spirit depart from him — and he return to the truth with all his heart — and strive to repair what he has so greatly damaged [יִשְׁתַּדֵּל לְתַקֵּן אֶת אֲשֶׁר עִוֵּת כָּל כָּךְ — the extraordinary compassion of Reb Nussun: even for the man who has been the most destructive opponent through the entire *machloket* — Reb Nussun prays not for his destruction but for his *teshuvah* — that he repair what he has so damaged. This is the measure of Reb Nussun's inner character] — as he himself sees somewhat — even now within his mental confusion. May the Makom have mercy upon him and upon us — to rescue us from our enemies and pursuers without cause — and give truth to Yaakov and so forth. And may Hashem Yisborach send a complete healing to your daughter — may she live — in the midst of all the other ill ones of Israel.
And be careful — my son — even now in the midst of your busyness — to remember every day the World to Come — in general and in particular [בְּעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי בִּכְלָל וּבִפְרָט — *olam ha'ba* — the World to Come — thought of in two dimensions: *bikelal* — in general, as a fundamental orientation of one's awareness — and *bifrat* — in particular, meaning specific detailed contemplation of what *olam ha'ba* means for oneself personally. This is the foundational practice that Reb Nussun traces to the very core of the Rebbe's mission] — for this is an obligation on every person — whatever his situation — and whatever passes over him. For everything that passes over a person every day — all of it are hints to draw close to Him — Yisborach — from wherever he is [כָּל מַה שֶּׁעוֹבֵר עַל הָאָדָם בְּכָל יוֹם הַכֹּל הֵם רְמָזִים לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלָיו יִתְבָּרַךְ — one of the deepest teachings of the Rebbe: every event, every happening, every encounter in a person's daily life — good or difficult — is a *remez* — a hint — a signal from above pointing toward *teshuvah* and closeness to Hashem. Nothing is random; all is a message]. For Hashem Yisborach constricts Himself from the infinite to the utterly finite [מְצַמְצֵם אֶת עַצְמוֹ מֵאֵין סוֹף עַד אֵין תַּכְלִית — the doctrine of *tzimtzum* — divine constriction or contraction — by which the infinite Ein Sof makes space for finite existence. Here applied in its most intimate sense: Hashem contracts Himself to be present within the details of each person's daily life — sending hints through every event toward closeness and *teshuvah*] and so forth. Remember this well — and guard this memory well every day — for the memory itself is very good. And all the great upheaval and the storm-wind of the great *machloket* that has been aroused against us — all of it stems from the evil eye [הָרַע עַיִן — the *ayin hara* — the evil eye — the force of destructive envy that fixes itself on the *tzaddik* and seeks to destroy what he represents. The *machloket* is not merely a social conflict — it is the spiritual eruption of this force against the Rebbe's mission] that incites against the true *tzaddik* — who occupies himself to remind the world every day of the World to Come — for there is no one who speaks and engages in this like him. And since through His wondrous kindness — Yisborach — we have at any rate been saved from being an opponent and adversary against him — it is our obligation to accustom ourselves to walk in his holy ways — to remember every day the World to Come and so forth — as above. And there is much to say about this — but there is no free time — and also it is impossible here in the open field [עַל פְּנֵי הַשָּׂדֶה — Reb Nussun is writing this letter outdoors — in the field — not at home or in the beis midrash. A rare and evocative detail: the deepest teaching of the letter was written in the open air, in the summer of 5595, perhaps while walking or resting during a moment of freedom after the months of house-confinement]. And this is enough for now for one who truly desires.
The words of your father.
Nussun of Breslov.
Overview: Wednesday, Parshas Shelach — Breslov — same week as Letter 186. Rabbi Nissan son of Rabbi Kalman imprisoned 24 hours and released Monday. The youth still throwing some stones but a great fear has fallen on them. Moshe the Overturned was by the local Rav yesterday — crying out loudly — his mind confused and greatly distressed. Reb Nussun's extraordinary compassionate prayer: may the evil spirit depart and he return to the truth and repair what he damaged. Complete healing for daughter among all *cholei Yisrael*. Then the profound teaching: an obligation on every person to remember *olam ha'ba* every day — in general and in particular. Everything that passes over a person are hints to draw close to Hashem — for Hashem constricts Himself from *ein sof* to *ein tachlis*. The entire *machloket* stems from the evil eye against the true *tzaddik* — who reminds the world every day of *olam ha'ba* — for there is no one who speaks and engages in this like him. Written *al p'nei hasadeh* — in the open field.