I received your letter yesterday — and I was pleased hearing of your good welfare. And behold — the postman is still standing in my house — and I do not know at all when he will leave. More than this there is nothing new to inform you. And the bearer of this letter is very pressed — and it is impossible to extend. May Hashem Yisborach have mercy on your father and on all of you — and expand His hand and fill all your deficiencies.
And the essential: may Hashem Yisborach strengthen your heart to strengthen yourself in the Torah of Hashem and in prayer — and to trust in Hashem — for He will not abandon you. For there is no advice for any person in the world except *bitachon* — trust [בִּטָּחוֹן — *bitachon* — trust in Hashem — the single comprehensive counsel that encompasses all other counsel. No strategy, no plan, no human resource can substitute for the foundational act of placing one's full reliance upon Hashem]. And the essential strengthening of *bitachon* is through strengthening in Torah and prayer all day — for the world is a passing shadow — and however things will be — we will spend our days equally — and nothing accompanies a person and so forth [וְאֵין מְלַוִּין לוֹ לָאָדָם — "and nothing accompanies a person" — from Pirkei Avos 6:9: in the hour of his departure from the world — neither silver nor gold nor precious stones accompany him — but only Torah and good deeds. Referenced here as the ultimate ground for investing all one's energy in Torah and prayer rather than in the anxious pursuit of material security] . And even if everyone knows this — one must return and remember this every single day. And it was not for nothing that the Tanna reminded us of this — even though it is known to all — but only to remind a person so that he not forget at any time his eternal purpose. [תַּכְלִיתוֹ הַנִּצְחִי — his eternal purpose — the *tachlis* — the ultimate reason for which a person was placed in this world. Everything else in life — wealth — status — comfort — is temporary and accompanies no one beyond the grave. Only his eternal purpose remains]
And may Hashem Yisborach prolong your days and years in goodness and pleasantness.
Nussun of Breslov.
Overview: Thursday, 26th of *B'midbar* — Nemirov. To his son-in-law Rabbi Baruch. Received his letter yesterday — pleased to hear of their good welfare. The postman is still standing in his house — doesn't know when he will leave. Nothing new to inform him. The bearer is pressed — impossible to extend. May Hashem have mercy on your father and on all of you — expand His hand and fill all your deficiencies. And the essential: may Hashem strengthen your heart to strengthen yourself in Torah and in prayer — and to trust in Hashem — for He will not abandon you. There is no advice for any person in the world except *bitachon* — trust. And the essential strengthening of *bitachon* is through strengthening in Torah and prayer all day — for the world is a passing shadow — and nothing accompanies a person. Even if everyone knows this — one must return and remember this every single day. It was not for nothing that the Tanna reminded us of this — but only to remind a person so that he not forget at any time his eternal purpose. May Hashem prolong your days and years in goodness and pleasantness.