I was genuinely displeased with you, my son, my dear one — for you gave no thought to write me even a few words to gladden my soul — especially at this time, when you know my grief to the depths of my soul.
Please, my beloved son — look carefully and carefully at all that passes over a person in this world all his days — and in particular what passes over you and over us. Set your heart carefully to look upon all the hints that Hashem Yisborach hints to us at every time — to draw close to Him — in every place that one may be — for there is no excuse in the world whatsoever, as is known to you. And I longed greatly to converse with you at length — but the time does not allow at all.
The words of your father — who awaits your wellbeing and your true and eternal success in this world and the next — and who awaits seeing you speedily.
Nussun of Breslov.
Your letter I received — and you gave me life with every single word from your letter, written from the walls of your heart. But my grief is very great from what I saw in your letter sent to Rabbi Naftali — may his light shine — that your wife is weak at present. May Hashem support her speedily.
And to respond to your letter there is no free time at all now — for many press upon me at this time. And for now, these few words of mine that hold much strengthening — which I wrote to your elder brother, may he live — suffice you as well. And these words were spoken to all our anshay shlomaynu as well. And you have already heard much from me beyond this. And I hope and trust in Hashem that you will yet hear more such things — until there is revealed to you the abundance of the good hidden and stored in my heart —
May Hashem Yisborach grant us merit to walk in His ways and to spend our days in his holy books — which contain everything.
The words of your father — greatly preoccupied now — who awaits seeing you in joy.
But I came to warn you and urge you — for the sake of Hashem — to strengthen yourself to gladden your soul with everything possible, however it may be — and the freedom of choice is always free. And I am also glad that you study at all events a page of Shulchan Aruch each day. Blessed be Hashem that I merited to hear this.
The words of your father — who longs for the love of all of you.
Nussun, as above.
And abundant peace with great and mighty love to all our anshay shlomaynu — small and great alike. May Hashem be with you — and begin from now, fresh, to walk in the ways of our Master, of blessed memory. And let each person from his own place attach himself to Hashem Yisborach with everything he can. And may he merit to bind himself always to the point that belongs to his heart at this very time — as I have already spoken greatly with you about this. He who has already heard — has heard. And he who has not heard this discourse — let him endeavour to hear it from his fellow — and they shall receive from one another, each from the other. As explained there in that same Torah teaching. Set your hearts carefully to every single word in his books — and to what you hear from my mouth always — for it is your life, and so forth.
The words of one who loves you in truth for eternity.
Nussun, as above.
Overview: Written from Uman itself — on Erev Shabbos of Parshas Re'eh, the Shabbos of seeing — this brief but multi-part letter captures Reb Nussun at Rebbe Nachman's resting place in the late summer before Rosh Hashana. He is preoccupied, grieving, and yet pours out life-giving words to both sons and the whole community. The most striking moment is his allusion to the hidden good stored in his heart — received from "Him from whom I received" — which "has no measure."
This is the first letter in the collection explicitly dated from Uman itself — written at Rebbe Nachman's holy resting place, on the eve of Parshas Re'eh (the portion of seeing). Reb Nussun is there in the final days of Av, preparing for Rosh Hashana — the annual pilgrimage he declared in Letter 19 to be a fixed law not to be transgressed.