He received his letter with the letter from Rabbi Ephraim — and it was a great comfort. Just now there is nothing new to add — but because he knows the immensity of his yearning to hear words of truth — he said to inform him a little of their speech on the past Shabbas Kodesh — about the great virtue of speech and conversation before Him Yisborach.
And he mentioned what he saw in the Midrash Parshas Vayikra chapter 2 — which brings there the verse (Yirmiyahu 31): *"ha'ben yakir li Ephraim — im yeled sha'ashu'im — ki midei dabri vo zachor ezk'rennu od"* — "Is Ephraim My precious son — is he a child of delight — for as often as I speak of him I do earnestly remember him." [Yirmiyahu 31:19] And it says there: what kind of child of delight — as a son of two or three years — and one said as a son of four or five years. And the commentators explained there: one said as a son of two or three years — that even though such a child cannot speak except in hint — and speaks half-speech — even so his father is delighted with him in his words and fulfils his desire. And one said as a son of four or five years — that then his speech is complete and he asks his father from a full mouth — give me such-and-such a thing — and his father fulfils his request. And even though it is not explained there in the commentary that fully — he explained the matter further — for he in his poverty drew from this much arousal for our matter — for what the Rebbe warned us to pour out one's speech before Him Yisborach every day. For praised be G-d he understood from this Midrash immense strengthening and arousal for this — for it is understood and explained from this that even when a person is unable to speak at all before Him Yisborach and to pour out one's speech well — even so it is precious in His eyes Yisborach — even if he speaks in hint and in half-speech — like a child of two or three years — and sometimes Hashem Yisborach helps and one speaks complete words — like a child of four or five years. And thus Israel are precious in His eyes when they speak and converse their needs before Him — and they are called a child of delight. And look there at what is said there on the conclusion of the verse — *"ki midei dabri vo — dei diburi vo"* — as it were: My speech about him is itself sufficient for him [כִּי מִדֵּי דַבְּרִי בּוֹ דֵּי דִּבּוּרִי בּוֹ — Midrash Vayikra Rabbah 2 — a homiletical reading of the verse: the word "midei" is read as "my speech / my attention" — and the phrase becomes: whenever I speak of him — that very speaking is itself sufficient for him. The act of Hashem turning His attention to Ephraim — to Israel — has its own healing power even before any specific act. And inversely: whenever Israel speaks to Hashem — even in the weakest of whispers — that very speaking is precious to Him] — understand the immensity of the preciousness of the speech there. And it is impossible to express in writing — especially since the bearer of this letter is very pressing and the obligation to be brief. But from yourselves you will understand hints from this to strengthen yourselves in speech and conversation between a person and his Creator at every time — as you will be able. Certainly it is better to speak explicitly with complete words — but also when they cannot speak well — the speech — the whispering — the murmuring — is precious in His eyes Yisborach — like a child of delight who is two or three years old. And understand well to fulfil all this in simplicity — for it is your life forever — for it is impossible to pass through this world in peace — except through what he wrote here — for our strength is only in the mouth.
And may Hashem gladden your hearts — and may you merit to receive the holy Pesach coming upon us for good — with holiness and with kashrus and with great joy.
The words of the one who writes in pressing haste.
Nussun of Breslov.
Overview: Thursday, Parshas Tzav — Breslov. To Yitzchok. He received his letter with the letter from Rabbi Ephraim — great comfort. Just now there is nothing new to add — but because he knows the immensity of his yearning to hear words of truth — he said to inform him a little of their speech on the past Shabbas Kodesh — about the great virtue of speech and conversation before Him Yisborach. And he mentioned what he saw in the Midrash Parshas Vayikra chapter 2 — which brings the verse (Yirmiyahu 31): "ha'ben yakir li Ephraim — im yeled sha'ashu'im — ki midei dabri vo zachor ezk'rennu od." And it says there: what kind of child of delight — as a son of two or three years — and one said as a son of four or five years. And the commentators explained: one said as a son of two or three years — that even though such a child cannot speak except in hint — and speaks half-speech — even so his father is delighted with him and fulfils his desire. And one said as a son of four or five years — that then his speech is complete and he asks his father from a full mouth — give me such-and-such — and his father fulfils his request. He explained the matter further — drawing much arousal for our matter — for what the Rebbe warned us to pour out one's speech before Him Yisborach every day. For praised be G-d he understood from this Midrash immense strengthening — for it is understood and explained from this — that even when a person is unable to speak at all before Him Yisborach — even so it is precious in His eyes — even if he speaks in hint and in half-speech — like a child of two or three years — and sometimes Hashem helps and one speaks complete words — like a child of four or five years. And thus Israel are precious in His eyes when they speak and converse their needs before Him — and they are called a child of delight. And look there at the conclusion of the verse — "ki midei dabri vo — dei diburi vo" — as it were: My speech about him is itself sufficient for him — understand the immensity of the preciousness of the speech. It is impossible to express in writing — especially since the bearer is very pressing. But from yourselves you will understand hints from this — to strengthen yourselves in speech and conversation between a person and his Creator at every time — as you will be able. Certainly it is better to speak explicitly with complete words — but also when they cannot speak well — the speech — the whispering — the murmuring — is precious in His eyes — like a child of delight of two or three years. Understand well to fulfil all this in simplicity — for it is your life forever — for it is impossible to pass through this world in peace — except through what he wrote here — for our strength is only in the mouth. And may Hashem gladden your hearts — and may you merit to receive the holy Pesach coming upon us for good — with holiness and with kashrus and with great joy.