On Friday he received his letter. And even though he has already heard his cry many times — and has already replied to him much — in speech and in writing — even so his innards were stirred for him — and he raises his eyes heavenward — and awaits to restore his soul through words of truth. Therefore he decided just now to extend his hand in a letter to him. Even though this week he has not yet received his letter — and also he does not know what to write — even so it is impossible for the beis midrash without a novelty. And in particular the words of our Master our Teacher and Rebbe — zacher tzaddik v'kadosh livrachah — which are deeper than the sea and renew themselves at every time.
And the essential is — that according to your words and the bitterness of your cry — it seems as if you have already forgotten — G-d forbid — or the Torah and holy discourse of *"Azamra l'Elokai b'odi"* — "I will sing to my G-d while I yet have being" [אֲזַמְּרָה לֵאלֹקַי בְּעוֹדִי — Tehillim 146:2. The central Torah of Likutay Moharan I:282 — the teaching of finding the good points within oneself — that even the most fallen person has good points — and by gathering these points and singing them before Hashem — one gives life to one's soul. Reb Nussun says: the correspondent's cry of anguish is a sign that this Torah has grown stale for him — and so he returns to remind him of it anew] has already become so stale for him — that he is not giving himself life and restoring his soul through it as fitting. Therefore since the moment he read his letter — he was aroused to return and to remind him of the sweetness of the truth of the holiness of this Torah — together with several more Torahs and holy discourses that are connected to this. And the essential is to go in them simply — every day — anew. And on the contrary — precisely when one looks at oneself and thinks that the depths of the sea are washing over him from every side — and almost almost — G-d forbid — precisely because of this one must remind oneself of all the above-mentioned Torah words. For is it not so — even so there are good points within me from several mitzvos and good practices — and to turn the grief and the sighing to gladness and joy. For on the contrary — all the more it seems to me that I am farther away — and if the truth is so — I have reason to rejoice more and more — in what I merit even so to put on tallis and tefillin every day — and to receive Shabbas and Yom Tov — and to draw close and to suckle from such a holy and new light — and to give praise and thanks and hallel to Hashem Yisborach every day and every time — for He has helped us until now to remain at our post — and has distinguished us from the erring ones in many aspects — in the midst of such a storm and raging wind. In particular what has passed over us in the recent years — may Hashem protect and guard us from now.
And even though all this and more than this you already know — is not this my word from long ago — that the essential is not to be old and stale — G-d forbid — not to fall into the old-age of the sitra achra. For our Sages have already warned us many times: *"divrei Torah al yih'yu b'einecha k'ishanim ela k'chadashim"* — "let Torah words not be in your eyes like old things — but like new ones." In particular such awesome novellae as these that renew themselves at every time and moment — for one who truly pays attention to them.
And what shall I add to speak to you further — be strong my son and resolute — and hope to Hashem — and He will save you. And in the end of all ends Hashem will complete through His true tzaddikim with all of us for good — and certainly you also are included — in His wondrous chesed. And fulfil (Tehillim 27) *"kaveh el Hashem"* — and as Rashi explained there: if your prayer was not received — be strong and resolute — and return and hope to Hashem — for Hashem will not abandon forever. And the time for morning prayer has arrived — impossible to extend further. *"Yomam y'tzaveh Hashem chasdo"* — and may He gladden your heart with all the ways of our holy counsels. And to Hashem the salvation — that you be here for the upcoming holy Shabbas. May Hashem help us to engage and to speak and to converse in His wonders Yisborach — in a way that we all merit from now to return to Him Yisborach in truth — in joy and good-heartedness — from the abundance of all. *Nagila v'nismecha bishu'aso.*
Nussun of Breslov.
And peace to all our anshei sh'lomaynu with great love. And still he does not know with whom to send this letter — but from his great love he snatched the leisure to prepare for him this letter — to give life and restore his soul. And also remember what he heard from his holy mouth (Chayei Moharan 67) in this language: *"Gott iz groys — men veyst gar nit — se tuhen zich oyf der velt zachen men veyst gar nit"* — G-d is great — one simply does not know — things happen in the world that one simply does not know [This is a direct quotation from the Rebbe's holy mouth — in Yiddish — recorded in Chayei Moharan section 67. The simple and profound message: do not think you can calculate or foresee what Hashem is doing. Things are happening in the world far beyond what any person can perceive. Therefore: do not despair. The salvation may be moments away] — only do not despair from crying out and from mercies and supplications — and everything will be turned to good. And Shabbas Shirah is about to arrive. May Hashem grant us to feel anew: *"Moshe u'vnei Yisrael l'cha anu shirah b'simchah rabbah v'am'ru kulam"* — "Moshe and the children of Israel sang to You a song with great joy — and they all said."
Overview: Morning of Monday, Parshas Beshalach — Breslov — 5600. To his beloved son. On Friday he received his letter. Even though he has already heard his cry many times and replied much — even so his innards were stirred — he raises his eyes heavenward — awaits to restore his soul through words of truth. Impossible for the beis midrash without a novelty. And in particular the words of our Master our Teacher and Rebbe — which are deeper than the sea and renew themselves at every time. The essential — according to his words and the bitterness of his cry — it seems as if he has forgotten or the Torah and holy discourse of "Azamra l'Elokai b'odi" has grown stale — and he is not giving himself life and restoring his soul through it as fitting. Was aroused to remind him of the sweetness of the truth of this Torah — together with several more Torahs and holy discourses connected to this. The essential is to go in them simply — every day — anew. And on the contrary — precisely when one thinks the depths of the sea are washing over him — precisely because of this one must remind oneself of all the Torah words. For even so there are good points from several mitzvos and good practices — and to turn the grief and sighing to gladness and joy. For on the contrary — all the more it seems farther away — the more reason to rejoice — in what I merit even so to put on tallis and tefillin every day — to receive Shabbas and Yom Tov — to draw close and suckle from such a holy and new light — to give praise and thanks and hallel — for He has helped us until now to remain at our post — and has distinguished us from the erring ones — in the midst of such a storm and raging wind. The essential is not to be old and stale — G-d forbid. "Divrei Torah al yih'yu b'einecha k'ishanim ela k'chadashim." Be strong my son and resolute — and hope to Hashem. "Kaveh el Hashem" — as Rashi explained: if your prayer was not received — be strong and return and hope to Hashem — for Hashem will not abandon forever. Time for morning prayer arrived. "Yomam y'tzaveh Hashem chasdo." To Hashem the salvation — that you be here for the upcoming holy Shabbas. Nagila v'nismecha bishu'aso. Postscript: snatched the leisure to prepare this letter from his great love. And remember what he heard from his holy mouth (Chayei Moharan 67): "Gott iz groys — men veyst gar nit — se tuhen zich oyf der velt zachen men veyst gar nit" — only do not despair from crying out. And Shabbas Shirah is about to arrive. May Hashem grant us to feel anew: "Moshe u'vnei Yisrael l'cha anu shirah b'simchah rabbah v'am'ru kulam."