Ullim LeTroofah
עלים לתרופה
Leaves for Healing
LETTER THREE HUNDRED AND TEN
Blessed be Hashem  ·  Night before Friday — Erev Shabbas Kodesh, Parshas Balak — Brod  ·  Year 5600 (1840)
To Great peace — to the honor of my beloved son — my dear one — the rabbinical scholar — and so forth — our Teacher the Rabbi Yitzchok — may he live.

Until here Your abundant mercies have helped us — that he entered the congregation of Brod on the past Tuesday — close to the afternoon prayer. And on Monday he came to Radivil — and on Tuesday he received his letter from the hand of Rabbi Shoel Toviyah. And Hashem Yisborach helped him that he crossed the border with some sufferings and failing of the eyes — but praised be G-d he crossed in peace and chesed. But while he was still there — it became known to him that they were not permitting his attendant Rabbi Nachman — may his light shine — to pass — and he was compelled to cross by himself. And he came on the above-mentioned Tuesday here alone. But "batzar hirchavta li" — in the straits You broadened for me — for there at the border Hashem Yisborach arranged for him a young man from their family — whose father lives in Radivil — and it became known to him who he is. And he drew close to him and entered with him here to Brod — and brought him to a good inn. And all that passes over him — all with sufferings and great chesed — the one end sharp and the other end sharp [רֹאשׁוֹ אֶחָד כַּד וְרֹאשׁוֹ אֶחָד חַד — from the Talmud (Pesachim 3b) — said of a barrel that is pointed on both ends — Reb Nussun applies it to his situation: every narrow passage has two sharp edges — the difficulty of the entry and the difficulty of the exit — yet both are ultimately for good. See Likutay Halachos, Yoreh Deah, Simanei Beitzim section 5] — look in Likutay Halachos Yoreh Deah — Simanei Beitzim section 5 — and understand his words. And from yourself you will understand the immensity of the sufferings that was for him when he came alone — and Rabbi Nachman remained there — and suddenly it was as if an iron wall was between them. And also the garment necessary for him and his underwear remained with him. And this failing of the eyes was from the above-mentioned Tuesday until today Thursday close to evening — that Hashem Yisborach merited him that Rabbi Nachman arrived here in peace — and gave him life. Good to give thanks to Hashem — in general and in particular — for all the chasadim and the good things and the wonders that He does with us at every time.

And praised be G-d — already several important and elder men have entered to see him. And among most of the Chassidim here — he was received with honor — praised be G-d — and all know him from before. But to collect money is still distant and difficult — but the hope is to Hashem that He will not abandon him. And after Rabbi Nachman arrived — he informed the Nagid Rabbi Yaakov Hirtz. And a short while afterwards — the Nagid himself came to his home to receive his face with love — and brought him himself his letters from here — and it was a great comfort to him. But the comfort is mixed with sufferings — from the multitude of the lacks of each person — and in particular from his letters — whose cry rises to the heart of the heavens — and he does not know what to reply to him just now. But you gave life to his soul in what you reminded him — that what gives you life is kamatz aleph. [קָמֵץ אָלֶף — the vowel kamatz under the letter aleph — the very first step of learning Hebrew — the very first foundation of reading Torah. Reb Nussun says: when one is crushed and overwhelmed — one must return to the most elemental foundations — to the very beginning — to *kamatz aleph* — the root of all learning. This is not a regression but a rebirth — beginning again from the most essential truth] And in truth one must begin to learn with you and with all of us anew — kamatz aleph — in every single Torah he revealed. And you should begin truly anew — kamatz aleph — in the Torah "ki merachamam y'nahalem" — about the matter of melo kol ha'aretz kevodo — printed in two places there. And look and study there anew — how he was precise in writing it — explaining well — as it came out in holiness and purity from his holy mouth — that even in the very depths of the depths one can draw close to him — for melo kol ha'aretz kevodo — the whole earth is full of His glory.

And how he cried out in his holy voice and said: *"Gott iz mit dir — bay dir — lebin dir — shrek dich nit — dupf af mein koiach — kein yiush iz gor nit farhandin"* — "G-d is with you — close to you — right beside you — do not be afraid — lean on my strength — there is absolutely no despair anywhere." [גָּאט אִיז מִיט דִּיר בַּיי דִּיר לֶעבִּין דִּיר שְׁרֶעק דִּיךְ נִיט דּוּפִי אָף מַיין כֹּחַ קֵיין יֵאוּשׁ אִיז גָּאר נִיט פַאר הַאנְדִין — Yiddish — the Rebbe's words in their original language. The overwhelming intimacy of this: the Rebbe does not say "Hashem is with you" in the third person — he says bay dir — lebin dir — close to you — right beside you — at your very side. Not a distant theology but an immediate presence. And then: dupf af mein koiach — lean on my strength — the Rebbe's personal guarantee. And finally: kein yiush iz gor nit farhandin — there is simply no such thing as despair — it does not exist in reality] And believe me my beloved son — all these words were said to you in particular. And you should say that their essential was said only for your sake — for a person is obligated to say: *"bishvili nivra ha'olam"* — "for my sake was the world created." [Sanhedrin 37a]

And if you were to know and understand what he understood today from new books that he found here — how the world is mired in what it is mired — may Hashem have mercy — and how all the present authors want to strengthen and to arouse — but they have no instrument of the craft — and it is impossible to express in the open field. From the immensity of his longing — he compelled himself to write these words in such preoccupation. Trust in Hashem for He will not abandon you — and gladden your soul — and compel your thought every time to remove from your mind the tormenting thoughts and bad strange imaginings. And what is done with you automatically — do not worry about it and do not look back at all. Hasten to escape for your soul — do not look behind you. [Bereishis 19:17] And praised be G-d — we have someone to lean on — praised be G-d — the power of the elder of elders of holiness. *Ashreinu mah tov chelkeinu* — that we merited in this generation to know from such a light.

The words of your father who intercedes for you — only be very very strong and resolute — and Hashem will help you always.

Nussun of Breslov.

And greet his friend Rabbi Naftali — may his light shine — with love. And inform him that he came praised be G-d to Brod in His chesed Yisborach. About the garment for his son — from here it is impossible for him to bring. But certainly he will make for him the necessary garment — with Hashem's help. Only may Hashem Yisborach help him to rescue him from soiled garments — and may he merit the chalukah d'rabbanan and so forth.

Overview: Night before Friday, Erev Shabbas Parshas Balak — Brod — 5600. To Yitzchok. Until here Your abundant mercies have helped us — that he entered the congregation of Brod on the past Tuesday close to Minchah. On Monday he came to Radivil — on Tuesday he received his letter from the hand of Rabbi Shoel Toviyah. Hashem helped him cross the border with some sufferings and failing of the eyes — but praised be G-d he crossed in peace and chesed. But it became known to him at the border that they were not permitting his attendant Rabbi Nachman to pass — and he was compelled to cross by himself. He came on Tuesday here alone. But "batzar hirchavta li" — for there at the border Hashem arranged for him a young man from their family — whose father lives in Radivil — and he drew close to him and entered with him here to Brod — and brought him to a good inn. And all that passes over him — all with sufferings and great chesedrosh echad kad v'rosh echad chad — see in Likutay Halachos Yoreh Deah Simanei Beitzim 5. From yourself you will understand the immensity of the sufferings — that Rabbi Nachman remained there — and suddenly it was as if an iron wall was between them — and also his garment and underwear remained with him. This failing of the eyes was from Tuesday until today Thursday close to evening — that Hashem merited him that Rabbi Nachman arrived here in peace — and gave him life. Good to give thanks to Hashem in general and in particular — for all the chasadim and the wonders at every time. Already several important and elder men came to see him. Among most of the Chassidim here he was received with honor. But to collect money is still difficult — but the hope is to Hashem. After Rabbi Nachman arrived — he informed the Nagid Rabbi Yaakov Hirtz — and a short while afterwards the Nagid himself came to his home to receive his face with love — and brought him his letters — great comfort. But the comfort is mixed with sufferings from the multitude of the lacks of each person — and in particular from his letters — whose cry rises to the heart of the heavens — and he does not know what to reply just now. But you gave life to his soul in what you reminded him — that what gives you life is kamatz aleph. And in truth one must begin to learn anew — kamatz aleph — in every single Torah he revealed. Begin truly anew — kamatz aleph — in the Torah "ki merachamam y'nahalem" — about the matter of melo kol ha'aretz kevodo. Look and study there anew — that even in the very depths one can draw close to him — for melo kol ha'aretz kevodo. And how he cried out in his holy voice and said: "Gott iz mit dir — bay dir — lebin dir — shrek dich nit — dupf af mein koiach — kein yiush iz gor nit farhandin." And believe me — all these words were said to you in particular. And you should say that their essential was said only for your sake — for a person is obligated to say: "bishvili nivra ha'olam." Trust in Hashem — and gladden your soul. Hasten to escape for your soul — do not look behind you. And praised be G-d — we have someone to lean on — the power of the elder of elders of holiness. Ashreinu mah tov chelkeinu — that we merited in this generation to know from such a light.

Key Themes

Crossed Border Alone — Rabbi Nachman Left Behind Like an Iron Wall — But Batzar Hirchavta Li — Rabbi Nachman Arrived Thursday and Gave Him Life — Kamatz Aleph — Melo Kol Ha'Aretz Kevodo He crossed the border alone — Rabbi Nachman remained there — suddenly as if an iron wall was between them. But "batzar hirchavta li" — Hashem arranged a young man to bring him to a good inn. Until today Thursday Rabbi Nachman arrived in peace and gave him life. Good to give thanks to Hashem at every time. You gave life to his soul — that what gives you life is kamatz aleph. Begin truly anew — even in the very depths one can draw close — for melo kol ha'aretz kevodo.
Gott Iz Mit Dir Bay Dir Lebin Dir — Shrek Dich Nit — Dupf Af Mein Koiach — Kein Yiush Iz Gor Nit Farhandin — These Words Were Said to You In Particular — Bishvili Nivra Ha'Olam The Rebbe cried out in his holy voice: "Gott iz mit dir — bay dir — lebin dir — shrek dich nit — dupf af mein koiach — kein yiush iz gor nit farhandin." Believe me — all these words were said to you in particular. You should say that their essential was said only for your sake — for a person is obligated to say: "bishvili nivra ha'olam." Ashreinu mah tov chelkeinu — that we merited in this generation to know from such a light.