The bearer of this letter — my friend, the son of my sister, Rabbi Ayzik, may he live — will tell you of my preoccupations — in particular from the dripping that was troubling me last week, which compelled me to move myself about a great deal — as you will understand yourself. But he pressed me greatly to write you a letter to give you life — and I am compelled to write what Hashem will send into my heart.
Know, my beloved son — that now I am giving myself life through the Torah teaching of (Likutay Tinyana, 74) — the great prostiak (simple, unlearned person) who gives life to all the prostiakim (simple people):
— those who know how to study and engage in Torah but are at times when they are prevented from Torah — he gives them life;
— those who are completely simple people (prostiakim) — he gives them life;
— and even those cast into the lowest depths — all of them he gives life through his simplicity — for then he receives from the treasury a free gift, which is the aspect of free-of-charge kindness that sustained the world before the giving of the Torah — which is the aspect of the path to the Land of Israel.
How fortunate are we — how fortunate are we — that we merited to hear words of the living G-d such as these! What shall we say, what shall we say — how many treasuries upon treasuries of free gifts has Hashem Yisborach poured upon us in this alone — that we merited to hear this Torah of the treasury of free gifts. And through this you can surely give yourself life always — all the days of your life — in particular now — in these times when you are in the aspect of a prostiak in many hours and times. But remember yourself always at every time of interruption — that there exists such a great prostiak who revealed this conversation and this Torah — who gives life to everyone — even those who have not heard this and do not know of it — and even those who oppose him. How much more so — how many goodly benefits does the Omnipresent bestow upon us — who have merited to hear all this from his holy mouth and from his holy books. Surely we can give ourselves life through this always.
And there is much, much to say in this — but free time does not allow at all. And behold the books are before you — go out and look and absorb yourself in them for all that you lack. And examine this holy Torah — for it is especially needed for you now.
And the essential thing is the faith — that one must believe at all times that Hashem Yisborach created everything in His will through the Ten Utterances — and within these Ten Utterances are hidden the Ten Commandments — which are the general principle of the entire Torah. Therefore — in everything one does — whether working at a craft or sitting in a shop — one must know and believe and remember at all times that there is Torah hidden in this — in the Ten Utterances through which everything was created — and every kind of merchandise that is in the shop — for Hashem Yisborach created everything through the Ten Utterances.
Remember this well, well — truly in its truth — for it is your life. And in particular through the power of the great prostiak — all of us can receive from the treasury of free gifts — as above.
And when you give yourself life through this in truth — even in times of great interruption — even as one may be in whatever state — I am confident in Hashem Yisborach that through this very thing you will return at every time to the study of holy Torah and to the service of prayer. And new desire toward Torah will be added to you each time — and everything will turn to the good. And the essential thing — strengthen yourself always in joy and trust in Hashem — for everything is for your good — and soon you will be saved with the help of Hashem Yisborach. And inform me speedily in His great kindness. But for now — remove everything from your mind — and remove all worries and thoughts and the like that preoccupy and confuse, G-d forbid — only cast your burden upon Hashem and He will sustain you [cf. Tehillim 55:23] — and He will save you and all who are joined with you — in everything you need to be saved.
The words of your father — who awaits your salvation.
Nussun of Breslov.
Overview: Written exactly sixteen days after Letter 30 — on the same Parshas Mas'ay that once held Letter 21 — this letter is pressed out of Reb Nussun by a dripping ceiling, a preoccupied week, and a nephew who refuses to leave without a letter for Yitzchok. What emerges is a complete exposition of two of the most radical teachings in Likutay Tinyana: the great prostiak who gives life to everyone through his simplicity and the free gift from the heavenly treasury — and the teaching that hidden within the Ten Utterances of Creation are the Ten Commandments, meaning Torah is present even in a shopkeeper's merchandise.