He received his letter — and it was a great comfort to him. And his language praised be G-d is already somewhat refined — with Hashem's help — and soon it will be refined as befitting. Only in writing — you must accustom yourself every day — so that your hand is well trained in writing. And it will be needed for you in all ways — both for the way of the world — and for Torah and the service of Hashem. And to reply to your letter — the time is not right just now. And if Hashem wills — from Uman — he will reply to him in writing — and also they will speak — if Hashem wills — with Hashem's help. Only be strong my son and very resolute — to flee every time from strange thoughts — for the thought is in the hand of a person to bend it as he wills. And every time one draws the thought from outside to inside — it is very very precious in the eyes of Hashem Yisborach. [כָּל פַּעַם שֶׁמַּמְשִׁיכִין הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה מִחוּץ לִפְנִים — every time one draws the thought from outside to inside — the image is of a person's mind as a palace with an outside and an inside. Strange thoughts come from outside — from the outer courts of the mind. Each time one makes the effort to bring the thought inward — toward Hashem — toward Torah — this is immensely precious. And for this — says Reb Nussun — a person comes to the world: to fight this war] And for this a person comes to the world — to fight this war. And according to the ways of the holy counsels of our Master our Teacher and our Rebbe — and through his great power — one can save his soul. Only one needs great strengthening and immense stubbornness in desire — to engage every day in Torah and prayer — and let whatever happens happen. I will do what is mine — and I will snatch good — all that I can — little or much — like a rooster pecking in a rubbish heap. And in particular to cry out and to supplicate before Hashem Yisborach at every time. In particular in these holy awesome days.
The words of your father — who awaits to see all good in you.
Nussun as above.
My beloved son Nachman — may he live. I received your greeting — and I had great pleasure from what you yourself wrote. In particular since you were not well — praised be Hashem Yisborach Who helped you. Today you must begin to put on tefillin — you have been born anew. For the sake of Hashem Yisborach — take careful note of what is beginning now. Throw away all the foolishness that has been until now — and create for yourself a new heart for good. [בִּיסְטוּ גָּאר נַייא גִּיבּוֹרֶין — you are entirely newly born — the Yiddish is raw and powerful. A boy putting on tefillin for the first time is not merely fulfilling a new mitzvah — he is born again — an entirely new being. Reb Nussun speaks to him with the most direct fatherly love: throw away the foolishness — the old way of a child — and create for yourself a new heart. This is a moment of true birth] If Hashem wills — from Uman — I will write to you more — with Hashem's help. The tefillin batim — I will tell my son Rabbi Itzik — may he live — to send to you. Be well and joyful — and say Tehillim every day — and desire to learn — and everything will be well — with Hashem's help.
And peace to all our anshei sh'lomaynu with great love. It is impossible just now to address you separately as befitting. Presumably you will see or hear what he wrote to his son Rabbi Itzik — may he live. And the post is very urgent.
Overview: Tuesday, Parshas Re'eh — Berdichev — 5600. Note: beginning missing. First section — to his son Dovid Tzvi. He received his letter — great comfort. His language praised be G-d is already somewhat refined — and soon it will be refined as befitting. Only in writing — you must accustom yourself every day — so that your hand is well trained — it will be needed for you in all ways. The time is not right to reply fully — but if Hashem wills from Uman he will reply. Only be strong and very resolute — to flee every time from strange thoughts — for the thought is in the hand of a person to bend it as he wills. And every time one draws the thought from outside to inside — it is very very precious in the eyes of Hashem Yisborach. And for this a person comes to the world — to fight this war. According to the ways of the holy counsels of our Master our Teacher and our Rebbe — and through his great power — one can save his soul. Only one needs great strengthening and immense stubbornness in desire — to engage every day in Torah and prayer — and let whatever happens happen. I will do what is mine — and I will snatch good — all that I can — little or much — like a rooster pecking in a rubbish heap. And in particular to cry out and to supplicate before Hashem Yisborach in particular in these holy awesome days. Then: to his beloved young son Nachman — in Yiddish — apparently on the occasion of his bar mitzvah and first putting on of tefillin. I received your greeting — great pleasure from what you yourself wrote — in particular since you were not well — praised be Hashem Who helped you. Today you must begin to put on tefillin — you have been born anew. For the sake of Hashem — take careful note of what is beginning now. Throw away all the foolishness that has been until now — and create for yourself a new heart for good. If Hashem wills from Uman I will write to you more. The tefillin batim I will tell Rabbi Itzik to send to you. Be well and joyful — and say Tehillim every day — and desire to learn — and everything will be well with Hashem's help. Then: greetings to all anshei sh'lomaynu with great love — impossible just now to address you separately. The post is very urgent.