Your letter I received last week. And you gave me life with your words — in what you wrote that my words have made an impression upon you. For this is my portion — when I merit to hear that the words of the ever-flowing stream, the source of wisdom, act with His great kindness. And behold — now I have no free time at all — and the bearer of this letter will tell you.
You will also receive the enclosed letter from Rabbi Chayyim Nachum — may his light shine — in order to give you life with good tidings from your friends. And in this you will also see the salvation of Hashem — how Hashem Yisborach never abandons us forever. And if some matter of salvation delays — one must wait for it — for everything has its time — and one is compelled to wait for everything. For in this world one must endure very greatly — and the essential thing is to wait and to be still for His salvation always — and not to question His qualities, may He be blessed, at all. And in the end Hashem will save in all matters — for one must fulfil the words of our Sages, of blessed memory, literally, as they warned us to always say [Berachos 60b]: Whatever the Merciful One does — He does for the good.
And behold you see what passed over your brother-in-law — may his light shine. And although my innards yearn for him — for the compassion toward him is immense — yet even so, surely Hashem is righteous — and who shall say to Him: what are You doing? [cf. Koheles 8:4] And surely it is for great good. And I greatly marvelled at you, my son — for I heard from my friend Rabbi Leibli, the son-in-law of Rabbi Reuven — that you began to harbour doubts in this matter, and so forth. Far be it from you, my son, to begin to question in this — for you do not know at all what is being done in the world with each and every person.
The principle is that it is forbidden to begin to enter these doubts and investigations at all. Only to believe with complete faith that Hashem is righteous and His judgments are upright — and everything is on account of free choice. And surely every person has free choice — and everything that passes over any person — whether for good or for the opposite, G-d forbid — all of it is hints and proclamations that he should return to Him.
And in particular to question over another person whose situation you do not know at all. But even what passes over yourself — if at times you cannot understand the hints and the proclamations — you must believe. And through this Hashem Yisborach will help you and illuminate your eyes — how to return to Him — and to flee and run to Him always from all that passes over you. And through this He will help you and save you always. And may there be fulfilled: El Shaddai will give you compassion [Bereishis 43:14] — that the mercy should be in our hands, and so forth.
The words of your father — greatly preoccupied — who awaits your salvation.
Nussun of Breslov.
Your letter I received. And if you have eyes of truth — from this too you ought to be aroused and draw close to Hashem Yisborach — and run to Him always. For you see the greatness of the kindness that Hashem Yisborach did with you — in that you came within our borders. And above all the goodnesses that Hashem Yisborach did with you through me — above all of these rises this goodness and kindness: that I informed you that there is no place to flee from the blows of this world — except to Hashem Yisborach alone. Would that you merit to walk in this always — for it is not an empty thing from you — for it is your life. And there is much to elaborate on this — but the time of Minchah has arrived.
And the young men are now engaged with great toil — throwing out the mud and mire that fell into my house on account of the rains. And this too is for the good. Apart from very great matters that rest now in my thoughts. But even so — it is necessary to respond to each and every one of you with a proper answer. With all this effort — perhaps Hashem will be with us in His great power to grant us always to lift our eyes on high — in all that passes over us — until we merit to return to Him in truth in its truth.
The words of your uncle and friend — who desires your good and success in this world and the next — for eternity.
Nussun, as above.
Overview: A double letter — to son Yitzchok and then to nephew Rabbi Yitzchok Ayzik — written four days before Tisha B'Av 5589. The house is still in chaos: rain has brought mud, young men are shovelling, and Minchah is approaching. Reb Nussun nonetheless writes two letters, centred on a single teaching: all that passes over a person — good or difficult — is a hint and proclamation from Heaven to return to G-d. It is forbidden to begin questioning G-d's ways. And the greatest kindness Reb Nussun can offer anyone is the teaching that there is nowhere to flee from this world's blows — except to Hashem.