Ullim LeTroofah – Letter Thirty-Seven | Reb Nussun: The Wagon Driver, Rosh Hashana in Uman

Ullim LeTroofah

עלים לתרופה

Leaves for Healing

The Sacred Letters of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov and Reb Nussun of Breslov, of blessed memory

LETTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Dawn of Monday, the eve of the first Selichos, 25th of Elul · Year 5590 (1830)
Written from Breslov

With the help of G-d, may He be blessed

To My beloved son, may his light shine and radiate.

My beloved son — your letter I received. And I was already prepared today to travel — but the wagon driver deceived me: he hired out his wagon today for a short journey — and said each hour that he was coming — until I was delayed the entire day. And whatever the Merciful One does — He does for the good — even though one does not understand the good immediately. At present, it seems I will not travel any more via the road through Tultshin. I am confident in the kindnesses of Hashem that it will surely be for Rosh Hashana with the help of Hashem Yisborach.

And do not forget to bring with you to Uman — at all events — the money that Rabbi Shimshon promised. Also from Rabbi Ch.Sh. if possible. And if you can urge him to travel himself to Uman — then happy are you and happy is he — for our Rosh Hashana is very, very great in the eyes of Hashem Yisborach — there is nothing above it.

More than this — peace and life and a good inscription and sealing.

Nussun of Breslov.

✦ Letters of the Year 5591 ✦

Overview: The briefest letter in the collection — written at dawn on the eve of the first Selichos, five days before Rosh Hashana 5591. A wagon driver's deception has kept Reb Nussun from travelling all day. He applies the principle immediately — kol ma d'avid Rachmana l'tav avid — and then pivots entirely to the essential: get to Uman. Bring the promised money. Bring others. Rosh Hashana at the Tzaddik's resting place is very, very great in the eyes of Hashem — there is nothing above it.

Key Themes

Kol Ma D'Avid — Applied Instantly In Letter 32 Reb Nussun cited the Aramaic principle as a teaching. Here, three weeks later, he applies it to himself in real time — a wagon driver's lie has wasted his day. His response: whatever the Merciful One does is for the good — even if I don't understand the good now. This is faith lived, not only taught.

Nothing Above It "Our Rosh Hashana is very, very great in the eyes of Hashem Yisborach — there is nothing above it." This is the most absolute formulation of the Uman Rosh Hashana imperative in the entire collection. Not just important — above everything.

Written at Dawn Before Selichos The letter is dated or l'yom beis d'Selichos — the light (pre-dawn) of the Monday of Selichos. Reb Nussun is writing in the darkness before the first dawn of the Days of Awe. The urgency of the moment — Rosh Hashana five days away — is inseparable from the letter's compressed power.

A Good Inscription and Sealing The closing formula — u'chesivah va'chasimah tovah — is the traditional Rosh Hashana greeting, wishing the recipient a good inscription in the Book of Life and a good sealing on Yom Kippur. Even in the briefest letter, Reb Nussun's every word is placed with care.