Hashem Yisborach arranges the world — as you will hear from the letter of his son Rabbi Shakna — may his light shine — and from the bearer of this letter. From Hashem the steps of a man are established. My beloved son Rabbi Dovid Tzvi — may his light shine — he wrote to his brother Yitzchok that he should acquire for his account a fur coat for him — approximately three or four silver rubles — that is to say — of marten. And he requests from him that he not ask for greatness — for this is also very hard and heavy upon him — for he is spending from other people's money as above. And because of the great urgency it is impossible to extend on this. And he trusts that he will obey him and begin to persevere in study and in prayers and in the recitation of *Tehillim* with intention — and then it will be well with him in this world and in the World to Come forever.
My beloved son Nachman — may he live — you have certainly understood the distress I have from you — from your stubbornness — in that you did not go to the beis medrash on Shabbas because of the hat. I beg of you to improve yourself — and take the hat of my son-in-law Rabbi Boruch — may he live — and go every Shabbas to the beis medrash. For Hashem's sake — do not follow your foolishness — listen to me — for I am thinking about you. If Hashem wills — soon — I trust — to make with you a match for good fortune — and then you will have a good shtreimel and also a good hat too. For now — for Hashem's sake — do not prevent yourself from the beis medrash for such a foolishness — in particular on the holy Shabbas. Desire to learn and pray and say Tehillim and prayers — and arise before dawn even a little. For Hashem's sake — guard yourself that I should not be angry with you — listen to me and to our people — and it will be so well with you in this world and in the World to Come.
And because of the great urgency and preoccupation just now — it is impossible to extend further.
The words of your father — who intercedes for you.
Nussun of Breslov.
And also my son Yosef Yonah — may he live — you should desire to learn — and it will be well with you in this world and in the World to Come. And great peace to all our anshei sh'lomaynu with great love and precious affection. For now there is no leisure to extend at all. Do not be aggrieved at me my brothers and companions — that I traveled from you from Shabbas Chanukah. For this was from Hashem — it is wondrous in their eyes — as you will hear and understand for yourselves. Please attend to my household — so that I should not need to be — G-d forbid — in debt — in particular at such a time when we are engaging in such a merit. And great peace to my son-in-law — the rabbinical scholar — Rabbi Boruch — may he live. And I request from you my dear son-in-law — that you attend to my son Nachman — may he live — in a way that he persevere well in his study — and explain the study to him well — in a way that he understand well with his intellect what he is studying.
Overview: Monday, Parshas Vayishlach — 5603. To his wife Dushil and to his children. Hashem Yisborach arranges the world — as they will hear from the letter of his son Rabbi Shakna and from the bearer of this letter. From Hashem the steps of a man are established. He wrote to his son Dovid Tzvi to acquire a fur coat for him on account — and requests that he not ask for greatness — for this is very hard upon him. He trusts he will obey and begin to persevere in study and prayers and Tehillim with intention. My beloved son Nachman — you have certainly understood the distress I have from you — from your stubbornness — that you did not go to the beis medrash on Shabbas because of the hat. I beg of you to improve yourself — take the hat of my son-in-law Rabbi Boruch — and go every Shabbas to the beis medrash. For Hashem's sake — do not follow your foolishness — listen to me — for I am thinking about you. If Hashem wills — soon I trust to make with you a match for good fortune — and then you will have a good shtreimel and hat too. For now — do not prevent yourself from the beis medrash for such a foolishness — in particular on the holy Shabbas. Desire to learn and pray and say Tehillim and arise before dawn even a little. Guard yourself that I should not be angry with you — listen to me and to our people — and it will be well with you in this world and in the World to Come. And also to his son Yosef Yonah — desire to learn — and it will be well with you.