Ullim LeTroofah
עלים לתרופה
Leaves for Healing
LETTER FOUR HUNDRED AND NINE
With the help of Hashem Yisborach  ·  Wednesday, Parshas Va'eira — Tshehrin  ·  Year 5603 (1843)
ToPeace — to his modest wife Maras Dushil — may she live — and to his son the rabbinical scholar our Teacher the Rabbi Dovid Tzvi — may he live — and peace to his son-in-law his dear friend — the extraordinary rabbinical scholar — our Teacher the Rabbi Boruch — may he live — with peace to his wife — she is his daughter — the modest Maras Chana Tzirel — may she live — with all their descendants — may they live.
This letter is written in Yiddish — a warm family letter. The Hebrew translation follows each Yiddish passage in brackets.

Know that yesterday he arrived here from Krumintchag. And he intends — if Hashem wills — to begin preparing his road to travel to Uman — and from there to his home — if Hashem wills. He has no news to write. Praised be Hashem Yisborach Who helped so greatly — and in Him they trust — that He will continue to help — and to help with all that is needed — materially and spiritually — for "ach leilohim dumi nafshi" — "only to G-d be still my soul." For Hashem's sake — learn and pray — and pour out your souls before Hashem Yisborach every day — for we have no one to lean on except our Father in Heaven.

And also his son Nachman — may he live — sends greetings to all of them — and in particular to his mother — may she live — with love. And he is sitting and learning with Hashem's help. And presumably he will come with him in peace to his house. And he hopes to Hashem Yisborach to make a match for him soon. And to Hashem the salvation.

And how greatly he longed to extend the true word to all of them — for their souls are bound to his soul — and their love is a great love and an eternal love forever. But time does not suffice. And all his holy books are before them — would that they engage in them always — and walk in his holy ways at every time — according to the person and according to the place and according to the time. For Hashem Yisborach constricts Himself from infinite to finite — and arranges for every person a thought — a word — and a deed — according to that person — and hints to him hints to draw close to Him — from every place where he is — on that day. Fortunate is one who pays attention to this every day.

And in any case he will merit to fulfil the mitzvah of tzitzis and tefillin and Shema and prayer and Torah and commerce in faith properly — through which all the holy rectifications explained there come about of themselves — as written in the Torah "Hashem Elohai gadalta me'od." And we must say thousands of times ashreinu ashreinu — on every Torah and every teaching — that we merited to receive from him. For were it not for his Torah our delight — we could not have sustained ourselves in these latter days — in these difficult times — in which waters have come to the soul — for every single person — in body and soul and money and livelihood.

And praised be G-d — in His great chesed — He acted wondrously with them — to reveal such Torahs and such deep counsels — on every single matter — in the general and the particular — in very wondrous ways — in a way of complete wholeness and simplicity — equally applicable to every soul. And even so — all is drawn from the springs of salvation — from very deep waters of counsel — very very deep — such that even one who has come into deep waters and the current swept over him — can find Hashem also there — and draw close to Him from every place where he is — through crying and sighing and will and good longings — and to gladden his soul always in every good point. For Hashem's sake and for Hashem's sake — let not our words grow old in your eyes — G-d forbid. For they are renewed every day — in the aspect of "chasdei Hashem ki lo samu — chadashim la'b'karim — rabbah emunasecha."

The words of the one who writes from the walls of his heart — for your good and your success in this world and the World to Come forever.

Nussun — as above.

And great peace to all our anshei sh'lomaynu — from small to great — all shall stand upon the blessing.

Overview: Wednesday, Parshas Va'eira — Tshehrin — 5603. To his wife Dushil and son Dovid Tzvi and son-in-law Boruch and daughter Chana Tzirel. Written in Yiddish. Know that yesterday he arrived here from Krumintchag. He intends — if Hashem wills — to travel to Uman and from there home. He has no news to write. Praised be Hashem Who helped so greatly — and in Him they trust that He will continue to help — materially and spiritually — for "ach leilohim dumi nafshi." For Hashem's sake — learn and pray — and pour out your souls before Hashem every day — for we have no one to lean on except our Father in Heaven. And also his son Nachman sends greetings — in particular to his mother with love — and he is sitting and learning — and presumably will come with him in peace. He hopes to Hashem to make a match for him soon. And how greatly he longed to extend the true word to all of them — for their souls are bound to his soul — and their love is a great love and an eternal love forever. But time does not suffice. All his holy books are before them — would that they engage in them always — and walk in his holy ways — according to the person and place and time. For Hashem Yisborach constricts Himself from infinite to finite — and arranges for every person a thought a word and a deed — and hints to him hints to draw close to Him — from every place where he is. Fortunate is one who pays attention to this every day. And we must say thousands of times ashreinu ashreinu — on every Torah and every teaching — that we merited to receive from him. Were it not for his Torah our delight — we could not have sustained ourselves in these latter days — in which waters have come to the soul. And praised be G-d — in His great chesed — He revealed such Torahs and such deep counsels — equally applicable to every soul — drawn from the springs of salvation — very very deep — such that even one who has come into deep waters can find Hashem also there — and draw close to Him from every place — through crying and sighing and will and good longings — and to gladden his soul always in every good point. Let not our words grow old in your eyes — for they are renewed every day — "chasdei Hashem ki lo samu — chadashim la'b'karim — rabbah emunasecha."

Key Themes

Know That Yesterday He Arrived From Krumintchag — No News — Praised Be Hashem Who Helped — In Him They Trust to Continue to Help — For Ach Leilohim Dumi Nafshi — Pour Out Your Souls Before Hashem Every Day — We Have No One to Lean On Except Our Father in Heaven — His Son Nachman Is Sitting and LearningHe arrived yesterday from Krumintchag — intends to travel to Uman and home. Praised be Hashem Who helped so greatly — in Him they trust to continue to help materially and spiritually. For "ach leilohim dumi nafshi." For Hashem's sake — learn and pray — and pour out your souls before Hashem every day — for we have no one to lean on except our Father in Heaven. His son Nachman sends greetings — in particular to his mother with love — he is sitting and learning — he hopes to make a match for him soon.
Their Souls Are Bound to His Soul — Hashem Constricts Himself From Infinite to Finite — Ashreinu Ashreinu on Every Torah and Teaching — Waters Have Come to the Soul — He Revealed Torahs Equally Applicable to Every Soul — Even One Who Has Come Into Deep Waters Can Find Hashem There — Our Words Are Renewed Every Day — Chasdei Hashem Ki Lo Samu — Chadashim La'B'KarimTheir souls are bound to his soul — a great love and an eternal love forever. Hashem constricts Himself from infinite to finite — arranging for every person a thought a word and a deed. We must say thousands of times ashreinu ashreinu on every Torah we received from him. Even one who has come into deep waters can find Hashem there — and draw close — through crying and sighing and good longings — and gladden his soul in every good point. Let not our words grow old — they are renewed every day — "chasdei Hashem ki lo samu — chadashim la'b'karim — rabbah emunasecha."