Yesterday I arrived home safely. At this time see to send word to Rabbi Mordechai that his father, Rabbi Sh'muel, of blessed memory, passed away in Teplik on the past holy Shabbos — may his soul be bound in the bond of life — [Page break in the manuscript — daf 108 — the text continues on the next page] — so that he will say Kaddish. May the Omnipresent console him speedily. Beyond this there is no leisure now to extend the speech.
And may Hashem Yisborach help you to understand the hints from all things in the world [רְמָזִים — r'mazim: hints, allusions, intimations. Every event in the world contains a hint pointing toward Hashem — the task is to learn to read them] — how to draw near to Hashem Yisborach through them — each and every day — according to the person, and according to the place, and according to the hour.
For all that passes in the world — whether death or life, whether expensive or cheap, whether poverty or wealth — and all the other kinds of adventures [harpatkao's] and turnings that pass through the world — whether in the world at large, or the country, or the city, or individually upon each and every person — all of it is only for this one purpose alone: to remember Him, Yisborach [לִזְכֹּר — lizkor: to remember, to keep ever in mind. This is the first movement — the hint arouses memory].
Through this specifically [davka] — for He, Yisborach, turns all causes in His wisdom and His compassion — all for the eternal good — in order to recognise and acknowledge Him [לְהַכִּיר — l'hakir: to recognise, to know intimately, to acknowledge. This is the second and deeper movement: from the aroused memory comes genuine recognition. Reb Nussun uses both words deliberately — zikoron (remembrance) is the beginning; hakorah (recognition/acknowledgment) is the fruit] Yisborach thereby — each and every day. For He completes and will complete everything according to His will — as it is written: and You are exalted forever, Hashem [Tehillim 92:9] — as Rashi explained there. [Rashi on this verse: no matter what rises and falls in the world, You, Hashem, remain exalted and unchanged above it all — the turning of all causes does not alter Your ultimate sovereignty]
The words of your father — who seeks your peace always, with love.
Nussun of Breslov.
Overview: A letter in two halves joined by a page break in the manuscript. The first half is a practical instruction: inform Rabbi Mordechai of his father's death so he may say Kaddish. The second half is an independent teaching on the doctrine of r'mazim — hints. Every event in the world, at every scale from world-historical to intimately personal, has one purpose: to bring the person first to remember Hashem (zikoron), and through that remembrance to arrive at genuine recognition (hakorah). These two words — both used deliberately — mark a progression from awareness to intimacy. The verse from Tehillim 92 and Rashi's comment anchor the teaching: above all turning and change, Hashem remains exalted and constant.