Siman 115

(12.) In the year 5562 [1801/2] in the month of Elul he entered Breslov, and he came here on the Sabbath of Parashat Ki Seitzei. And when the matter was heard in Nemrov — which is close to here — it was a very great wonder to us that he had entered here. But Hashem Yisburach took pity on us from Heaven and planned from afar to do good for our future — to leave a remnant on the earth, so that today He could sustain many people. For here the holy printed books were completed, and here he composed the hidden books that were concealed from the eye of every living being — namely, the one that was burned and the Hidden Book etc. (see below #169, 177). And we merited in His abundant mercies to draw close to him immediately upon his entry here — and this will be explained elsewhere at greater length, if G-d wills (in Yemay Moharnat, vol. 2). And he said: "Had I not come to Breslov for any other purpose than to draw you close — it would have been sufficient." And here in Breslov he dwelt in peace from the townspeople all his days. But in the world the opposition went on growing ever stronger, and the more he drew people close to Hashem Yisburach, the more the opposition intensified. But he o.b.m. did what was his, and ascended every day, every hour, and every moment to ever higher and more elevated levels — which cannot be estimated at all. And had the prosecution not intensified against the world to the point where the world was not worthy of drawing nourishment from such a light — and it arose and he concealed it — his greatness would have been revealed in the world and he would have turned the entire world to Hashem Yisburach. For this was his entire aspiration always throughout all the days of his life, and in this he was always occupied — to merit the multitudes and to bring them out from darkness to light, from darkness to great light. Rabbainu o.b.m. answered and said: "What if they also expel me from here — in every place I come to, in every step I take, I shall always rectify things" [in Yiddish: "vi ich vel antretn ton vel ich altz farrechtin"]. This was said when he left Zlatipoleye at the time the wagons had already come from Breslov to bring him to Breslov. He said: "Here in Zlatipoleye I suffered two gehinnoms — for the judgment of the wicked in gehinom is twelve months [Shabbat 33a], and I suffered afflictions here for two years." He also said: "Until now I sat alone outside the camp, my dwelling apart [cf. Vayikra 13:46]. Now it begins..." — and I do not know the exact language of what he said further — but the general meaning is that now Hashem Yisburach is beginning to do good etc. Said the transcriber: I heard that Rabbainu o.b.m. said: "We conquered the city of Breslov with clapping and dancing." (For indeed, at the very beginning of his entry to Breslov he spoke at once about clapping in prayer — that through this the air of the diaspora is driven out and the air of the Land of Israel is drawn in, as is explained in the discourse "Attem Nitzavim" etc. [Likutay Moharan, Torah 44]. And also in that year he danced much because of the decree called "punktin" — the decree threatening to conscript Jews into the army, G-d save us — and he danced several times to sweeten the judgments and annul the decrees, as is explained in the Torah "V'eileh HaMishpatim", Torah 10 in Likutay vol. 1, which begins: "Through dancing and clapping, judgments are sweetened." And this Torah was also said that winter in Tiraovitze.) I also heard that once close to his entry to Breslov, wine was poured for him for Kiddush, and it spilled on the ground. And they poured him another cup and he made Kiddush on it. And afterwards he said: "Today we have planted the name 'Breslov Chasidim' — and this name shall never be extinguished, for our people shall always be called by the name of the city of Breslov." And so it was, as is well known. And once he said in the house of the holy Rabbi his uncle, Rabbi Baruch of blessed memory: "My uncle wanted to dwell in Breslov and was unable to settle there — and I dwell in Breslov." And thus it is further known among our people that there were many words about his dwelling in Breslov and what may be understood from his words — that his residence in Breslov contained awesome and wondrous secrets.