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With the Help of G-d, Thursday of the Torah Portion Pikuday, 27 Adar I, 717 (28 February 1957), Tiberias

(Wishes of a) Good life, long life, to the honourable treasury of wisdom and knowledge, searcher of truth, seeker of faith, my friend who is like my soul, Mr. Zalman Shazar, may Hashem be with him and open his heart, and eyes, and ears, so that he should see, and hear, and understand the truth.

It is befitting to give praise to Hashem who brought about, through His wondrous Providence, that I succeeded in becoming acquainted with his grand, noble, and elevated personage, after having hear of his good reputation for some years from my friend R' Meir Anshin. It was from then I had great yearning to meet with him, but it was out of my reach. However, his strong passion for the truth was effective for Hashem to bring about with His kindness – wonders, that I merited to meet him and become his friend, true love. In my opinion, there is hidden in this indications that have favourable insinuations. Even though the truth is that I am quite a simple person, nonetheless a small piece of wood can kindle and inflame a very large wood. Notwithstanding that we are on the bottom platform at a very low level, as we ourselves know that our appearance is not pleasant at all, because the storm wind and great cloud (a reference to the evil husks, cf. Likutay Moharan 82) greatly agitate and darken, especially in these times of ours. However, the Blessed G-d has already preemptively provided us with a complete healing and rectification through the rivers and streams of true wisdom of the true tzadik. Whoever takes refuge in the shade of his wings, and conducts himself according to ways of his Torah (teachings), and rids himself of all sophistication, and completely absconds his (own) opinion (/reasoning) in lieu of his (the tzadik's), certainly he will have a complete rectification in totality.

Our Holy Master OB”M, before his passing, was sighing and crying out strongly with peculiar sounds, and groaning, and great shouting, about the blasphemy and apostasy that would spread in the world in the future, for this is the worst evil from all the evils and travesties of the world, there is nothing more evil may the Merciful One save us. So his followers were greatly sighing before him, as if to say: “What can we do – and upon whom is he leaving us?” To which he (Rabbi Nachman) replied, “What have you to worry about inasmuch as I am going before you etc.. (Chayay 191, 225)” And he revealed his stance explicitly and with hinting (Sichos 209, Chayay 225), that everything he endeavoured with his followers that were close to him, was with those that were here and with those that are not here (-- Deuteronomy 29:14), that is even with the future generations. And he (Rabbi Nachman) said (Chayay 218), “Just hold yourselves together in unity, and friendship, and love of fellowship, then you will be kosher people, and not just kosher, rather you will even be tzadikim and good (- probably used as a reference to a term denoting a hasidic master), because the Blessed G-d will certainly help me that it will be as I have already desired, for – with the help of the Blessed G-d – I have certainly completed and will complete as I have desired!” And he said that whomsoever reaches and befriends one of his followers, certainly he will be a truly kosher person, and not just kosher, but even completely a tzadik, as I want.

[Rabbi Nussun in Likutay Halachos (Choshen Misphat, Mechira – selling 1:4) writes:] In the last Rosh Hashana before his passing, our Master OB”M said the awesome Torah “Tiku Tochacha” (-- Sounding the shofar of rebuke). It is explained there, that it is necessary to very much seek and search for the Divine Spirit (ruach hakodesh), the spirit of prophecy of the true ruling tzadik, because the main completeness of faith, which is the basis of Judaism, is specifically through him. It was then, after the delivery of the aforementioned Torah, he enjoined me (Rabbi Nussun) emphatically to write this great injunction, that every person in the world, from big to small, must be very attentive to this, and it is necessary to remind them of this injunction a thousand times, so that they should remember each and every day to do much searching and seeking for the true ruling tzadik who has the spirit of prophecy, ruach hakodesh, that he can truly rectify them eternally. For certainly the search and seeking is not after the physical body of the tzadik, but rather it is after his ruach hakodesh, through with this is his main rectification. This is necessary to search out and to seek always, for either way: if one has yet to find it at all – certainly he needs to go on his hands and feet to search and seek it with all his strength, in the whole world, from one end to the other, all the days of his life on the face of the earth, perhaps he will be able to find eternal life for his soul, even if for but one day or one hour before he dies. And if it seems to him that he has found the true tzadik – certainly it is necessary to seek and search additionally more and more.

For it is possible that he is by the tzadik and his (the tzadik's) light is still dark by him, and he doesn't feel the true pleasantness of his holy directions, and consequently he is distant from his rectification, and for this it is necessary great exertion and much searching until he will find it.

If he truly searches, he will certainly find (it).

The main life source, and endurance, and survival of Israel is all through the true tzadik, that Israel merits to seek him and to quest him with all types of searching, with utter mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) until they find him and draw close to him, and through this they merit faith and the heresy is nullified, and through this they merit to the complete redemption, and to the song that will be aroused i the future (-- Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman) – fortunate are those who merit and/to wait in anticipation and yearn for this in truth.

It is necessary to be extremely prudent to banish the spirit of frivolity from one's innards, that which his heart is full of the frivolous spirit which clings to him.

Through attachment to the true tzadik, that is through loving the tzadik with complete love so that his soul his bound to his soul, through this one banishes with great speed, the spirit of frivolity from inside of him, and through this he merits to attain broken heart (-- as explained in Likutay Moharan 176).

The true tzadik – in relation to the world, he is the aspect of the head, and the world in association to him – they are the aspect of the body. The main rectification is achieved when one merits to be close and bound to the tzadik like the body is with the head, because the main vitality of all the limbs is only from the head (Likutay Halachos, Choshen Mishpat, bounderies 4:9).

Through being close to the the true tzadik, the contamination of the (primeval) snake is severed, and so too the converse; through a fraudulent leader, the contamination intensifies (cf. Likutay Moharan Torah 7 and volume II Torah 8). Through strife against the tzadik, the Torah is forgotten (Sefer Hamidos, tzadik 146).

Through speaking against a tzadik, through this philosophy gains strength in the world, and so too the converse! (Sefer Hamidos, strife part 2, item 1). The coming of the Messiah is contingent on the drawing close to the tzadik (Sefer Hamidos, tzadik 151). Through the peace that exists amongst people, and they examine and explain to each other the truth, through this each person casts away the falsehood of his gods of money and draws himself close to the truth. According to the peace in the generation, so it is possible to draw the whole world to His devotion, Blessed He, and to serve Him together as one group, and everyone will cast away their gods of silver and gold, and they will pray only to Hashem ( (Likutay Moharan 27).

When there is truth there is peace (Sefer Hamidos truth 22).

The truth redeems from all hardships (Sefer Hamidos, truth 20).

Through truth the world is protected from all damage (Sefer Hamidos, truth 20). When there isn't truth there isn't kindness (Sefer Hamidos, faith 65, truth 18). Through truth one merits to have an everlasting name (Sefer Hamidos, truth 25). Someone who gurards himself from falsehood, he will always be triumphant (Sefer Hamidos, truth 39).

Through humility you will merit faith (Sefer Hamidos, faith 2). Through faith it is possible to understand the blessed G-d (Sefer Hamidos, faith 31).

Through faith, the Holy One Blessed He forgives you for (all) your sins (Sefer Hamidos, faith 33). Jerusalem will not be built until there will be peace amongst Israel (Sefer Hamidos, faith 46).

The temple will not be built until haughtiness ceases (Sefer Hamidos, faith 49). Through unity that will exist in Israel the Messiah will come (Sefer Hamidos, faith 50). Through faith the edicts that the nations decree on Israel are nullified (Sefer Hamidos, faith part 2, 4). I ask of him forgiveness for not having sent yet the holy books, because I was sick and underwent severe suffering – not upon us, certainly everything is for the best.

Also now I am still extremely weak, and I mustered up all my strength to write a few holy words – which have in them the wherewithal to give vitality, and restore the whole world. From the time we separated I have not forgotten him, for his love his imbedded deep in my heart with great love and eternal love, and I yearn and long for him always to meet with him and sit together brotherly.

I pray constantly for him, that he should merit to see the grandeur of the holy light of the sun which now radiates in the world, and to clear away and remove the clouds that darken the light of the sun, in such a way that we will merit to go out from the shrouded black void to illumination, from darkness to great light, and like the light of the morning there will shine upon us the sun; charitable and healing in its wings. With profound respect and honour I greet and enquire of his welfare and the welfare of his entourage specifically to our friend the pleasant and charming Mr.

David the Kohen (-descendant of Aaron) shlit”a (-he should live a long and good life) who merited to the light of the (holy book) The Torahs and Prayers (- this holy books presents the teachings of Rabbi Nachman each one followed by its appropriate prayer to merit to the holy concepts expounded there), certainly they will have a positive effect on him if he his ears and heart are attentive to them. The one who awaits and anticipates for his speedy reply. Please save this letter because I hope to meet in the future, and I have what to explain orally.

Yisroel Dov Odesser – Tiberias – from the house of Zalman Odesser

Train yourself to stand beside the truly wise one — and hear and listen to his words. Do not be lazy to seek wisdom. Do not toil for the wind — and do not listen to words that have no benefit. Set him always before you — and place…

Do not slacken your hand from acquiring for yourself a faithful friend — and guard him — and do not lose him. Day and night — let his remembrance not depart from you. Always set him before you.

(Do not say of a commandment: I will perform it tomorrow — lest you have no opportunity to perform it.)

Israel Dov Odesser

Do not be separated from the contemplation of wisdom and moral instruction. And roll yourself in the dust of the feet of truly genuine wise men — and become wise. Do not leave the path of the truth — even though they mock you. And do not be ashamed to speak of a commandment. Do not be lax about a commandment if it comes to your hand — and perform it for the sake of Heaven without delay. Straighten out the furrow of your feet — to straighten them on the path of truth. And pursue peace. Distance yourself from the path of falsehood — and pursue peace. Set between your eyes — always — the day of death. And the holy foods of the Tzadik — prepare for the journey — that they be ready for you. And provisions for the journey — prepare when they will be ready for you — for the day of the parting. Who humbles himself like dust — and casts his own honor away — before every holy matter that concerns the benefit of the building and the affairs of the mighty and great-powered Tzadik — who has the power of attraction — to draw and to bring close the entire world to Hashem Yisburach. For this is the essential repair of the world. (A good friend:) Do not be lazy — to be a good friend to the truly God-fearing ones. Join their company. And from the company of the workers of falsehood — distance yourself. (Establish fixed times for Torah study before going to sleep.) Rejoice when you hear the reproof of the true Tzadik — like one who has found a great treasure. Do not rely upon your own heart — and hear counsel and receive moral instruction. And be eager to do all that is incumbent upon you to do! Do not have the brazenness of face not to accept upon yourself the yoke of the Tzadik and his wisdom.