Letter 132

(My very self and my flesh — a most fierce warrior — who has a strong and firm heart to clothe himself with a spirit of heroism! I long and yearn greatly…)

(The essential source of our existence now at the end of the exile — in which we wander and are tossed about and homeless and tossed about in the darkness of our darkness — is only through the Tzadik, etc.)

Now — in the very extremity of the darkness of our darkness — the essential source of our vitality and our hope and the essential source of our existence — is only through the Tzadik. Who is our true shepherd — who gives life and repairs — who brings close all the distant and the displaced of the world. That all will return to Hashem Yisburach in truth — and stand at their post. That they not fall in their minds from all that has passed over them — however things may be — only to begin anew every time. And give himself life through the free kindness that the Tzadik has drawn down in the world.

The essential revelation of His G-dliness and His kingship Yisburach to all who come into the world — is through the aspect of memory (zikaron). For one must very greatly guard the memory. And the essential memory is — to greatly overcome oneself — to bind well in one's mind and daas and heart — the holy and awesome illumination of the dawning light without end — that the true Tzadik illuminates for us. And never forget it.

Every person — through his sins — causes the withdrawal of the light of His G-dliness Yisburach. Through which it is impossible to know of Hashem Yisburach, Heaven forbid. And the essential repair of ourselves and of the sins of all the generations — is through the true Tzadik — who closes his eyes entirely from viewing this world — and has no gaze at all upon this world.

And he also accepts upon himself all the torments and all the harsh sufferings for the sake of Hashem Yisburach and for the sake of the repair of the souls of Israel. Until he merits to nullify himself entirely — to the ultimate nullification — at a most lofty and most exalted level. Until he merits to draw down repairs from there — to reveal His G-dliness Yisburach to all eyes. Until he arouses in teshuvah even those who are most utterly distanced.

And the essential wonders of his holy, wondrous and most awesome sacred service — is on Rosh Hashana. As we have heard from his holy mouth — that he said: all his matters and all his occupation is Rosh Hashana. {Knot of the door.}

The essential repair — to draw the light of the daas of the Tzadik into the heart. For as long as the daas of the Tzadik has not been drawn (the bond of daas) well into the heart — until one never forgets him — then one still does not know of Him Yisburach at all. And we are all like wandering sheep — wandering and homeless and tossed about — and we have been cast to the places most distant from holiness. Until we have arrived at the very edge and the very end of Israel, etc. Woe and alas! Woe — what has happened to us in this orphaned generation — this impoverished generation! Woe to us over such bitter breakings! Woe to us for we have been destroyed! Where shall we go? Where shall we turn for help? Who will help us? Who will stand up for us? Who will have compassion upon us? Who will repair our souls? Who will arouse us from our sleep to return to Hashem Yisburach in truth?

But against all of this — Hashem Yisburach had compassion upon us — and sent us before all else the true Tzadik — a true leader — who is truly a great merciful one and knows how to have mercy upon each and every one.