Letter 83

The days of old age and hoariness have seized us suddenly — and our strength is weak and scant. And the enemies of the soul have multiplied and strengthened from all sides — almost without measure. And our soul is tossed about in the miry depths — which is the fire of desires, the muddy filth of the desires of this world and its vanities — like a stone placed within a sling. And we are very confused and tossed about — more than a ship lost in the heart of the sea in a stormy wind. And we wander in the world — wandering and driven upon the earth — without any rest or quiet. And the stormy wind continues to storm — and we have no parable or comparison to describe or to liken the immensity of the mercy needed for us — from the day of our being upon the earth until this very day. And we have no counsel or stratagem — except to run and to fly (and to flee) with all our strength to the true Tzadik — Nachal Noavaya Mekor Chuchma — who has made known to us that there is no despair in the world at all. For he has in his power to transform everything for good — in every place and at every time and at all levels — whether above or below. Even the most distant ones who have become so distanced — who have descended and strayed as they have descended and strayed.

Hashem Yisburach contracts Himself to the very ultimate of distance — and hints to him hints appropriate to him in his place and his time — (to draw close to Him).

…He has in his power to transform everything for good — all evil to good. …Even so he has the power to transform all evil to good — from the aspect of apostasy to will. …Who shatters and subdues and humbles and nullifies from the world all the books of the heretics and the apostates and all the books of the investigators (that tend toward heresy and apostasy) — and all the arrogance and the dominion of the false leaders. And illuminates our eyes. …Who cast hatred and enmity between Israel and their Father in Heaven — and uproot those who engage in them from both worlds.

If they would take a person who lusts after money — for whom his money is more precious to him than his body — even so, if they were to show him before his very eyes the melody of the true Tzadik — all his desire for money would be entirely nullified within him.

We are orphans of orphans — we must roll ourselves in mire and mud and creep upon the earth among serpents and scorpions — until we merit to draw from the holy spirit of the Tzadik — who raises and reveals the holy faith in the world.

…Who thinks thoughts and stratagems — to run and to fly with all his strength to the Tzadik — who gives us life and illuminates our eyes. …Who is all our consolation and our hope from generation to generation — and illuminates our eyes even in such bitter dark places as exist in this impoverished generation. May Hashem command with you the blessing and the life forever. And were it not for this — we would already have been lost in our matters!

…Who thinks thoughts and stratagems (to shatter all the obstacles and the great confusions) — to run and to fly with all his strength to the Tzadik — who is our consolation and all our vitality and our hope. Who illuminates our eyes even in such bitter dark places as exist in these our days (in this impoverished generation).