The Olive Oil Delivered — Jaffa Visit — Copying R' Avraham's Writings

After warmly greeting you with great love — I hereby inform you of our welfare, thanks to G‑d, blessed be He, we have life and peace with us. May Hashem grant that we merit to announce and receive good tidings from each other — all goodness forever. Amen, so may it be His will. [Yiddish:] "My dear, righteous, faithful brother — I received your letter and greatly rejoiced to hear of your good health. I certainly wanted to reply to you immediately — but I was not able. You yourself can understand my sufferings from what happened. But blessed be G‑d — the upheaval has somewhat quieted from this, etc. And I hope in G‑d, blessed be He, that He will certainly help me. But meanwhile I am in great need of immeasurable compassion. I am wasting my years, etc., and I am, to my sorrow, very far from G‑d, blessed be He, and from prayer — beyond all measure, etc. Therefore please pray for much compassion for me. The essential: that I merit very soon to come to Uman — to the holy Tzion — and especially for Rosh Hashana. And one who prays for his friend, etc."

The previous week I was in Jaffa — and I brought the canisters of olive oil. And I saw the fellowship there. And blessed be G‑d — I have already nearly finished copying the writings of R' Avraham, of blessed memory [כתבי ר' אברהם ז"ל — apparently writings of R' Avraham of Tulchin (R' Avraham ben Nachman) — a key transmitter in the Breslov chain; R' Shmuel has been copying them for preservation] — those that are with R' Meir, may he live. For the sake of Heaven — please look for the booklet that is with you — and send it to me, so that all the writings will be found together. That will be good. And write to me what is happening with you — and how things are going with you in all matters. And whether you are lighting olive oil at the holy Tzion of the Foundation of the World, R' Meir the Miracle Worker [ר' מאיר בעל הנס — buried in Tiberias; another Tzion where an eternal lamp was maintained], of blessed memory.

The coming week — the 16th of Shevat — is my birthday [גבורסט טאג — Yiddish: birthday; 16 Shevat is R' Shmuel's birthday — a new biographical detail]. Please pray greatly for me: Sunday — Erev Rosh Hashana; Monday — Rosh Hashana; Tuesday — my personal Rosh Hashana [in Breslov thought, one's birthday is one's personal Rosh Hashana — the day of personal renewal and judgment; R' Shmuel is asking for intensified prayer on these three consecutive days] — that I finally be helped with a true and real help. I cannot write more to you right now — G‑d willing, another time I will write more. Remember well: R' Noton said — "I received from Rabbainu: joy and awe also. And it is a great mitzvah to be always in joy."