Words of Consolation — Breslov Teaching on Loss, Grief, and Trust in G‑d

My dear precious friend — I share in your great sorrow — as deep as the sea. And my soul was greatly grieved for you. But, my dear friend — be consoled by the salvation of G‑d, blessed be He, among the rest of the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. For the past is gone. And our father David, peace be upon him — when his son died, G‑d forbid — he consoled himself and said: "If I weep and take my life, G‑d forbid — will I bring him back? What has been, has been." [II Samuel 12:23 — "But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again?" — David's response upon the death of his infant son; one of the most profound biblical teachings on grief and acceptance] The compassion upon him — is to do what one can for his benefit: to study Mishnayos [משניות — chapters of Mishnah, customarily studied for the merit of the departed soul] for his soul, and to pray and give charity on his behalf, and to conduct oneself along the straight path — for that is the greatest benefit a son can give his father: that he conducts himself properly. The compassion upon the son is — [the continuation is in the father's interest]. May the Father of orphans and Judge of widows have compassion upon you and upon your household, among the rest of Israel. I always arouse and mention our dear friend R.A. [R' Alter], may he live — that he should pray on your behalf. And likewise I pray for you as I pray for myself. And you are always in my memory, and I always pray for you — so too should you pray for me always.

My dear one — I ask of you greatly: please write to us always of your welfare — everything that happens to you, always. You will truly revive us. For my soul grieved for you greatly, and I am very eager and anxious and yearning to hear and know of your welfare always. And likewise I will write to you of our welfare always, and all the conversations, G‑d willing. Be consoled by the consolation of Zion and Jerusalem, and the exaltation of the glory of Torah and the glory of Israel and the glory of Jewishness and the glory of the Tzadikim — may it come soon without end. Amen.

[Yiddish:] "Also I write you a few words — for I cannot write much — for my heart is full of tears. The matter pains me as much as it pains you. But my dear child — you know the saying of Rabbainu, of blessed memory: 'I have accomplished before G‑d, blessed be He, that He should not take from the world people before they complete their service' — and this is a sign that he was already an elder of holiness [זקן דקדושה — one who has already attained spiritual completeness through holy aging; the implication of Rabbainu's teaching is that those who depart early have completed their spiritual task]. Remember well what is written in the holy Torah: 'And through those close to Me I shall be sanctified — and Aharon was silent' [Leviticus 10:3 — God's words to Moshe after Aharon's sons Nadav and Avihu died; Aharon's silent acceptance was the highest response to the most terrible loss]. Aharon merited his reward. You know well, my dear child, the trials that I have received, G‑d forbid — but G‑d, blessed be He, will help us with all goodness. Amen. I cannot write more — for I am unable to believe me. Since the news, I have been very weak, G‑d forbid. Pray for me — for complete healing of soul and body. But I write to you with many tears, and do not know now what to write. Only remember G‑d and Rabbainu the holy one — and it will be good. Rabbainu the holy one is there with his strength. And your father is certainly with Rabbainu the holy one — I saw him on the morning of Monday this week. Write to me from Jerusalem how things are going with you." [Hebrew:] (Also I write you a few words — for I cannot write much, because my heart is full of tears. The matter pains me as much as it pains you. But my dear child — you know the saying of Rabbainu, of blessed memory, that he said: "I accomplished before G‑d, blessed be He, that He should not take from the world men before they finish their work" — and this is a sign that he was already an elder of holiness. Remember well what is written in the Holy Torah: "And through those close to Me I shall be sanctified, and Aharon was silent" — Aharon merited his reward. You know well, my dear child, the trials that I experienced, G‑d forbid — but G‑d, blessed be He, will help us with all goodness. Amen. I cannot write more — for I am unable. Believe me — since the news I have been very weak, G‑d forbid. Pray for me for complete healing of soul and body. But I write to you with many tears and do not know what to write now. Only remember G‑d and Rabbainu the holy one — and it will be good. Rabbainu the holy one is there with his strength. And your father is certainly with Rabbainu the holy one — I saw him on the morning of Monday this week. Write to me from Jerusalem how things are going with you.) May G‑d console you among the mourners of Jerusalem. And G‑d willing it will be good. And the main thing is to strengthen yourself truly, with every kind of strengthening — for G‑d is close to the broken-hearted. You are considered as my very own son — and I will always pray for you from the depths of the heart. Alter Ben Tzion.

From me — your friend who loves you eternally, who awaits to always hear from you only good — who yearns after you, and wishes you the fulfillment of all your heart's desires for good. From me, Shmuel. My dear beloved heart — strengthen yourself with every kind of strengthening and service of G‑d, blessed be He, in truth and with a whole heart — for Hashem is close to all, and especially to the broken-hearted and the crushed of spirit. He will save — and whom G‑d loves, He reproves [Proverbs 3:12]. And in the merit of — and Aharon was silent [Leviticus 10:3 — "Vayidom Aharon": Aaron's acceptance in silence of his sons' deaths earned him the reward that G‑d spoke to him alone thereafter — a teaching on how bearing suffering with acceptance brings special closeness to G‑d] — Aharon merited that the Divine speech was addressed to him alone. In other words — through Divine service. And what do you have to worry about? Trust in Hashem — for He is the Father of orphans and the Judge of widows. And He will certainly not abandon you and not forsake you — and He will certainly help and save you, and everything is for good. And "all that the Merciful One does, He does for good" [Talmud Bavli, Brachos 60b]. Strengthen yourself anew in the service of Hashem. [Yiddish:] "And we ask of you greatly: write always everything that happens to you — and truly revive us. G‑d, blessed be He, is your Father — He and the true Tzadikim will certainly draw you close in every kind of closeness, and He will console you with all manner of consolations and all salvations. And pour out the bitterness of your heart before G‑d, blessed be He — and He will always help you." [Hebrew:] (G‑d, blessed be He, is your Father — He and the true Tzadikim will certainly draw you close in every kind of closeness. And He will console you with all manner of consolations and all salvations. And pour out the bitterness of your heart before G‑d, blessed be He — and He will always help you.)