A Crisis Has Erupted — Opponents Demand Oaths of Separation

We received his good letter and greatly rejoiced to hear of your welfare. And I also rejoiced greatly that you were aroused to write letters to R.A. [R' Alter Ben Tzion] and to us. And blessed be G‑d — the bond has been strengthened and united as before, from before… And I rejoiced that you gave your heart to know, etc. What my dear precious friend asked — what happened with me — this is not a time for words spoken openly in the field [לא עת דבר דברים על פי השדה — a phrase suggesting sensitivity and discretion; matters too delicate to spell out plainly]. But briefly I will write to you: know, my dear brother, that immediately upon my return from Meron — the obstacles intensified with greater force and greater strength. And also R.A. [R' Alter] was not with me. And in short, things deteriorated so much that I was compelled to leave from beside him [evidently R' Shmuel had been living near his future father-in-law or in a location connected to his betrothal, and now had to leave] — and I was together with R.A. and R.Y.M. [R' Yitzchak Menachem] and R.Ya. [R' Yankel] in a study hall [בית מדרש] in Misharin [a neighborhood in Jerusalem], immediately after my arrival. And the accusers and opponents grew so, so much — that I also left from there, and was for several days without any place. And now I am alone in a study hall in the city. And blessed be G‑d — I have not fallen, G‑d forbid, from Rabbainu the Holy and Awesome Nachman. But I am strengthening myself together with R' Alter, etc. — and we see each other, and I engage in the service of Hashem, and it is better for me in the service of Hashem than before. And we were all in danger — and still are.

They [the opponents — apparently his future in-laws and their allies] have become great opponents and want oaths on a Torah scroll [שבועות בס"ת — oaths sworn on a Torah scroll, the most solemn form of vow in Jewish law] and bans of excommunication [חרמים] — that he should separate himself completely and absolutely from all of Rabbainu's matters, G‑d forbid, for all the days of his life. And they do not want a divorce [גט — a religious bill of divorce; evidently the betrothal or marriage is breaking down under this pressure] — nor peace — only that he capitulate to them. And blessed be G‑d — "in distress You gave me expansiveness" [Psalms 4:2]. And do not worry, my dear brother — for without the knowledge [דעת — the Breslov concept of holy awareness and connection to G‑d] of Rabbainu the Holy one, I would certainly choose death over life, etc., etc., etc. And I am ready and prepared to give over my soul and my body and my honor and everything — for the sake of Rabbainu's teaching. And under no circumstances will I separate from R.A.B.Tz. [R' Alter Ben Tzion] — for on this the baal davar exerts himself more than on anything.