Strengthening Through Torah — Teachings of Rabbainu on Obstacles and Self-Sacrifice

I am now studying Torah Seventeen, part one [תורה י"ז ח"א — Torah lesson seventeen in Likutay Moharan, part one; the lesson Vayehi Hem Merikim — "And they were emptying their sacks" (Genesis 42:35)] — and Rabbainu, of blessed memory, brings there: "I am a small creature among the sea creatures — and I go into the mouth of the Leviathan, etc." [An Aramaic phrase from the Zohar / Talmud; Rabbainu uses this image in Torah 17 to speak of self-sacrifice for truth — going into danger for the sake of G‑d]. Therefore, my dear brother — let us strengthen ourselves. And I ask of you to write to me words of encouragement from Rabbainu the Holy one.

And do not worry at all — for Rabbainu the Holy one said: [Yiddish:] "The baal davar runs ahead, and I run ahead before him. The baal davar closes and closes — and I open and open and open. [and in another version: The baal davar ties and ties — and I untie and untie and untie.]" [Hebrew:] (The baal davar runs ahead, and I run ahead before him. The baal davar closes and closes — and I open and open and open. [Or: ties and ties — and I untie and untie and untie.]) And the holy R' Noson, of blessed memory, said: even if one is the greatest sinner, G‑d forbid — just as long as he is bound to Rabbainu, he will certainly have rectification [תיקון]. And Rabbainu the Holy one said: [Yiddish:] "Rely on my strength! Bring me stones and mortar — and I will make wondrous buildings!" Therefore — what does one have to worry about? Rabbainu the Holy one said: [Yiddish:] "Bread with cucumber is a good food — and for the fellowship it will never be lacking: I am guarantor for them — bread with cucumber will never be lacking." Therefore — the only counsel is to yearn greatly and pray and hope to be truly drawn close to the Tzadik, Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman — and to give over one's soul and body, etc. And ultimately G‑d, blessed be He, will conclude everything for good. Amen, so may it be His will.

And also I found now, in this present time, in Likutay Halachos, Yoreh Deah, Laws of Idolatry, Law 4, paragraph 26–27 [לקוטי הלכות יו"ד הלכות עכו"ם הלכה ד' אות כו' כז' — a specific passage in R' Noson's Likutay Halachos that was evidently highly relevant to R' Shmuel's current crisis]: Therefore — when a person sees that the obstacles are spreading and intensifying very greatly against him, to prevent him from the path of truth, and especially through the multitude of those who oppose and contest — great and small — etc.: one must know that all of this flows from the blemish of the bris [פגם הברית — the covenant of purity; a central concept in Likutay Halachos]. About this it is written: "all who come to her will not return" [Proverbs 2:19 — a verse about one who falls into the snare of the adulterous woman, i.e., impurity; used in Likutay Halachos as the verse describing how the forces of impurity try to drag one away from return and truth]. Therefore they want to prevent him from the path of life — with many words of temptation, incitement, and smooth flattery beyond measure. And when those who tempt and prevent see that they cannot move him from the truth through their words — they stand against him to prevent him by force, with a high hand, as is happening now, G‑d forbid. And then there is no remedy for this except self-sacrifice — literally. One must settle one's mind: "I know the truth truly — my intention is for Heaven truly. And if my deeds are what they are — these opponents are not contesting my bad deeds, but my few good ones — that I strive and toil to pray with concentration and to draw myself close to the men of truth who lead me on the path of truth, which our ancestors have walked from time immemorial." And they stand against him to swallow him alive for nothing — worse than murderers of souls, for one who leads another into sin is worse than one who kills him. Therefore I am obligated to give over my soul [mesirat nefesh] — for I am a Jew, etc. Therefore I too am content to give over my soul and body and everything for the sake of the truth, for the sake of the sanctification of His Name, blessed be He — and whatever comes over me, comes. Etc. It turns out: this is the essence of my repentance and my rectification, etc. Study it there and you will find satisfaction for your soul.

And also Rabbainu the Holy one said: [Yiddish:] "The baal davar runs ahead — and I run ahead before him. The baal davar turns and turns — and I open up and open up and open up." And the holy R' Noson, of blessed memory, said: even if one is the greatest sinner in the world, G‑d forbid — just as long as one is bound to this Rebbe, one will certainly have rectification. And Rabbainu the Holy one said: [Yiddish:] "Rely on my strength!" etc. And what is there to worry about? Rabbainu the Holy one said: bread with cucumber is a good food — and for our fellowship it will never be lacking; I am their guarantor — bread with cucumber will never be lacking. Therefore the only counsel is: to yearn greatly and pray and hope to be truly drawn close to the Tzadik, Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman — and to give over one's soul and body, etc. And ultimately G‑d, blessed be He, will conclude everything for good. Amen, so may it be His will.

They have become great opponents and want oaths on a Torah scroll and bans — that he should separate himself completely from all of Rabbainu's matters for all the days of his life. And they want neither a divorce nor peace — only that he capitulate to them. And blessed be G‑d — "in distress You gave me expansiveness." And do not worry at all, my dear precious brother — for without Rabbainu the Holy one's teaching, I would certainly choose death over life. And I am ready to give over my soul and body and honor and everything for the sake of Rabbainu's teaching. And under no circumstances will I separate from R.A.B.Tz. — for the baal davar fights this more than anything.

[This postscript appears to be at the junction between Letters 21 and 22 in the original manuscript — it contains R' Yitzchak Menachem Rozenberg's greeting and R' Shmuel's wedding announcement:] — Yitzchak Menachem Rozenberg. [Yiddish:] "Do not worry — just be joyful! Everything will certainly be rectified for good. Amen. Hope and hope and hope again — joyfully." [Hebrew:] (No worries — only with joy. Certainly everything will be rectified for good. Amen. Hope and hope and hope again — joyfully.) And likewise I inquire of your good welfare with great love. And I congratulate you with a mazal tov — from me, Shmuel Horowitz. I ask you: at the wedding — may it be at a good and auspicious hour and sign and fortune — on Shabbos Shirah [בשבת שירה — the Shabbos on which the Song of the Sea (Exodus 15) is read, approximately mid-Shevat; R' Shmuel is congratulating R' Yisrael Dov on an upcoming wedding — either his own or one he will attend — scheduled for that Shabbos].

I ask of you further: perhaps you can send me a little — the pound and a half — since I am in great need of this, as is known. Our dear and mighty friend R.A.B.Tz. [R' Alter Ben Tzion], may he live, inquires of your good welfare. And likewise our dear friend R' Yaakov, may he live, inquires of your good welfare. And all of us wish and await to gather together and be bound to one another in the service of Hashem truly, in wholeness and simplicity — according to the way of Rabbainu the Holy one — and to be truly bound to Rabbainu the Holy one, together. Amen, so may it be His will. From me — your mighty friend, awaiting the salvation of Hashem. Shmuel the Breslover. This letter — to tear up and burn immediately, etc. We were all harmed through the letter [a warning: a previous letter apparently fell into the wrong hands and caused damage; all letters must be destroyed]…

Postscript — From R' Yitzchak Menachem Rozenberg and closing words