Letter 27 כ"ז

Peace and blessing to the honored self of my beloved, my dear brother — R' Yisrael Dov, may he live.

I hereby inform you of our welfare — blessed be G‑d, we have life and peace with us. My dear brother — if you send me Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim, part two, section three — I will send you the Sipuray Maasiyos [Rabbainu's Thirteen Stories] from this year, newly printed in Warsaw this year — and it is expensive.

And I ask of you to inform me of your welfare — and what is happening with you. And whether your wife has already given birth, with a good and auspicious sign [בשטו"מ] — write me everything.

And please see to travel to Meron — to the holy Tzion of the Rashbi, of blessed memory — for the eve of Rosh Chodesh Nissan [the day before the new month of Nissan — in Breslov tradition, Erev Rosh Chodesh Nissan was a day of special pilgrimage to Rabbainu's grave in Uman; R' Shmuel here directs his friend to travel to Meron on this day and make the Rashbi a messenger to Rabbainu], which is the New Year of Kings [ר"ה למלכים — Rosh Chodesh Nissan is considered the New Year for kings (Rosh Hashana 2a)]. And there was a great journey to Rabbainu the Holy one on that day. And pray greatly for me and for all of us there.

And fulfill the words of Rabbainu, of blessed memory: "it is a great mitzvah to be always in joy." [מצוה גדולה להיות בשמחה תמיד — one of Rabbainu's most famous and frequently quoted statements, from Likutay Moharan II:24] And if you want encouragement — study Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim, part two, Laws of the Afternoon Prayer (Mincha), on the Torah la'shemesh sam ohel bahem [לשמש שם אהל וכו' — "For the sun He placed a tent among them" (Psalms 19:5); a teaching in Likutay Halachos where R' Noson discusses joy, renewal, and the service of Hashem in the afternoon — the time when the light wanes but the soul can still shine] — and you will truly find rest for your soul.

My dear brother — judge me favorably for not having written to you until now — for it is very difficult for me, for I am in the lowest possible state in the service of Hashem. And what more can I arouse others? And in truth — every letter is a self-sacrifice [מסירת נפש]. And I wish you a kosher and joyful Pesach. Study the Torah Twenty-Nine Precious Repairs [כ"ט תיקונין יקירין — Torah lesson 29 in Likutay Moharan, part two (the second collection, known as Tinyayna): a Torah on the repairs and rectifications of the soul through crying out, prayer, and repentance] — crying out in a great voice is a repair of the da'as [תיקון הדעת — rectification of holy awareness and connection] and a repair of the bris [תיקון הברית] — in the aspect of "And He will declare to you His covenant" [Deuteronomy 4:13] — study it there well. And prepare yourself in the service of Hashem during the holy days of the month of Nissan and the holy days of Pesach and the holy days of the Sefira [the 49 days of the Omer between Pesach and Shavuos] — with hisbodidus and joy. And G‑d willing — on Lag BaOmer we shall rejoice together in the service of Hashem. Amen.

From me — your friend who awaits to hear from you all good. Amen. Shmuel HaLevi Horowitz, the Breslover. R' Yaakov Zev, may he live, and R' Alter Ben Tzion inquire of your good welfare, and wish you a kosher and joyful Pesach.