קיח

Your letter I received properly — one for Reb Simcha, may his candle shine — and one for Reb Shmuel Henech, may his candle shine — and also yours — and from Reb Aizik, may his candle shine — all of them I received.

For the sake of Hashem — my brothers and my friends — be strong and let yourselves be strengthened in the study of the books of Rabbainu z"l and his holy disciple — for they are eternal life and the life of the world to come — and the Garden of Eden — "and the eye has not seen." For everything that I study more of their holy and awesome books — I taste a different flavor. And even if I had come into the world only for the purpose that the name of Rabbainu z"l and his holy disciple should be called upon us — that would be sufficient. For Rabbainu z"l and his holy disciple want to bring all who come into the world out from the seven chambers of Gehinnom — and from all the shames that are worse than Gehinnom — and to bequeath to us three hundred and ten worlds — through their holy words. But we must abandon the imagined honor of this world — and even bear humiliations and the pouring out of one's blood.

For thus said Rabbainu z"l: every Tzaddik of the generation who is true to truth has the power to guide the world as he knows it. And the ancient Tzaddikim — their main repentance was through afflictions and fastings. But Rabbainu z"l — his main repentance is to flee from honor — and to bear humiliations and the pouring out of one's blood. And just as by the people of the Master of Prayer — fasting and affliction was considered by them more precious than all pleasures — so must humiliation and pouring out of blood be considered precious by us. And particularly when the humiliations come to us of their own accord — and we are not pursuing them — as the people of the Master of Prayer pursued fastings and afflictions — and we must receive them with love and with joy. For through this — the form of the letter aleph is completed — and above — a human being is made from this to sit upon the throne.

Therefore — my brothers and my friends — be strong and courageous — in joy — that there is our portion: in the yeshivah of Rabbainu z"l and of his holy disciple. [מישיבה של רבנו ז"ל — "from the yeshivah of Rabbainu z"l" — the spiritual academy and ongoing school of Rabbainu z"l; to belong to his yeshivah is to be enrolled in his permanent spiritual institution, not merely to be in his "fellowship"] And the guarded and preserved treasury of Rabbainu z"l and his holy disciple [אוצר המנצר — "the guarded and preserved treasury" — two distinct words: otzar — treasury; and metzar — the one that is guarded and carefully preserved; from natzar — to guard, to keep watch over; the treasury that is specifically watched over and kept safe] rests in our home. And Hashem Yisbarach will merit us to use them at all times — with constancy. And surely G-d willing our end will be for good. And also those who hate us without cause will be nullified before us. Only for the sake of Hashem — זייט פריליך אין גאט איז מיט אינז אין לעבן אינז אין שרעקט זיך נישט — Be joyful — and G-d is with us and lives with us — and do not be afraid — "stand firm and see the salvation of Hashem" — and the believer will not be shaken.

Words of one who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov

And I ask of you to find the letter from your co-parent-in-law, may his candle shine — that came into your hand on Rosh Chodesh Elul or a little before — there it is written that he received from the wife of Chaike, may she live — the sum of three rubles. And according to my memory it seems to me that he wrote that he gave it to Reb Dov, may his candle shine — and Reb Dov wrote that he did not receive from him. And surely this is the truth. Therefore I want you to write to me the exact words of the letter from your co-parent-in-law — and I will write to your co-parent-in-law. And also know — that I am sending you the two Meizhides and one quarter of a Meizhide. One Meizhide — give to my friend Reb Nussun, may his candle shine, son of Reb Yekusiel z"l — for I owe him fifty groshen. And one Meizhide — take against the debt that I owe you. And the quarter — distribute: two groshen to Reb Aizik, may his candle shine — and two groshen to Reb Dov, may his candle shine — and one groshen to Reb Avraham Hirsh, may his candle shine — and the remainder to Reb Yosef, may his candle shine. And this money is from the redemption of my sister Chana, may she live — to distribute — for she is not in good health — pray for her. For my son Moshe Efraim sent seven rubles. Therefore I am sending you against the debt with Reb Simcha — and the remainder I will return to you with thanks.

Words of the above-mentioned. And greetings of peace to all the Anash. Written Tuesday, Parshas Shemos, 5642 (January 1882), from Teverya. Study of Rabbainu z"l's books — eternal life. Humiliation as repentance. The form of the aleph. A Yiddish closing. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן Letter 116 | Kuf-Tes-Zayin