קכג

Regarding my wife, may she live — I have much to give thanks to G-d — and I give thanks for the past and cry out for the future to Hashem Yisbarach. And know — that from several ailments Hashem Yisbarach helped her — of each of which she was in a life-threatening state. And also the fever — she did not have it from the past Monday until Shabbos. But on Shabbos — after midday — a trembling seized her again — and then the heat — but it came with mercy — relative to the previous times. May Hashem Yisbarach have mercy on her from now — for she has been left without any strength at all — and particularly on her legs — it is impossible for her to walk at all. And the magnitude of the troubles and the expansivenesses that we experienced in these four weeks is beyond all estimate and reckoning. For eye to eye I saw the words of Rabbainu z"l and his holy disciple. But this is my consolation — that Hashem Yisbarach arranged for me our friend the wondrous Chassid Reb Dov, may his candle shine — and he came to me every day — and we spoke at length of the greatness of Rabbainu z"l and his holy disciple — and he gave me life. And I believed that through these words there would be a healing for her — for "a tower of salvations is He to His king" [Psalms 18:51 — מגדל ישועות מלכו — "a tower of salvations is He to His king" — migdal specifically means a tower; the King stands protected within a tower of divine salvations; not merely "great salvations" but the specific image of a protective tower] — etc., etc.

And know — that I wrote to you two letters — and also a letter that I sent to Reb Hirsh, may his candle shine, to deliver to Breslov — to my son-in-law. And the last letter I sent you — a good letter — warm as coals of fire — and within it was placed the ticket for Reb Hirsh, may his candle shine. And also I ask of you to write to me whether you received all three letters. And I gave them to Reb Shbteil — a kinsman of your son-in-law Reb Chaim Yehoshua, may his candle shine — and he told me that he sent them. And the last letter — of Reb Nussun son of the woman Chana — for I had a reason in this. And also to write to me about your son, may his candle shine — for you wrote to me that he is, G-d forbid, not in good health — and I had suffering. And surely I pray for him. Therefore I ask of you to write to me what has happened with him — and also write to me about all the Anash — how it has passed with them. And also write to me about my friend Reb Aizik, may his candle shine — whether his home still stands.

And from now let us begin to prepare ourselves for the joy of Purim — every single day — so that on Purim the darkness will be turned to light — and we will merit the supremely elevated awe through the joy. For we have something to rejoice about — that we have such a Rebbe and such a disciple. And as is explained in Likutay Halachos — the Laws of Procreation and Fruitfulness — law 3 — on the Torah "joy and gladness shall overtake them" — etc. And there it is explained that the essential foundation of all our rectifications is only through joy. And look there — and you will find repose for your souls — and you will see the great virtue of joy. And particularly on Purim — Rabbainu z"l said explicitly that it is a great rectification. And every commandment requires preparation — both in deed and in speech. And do not be sad — for sadness is from the Other Side — and the Holy Blessed One hates it.

And I greatly ask of you to write me letters — and to reply to me on this letter — first matter first and last matter last. And also to write to me whether our friend Reb Hirsh, may his candle shine, has traveled from your holy encampment or is still there. And also whether you had a letter from your co-parent-in-law, may his candle shine — and what he wrote. And also know — that I wrote a letter on your behalf to your son-in-law Reb Hirsh of Kalibulad. And also perhaps you have heard in your encampment any good news from Wallachia — and also from the countries of Russia — any good word. For I have no letter from anywhere. And ask precisely and directly [ותשאל במכון — "and ask precisely, directly, at the right place" — from mekavon — a fixed, precise foundation; ask specifically and exactly so as to get the definitive answer — from Reb Dov, may his candle shine — who came with me] from Reb Dov, may his candle shine — who came with me — for he surely has news from there.

On both this and that there is no news — only life and peace and joy.

Your friend, one who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov

On both this and that there is no news [זו"ז חדשות אין — "this and this, there is no news" — zu u'zu — "this and this, on both counts, in both directions"; the writer means: on both the matters you might wonder about, there is nothing new to report] — only life and peace and joy — נאר פריליך זיין — only be joyful — for in worries nothing is accomplished at all.

And if my friend Reb Hirsh is still in your encampment — I convey greetings of peace to him — and I ask him to guard the letter to my son-in-law that I sent through him — for it is urgently needed. And greetings of peace to my friend, our beloved — the patron and the community officer [הנגיד והקצין — "the patron and the community officer" — katzin specifically means a commander, an officer, a designated civic and communal leader; a title of recognized authority and distinction within the community] — Morainu v'Rabbainu Reb Avraham Abba, may his candle shine — together with peace upon his wife Mistress Chava, may she live. To write to me whether he received the new monthly money from Reb Reuven, may his candle shine. Written Sunday, Parshas Mishpatim, 5642 (February 1882), from Teverya. The wife improving but still without strength. "Eye to eye I saw the words of Rabbainu z"l." Prepare for Purim. Three letters sent but possibly lost. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן