קכו

I bring you a good tiding — how a letter arrived here from the Rabbi Reb Dovid of Astria — from the 3rd of Adar — to the seven prominent men of the city — about how they were in Kiev — and the entire city fasted on Behab — even the assimilated ones and the students and the doctors. And they accepted from all the Jews — even the assimilated ones — every aspect of religious law — to put on tefillin and tzitzis. And the price of tefillin was twelve rubles a pair — and tzitzis forty kopeks a bundle. And they accepted not to speak among themselves except in the Jewish language. And Doctor Mendel Zan — a professor for eye ailments — pledged a large sum of money on behalf of the poor students — for tefillin and tzitzis. And likewise it was so in Petersburg — and all of them accepted all of this upon themselves. And likewise in many cities. And the Minister Ignatiev called Ginzburg and Poliakov — that they sign for themselves that they had not done anything bad to the Jews — and they did not want to sign for themselves — for they said: we are obligated to do good to our brothers the children of Israel and not evil, G-d forbid — and they gave over their very lives for the sanctification of G-d's name.

And also the above-mentioned Reb Dovid wrote — that in Smila there was a consul from England — and he asked the rabbis and also the kazine rabbi — about what had happened in Smila. And the consul said that he has a mandate to travel to all places and ask about the damages that the murderers committed in all the places. And Reb Shmuel Henech, may his candle shine, came to me precisely and directly — to bring me this good tiding — for the letter from the above-mentioned Reb Dovid was for several people — and Reb Shmuel Henech was also among them.

May Hashem Yisbarach perform miracles with us — as in the days of your going forth from the land of Egypt — "I will show him wonders" — and give us a kosher Passover — and salvations and consolations. And may He help us too — that our hearts be renewed — to do true repentance — as per the will of Rabbainu z"l — and as per the will of his holy disciple — and as per the will of all the Tzaddikim — who cry out about repentance: "Return to Me and I will return to you."

Words of one who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov

And I greatly ask of all the Anash — to pray for my wife — for since last Friday she again has a very severe fever. And greetings of peace to all the Anash — with strong love.

Written Monday, eve of Rosh Chodesh Nissan, 5642 (late March 1882), from Teverya. Mass return to tefillin and tzitzis in Kiev and Petersburg; an English consul investigating the pogroms; Ginzburg and Poliakov refuse to sign. Fever has returned. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן In the past week I wrote you a letter — but the wagon did not arrive — and my sister received it — and went to the gate — and encountered a certain man — and gave him the letter. And now it has become known to me that this man stole from our friend Reb Chaim Yehoshua, may his candle shine — and surely he did not deliver the letter.