קכז

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.

And now I write to you — how Hashem Yisbarach exercises divine providential oversight over me: when Hashem Yisbarach helped me with my wife, may she live — and Hashem Yisbarach healed her completely — in the merit of Rabbainu z"l and in the merit of your prayers — today she went to my sister, may she live — and on the way back she fell upon a stone — and it was a miracle that she did not break her head, G-d forbid, and all her limbs — for she remained weakened. Only Hashem Yisbarach — in His great and abundant mercies — did not harm her — only she has pain. Only may Hashem Yisbarach help still further. And upon me now the verse is fulfilled: "chastising — He has chastised me — Yah — but to death He has not given me over" [Psalms 118:18 — the full verse: "chastising He has chastised me — Yah — but to death He has not given me over" — the infinitive-absolute construction expresses unrelenting, repeated chastisement; yet the verse ends with trust and comfort: all the chastisement — and yet not unto death; the completion of the verse is the consolation] — etc., etc.

And regarding what you wrote — whether I have a letter from your co-parent-in-law, may his candle shine — you do not know that if I had a letter — I would surely have sent it to you. And I ask of you — perhaps you have news from your brother-in-law David, may his candle shine — how they concluded the obligation. And also perhaps you have some letter from Kalibulad — from your son-in-law Reb Hirsh, may his candle shine — write to me what he wrote in reply to my letter.

And now it has become newly known to me from the words of Rabbainu z"l and his holy disciple — that we have no one to turn to except Hashem Yisbarach — at all times. And we must pray about every single detail — and bring forward mercy before anger, G-d forbid. And particularly we — who are careful about prayer from Rabbainu z"l and his holy disciple. And particularly now — before Passover and the Omer counting — for from now begins a fresh beginning — to prepare ourselves for the receiving of the Torah. And may Hashem Yisbarach merit us to a kosher Passover — and to be careful about any trace of leaven on Passover — in the physical and in the spiritual.

And thank you, your honor, for bringing me the good tiding about our friend Reb Nachman, may his candle shine — that Hashem Yisbarach restored him to his original pristine vigor. May Hashem Yisbarach help him — for long life and good years. And also write to me news from your brother Sender — whether he had letters from his wife, may she live — and what your brother Yisroel Aryeh, may his candle shine, has done. And also from our friend Reb Aizik, may his candle shine — what is being heard — from his wife, may she live. For the sake of Hashem — my friend Reb Aizik, may his candle shine — do not fall away from prayer — be strong and courageous in prayer and supplication — only in joy. And surely Hashem Yisbarach will complete matters for you for good.

And greetings of peace to my strong friend — the wondrous young scholar — Morainu v'Rabbainu Eliezer, may his candle shine. For the sake of Hashem — remember your Creator in the days of your youth — and hold yourself to the ways of Rabbainu z"l — and study the Torah Anochi — several times — and go through this Torah many times — and surely Hashem Yisbarach will lead you on the straight path. Nussun from Breslov

Written the 9th of Nissan, 5642 (early April 1882), from Teverya. Five days before Passover. The wife recovered then fell on a stone — a near-miracle. A teaching on bringing mercy before anger. Good news about Reb Nachman.

נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן Letter 125 | Kuf-Kaf-Hey