קלג

Therefore I thought within my mind — that we have no counsel and no stratagem — except prayer and supplication — as per the will of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple. But "a prisoner cannot release himself" [Babylonian Talmud, Berachos 5b — "a prisoner cannot release himself from his prison" — one cannot pray for oneself out of one's own constriction; one needs the prayers of others; the writer applies this to his wife's illness — he needs the prayers of the Anash] — etc. Therefore I ask of all the Anash — our truly beloved — to pray for her — with mercy and supplication — that Hashem Yisbarach send her a complete healing quickly and soon — together with the other sick of His people Israel. For we have no one to turn to — except Hashem Yisbarach — and our truly beloved. For we believe that through prayer — one accomplishes everything.

And regarding what you wrote to me — about what happened to you with Reb Yosef in the pharmacy [באפטיע — apteyke — Yiddish: a pharmacy, an apothecary shop; from German Apotheke; the confrontation with Reb Yosef happened in a pharmacy] — and at all times people are stirred up against you — do not worry at all. For "Pharaoh drew close" — and Rabbainu ז"ל already said — about the journey to Eretz Yisroel — that for us it will be easy to travel — for he already suffered all the sufferings on our behalf. [A fundamental teaching of Rabbainu ז"ל: by his very coming into the world and all that he suffered — he preemptively bore all the sufferings; those who travel to him and in his path find the road already eased by his prior suffering] And also in the controversy — it is likewise so — for Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple and all the Anash have already borne the strength on our behalf. But a very little — a little — we too must bear — for Rabbainu ז"ל said: one cannot draw close to him except through self-sacrifice and bearing humiliations. But "and You — on high — forever, O Hashem" [Psalms 92:9 — "and You — on high — forever, O Hashem" — the verse of G-d's eternal supremacy over all opposition; no matter what rises against us — G-d is forever on high] — His hand is on top. They will perish — and a thousand like them — and not one word of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple will be annulled. And Hashem Yisbarach guards truth forever. And all these ordeals that pass over us — it is only to remind us that we are Breslov Chassidim — and not to forget even a single day. For this name is no small thing — as is explained in the Torah discourse Bereishis [Bereishis — the Torah discourse of Rabbainu ז"ל beginning with the word Bereishis — "In the beginning" — dealing with the spiritual significance of names and their inner power; le'einei kol Yisroel — "before the eyes of all Israel" — the final words of the Torah] "before the eyes of all Israel" — for Rabbainu ז"ל is not a mediocre matter [אינו דבר ממצע — "is not a thing in the middle, not an average matter" — from emtza — the middle, the average; Rabbainu ז"ל is not something middling or ordinary but an extraordinary and unprecedented novelty] — but rather a novelty of novelties. And we must establish joy — every single day — over the privilege that is ours. And today I was at the resting place of the divine Tanna Rabbi Meir Ba'al HaNes, may his merit protect us [רמבע"ה זיע"א — Rabbi Meir Ba'al HaNes — "Rabbi Meir the Master of the Miracle" — buried in Teverya; one of the great Tannaim and one of the key burial sites in Teverya; visited on the day of Pesach Sheni] — and I mentioned all of you for good. Omain, so may it be His will.

Words of one who loves you, Nussun from Breslov

Written Wednesday, Pesach Sheni, 5642 (the 14th of Iyar, May 1882), from Teverya. "A prisoner cannot release himself." Rabbainu ז"ל suffered all sufferings for us already. The name "Breslov Chassidim" is no small thing — a novelty of novelties. Visit to Rabbi Meir Ba'al HaNes. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן Letter 131 | קלא (Kuf-Lamed-Aleph)