קלז

I am greatly astonished — that I have no letter from you at all. And not only have the troubles intensified upon me — which are full of expansivenesses — from my wife, may she live — but further sufferings have intensified upon me — that I have no letter from you at all. For at one time you wrote to me about your son, may his candle shine — and I have no news since then. And how many wagons have there been since then. And at every occasion I ask and watch [ומצפה — u'metzapeh — "and watches with expectant eyes" — the same root as in Letter 134; the watchman's active scanning toward the horizon, turned outward in expectation] for your letter — and there is no voice and no answer. [1 Kings 18:26 — the precise words from the scene on Mount Carmel where Elijah mocks the prophets of Baal who call out desperately and receive total silence: "they called in the name of Baal from morning until noon — and there was no voice and no answer" — ואין קול ואין עונה; the writer uses this exact biblical phrase to express his anguish at calling out to Tzfas and receiving nothing in return] And I also wrote to you a letter through our friend Reb Dov the shochet [שו"ב — abbreviation of שוחט ובודק — shochet u'bodek — the ritual slaughterer and examiner; a communal religious functionary who slaughters animals according to Jewish law and examines them for fitness; the title indicates his role] — and there I wrote to you several matters — and you do not want to reply to me. For I had several urgent matters that I needed to know. And also there is great life-force for me when I see any letter from you — for your souls are bound to my soul — because of the greatness of the love between us — the love-instruments [תשמישי אהבה — tashmishei ahavah — "the implements of love, the instruments of love" — the tools and accessories of the love; specifically: the books and teachings of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple serve as the instruments and accessories through which the love between the Anash is activated and sustained] of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple. And know — that my wife still lies in bed. May Hashem Yisbarach have mercy on her — together with all of Israel — and heal her. And also for the sake of Hashem — send the money to Reb Shmuel Henech, may his candle shine — at least. And if you have it — send me my own money too — for my expenses now are beyond all estimate and reckoning. Words of one who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov Undated — Sivan 5642. The anguish of silence continues. The wife still bedridden. An urgent request for money. The love-instruments of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן We hereby inform you — that I received your letter properly today. And Hashem Yisbarach give you life — in all good — as your soul desires — and as per His good will — as I want to see in you. Just as you gave me life with your letter — with the good news of the health of your precious son — for nearly our breath had been cut off from extraneous thoughts [מחשבות זרות — machshavos zaros — "extraneous thoughts" — in Breslov teaching, foreign and alien thoughts that invade the mind unbidden; here used to mean fears and anxious imaginings about the worst; the writer's mind had been seized by these alien fearful thoughts] — may Hashem Yisbarach lengthen his days and years — and give you children — a seed that endures — in this very year. May Hashem Yisbarach add upon you and upon your children. [Psalms 115:14 — "May Hashem add upon you — upon you and upon your children" — the blessing of multiplication and increase; a specific scriptural blessing applied here] And know — my brothers, my friends, and my sons — that there is no counsel in this world — and no escape from all the encounters of time [פגעי הזמן — peg'ei ha'zman — "the encounters of time, the accidents of time" — the random and unavoidable blows and encounters that time brings; everything that the flow of time throws at a person — illness, poverty, opposition; not chosen but encountered] — except prayer and prayer and prayer — at every moment — until through our prayers the prayers of Hashem are aroused — so that Hashem Yisbarach Himself — as it were — blessed be His name — prays with simple mercy toward great mercy — as is explained in the Laws of Gift, law 5. [הלכות מתנה הלכה ה' — Laws of Gift, law 5 — from Likutay Halachos of Reb Nosson ז"ל — a discourse on the concept that through the prayers of Israel, the divine attribute of simple mercy (rachamim pshutim) is awakened into great mercy (rachamim gedolim); and that G-d Himself — as it were — joins in prayer when human prayer reaches its fullness] And look there — and you will find repose for your souls. And we have no counsel at all — except to spend our days and years over the books of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple. And every day we must renew our days and begin anew to draw close to Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple and their holy counsels — and give ourselves life every day. At least [עכ"פ — at minimum, at least; even if one cannot do everything — at the very minimum this one thing] — that the books of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple should rest in our house — and that we should not be, G-d forbid, opposers of them — on the contrary — our desire and our longing should be strong to study them and to fulfill them and to walk in them. And particularly as Rabbainu ז"ל warned us — to walk in the Torah Azamrah [אזמרה לאלהי בעודי — the Torah discourse of Rabbainu ז"ל beginning with the verse "I will sing to my G-d while I yet am" [Psalms 146:2] — Azamrah l'Elohai b'odi; this teaching is about finding the good point in every person — including oneself — and singing to G-d from that point; even the smallest good point is infinitely precious] — that even a single point is very precious in the eyes of Hashem Yisbarach. And we must seize at every moment some good point upon our darkness — so that it does not cover over, G-d forbid, the light of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple. And hold fast to them — like a blind man to his staff. [כמו עור במקלו — "like a blind man to his staff" — the vivid image of the blind person who holds his staff with total dependence — it is his guide and support in a world he cannot see; we must hold to Rabbainu ז"ל's books with precisely this total dependent grip] And because of the urgency of the wagon — I will be brief. Words of one who truly loves you — who seeks your peace always, Nussun from Breslov Written Thursday, Parshas Shelach, 5642 (June 1882), from Teverya. The long-awaited good news: the son has recovered! A full teaching from Laws of Gift, law 5: G-d Himself — as it were — prays. Hold to the books like a blind man to his staff. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן Your letter from the 3rd of Chukas — I received it on Friday — the eve of Shabbos — before the receiving of Shabbos. And I had no leisure even to read it. And then on the night after Shabbos I read it. And I have suffering from the controversy that is in your house [המחלקת שבביתכם — "the controversy that is in your house" — a conflict or dispute within his household or immediate circle; the writer does not specify its nature but feels pain at the news] — for "our matter is sustained by affection" [Aramaic from Shabbos 10a — anan b'chavivusa talya milsa — our entire bond hangs on love and affection; any discord within the household of the Anash affects the writer personally] — and particularly with the household members. But afterward I studied in the books of Rabbainu ז"ל — sign 250 [Likutay Moharan, sign 250 — a specific Torah discourse; the writer studied this teaching in response to hearing of the household conflict] — and afterward I studied the law on this saying — in the Laws of Handwashing, law 2. [הלכות נטילת ידים הלכה ב' — Laws of Handwashing, law 2 — from Likutay Halachos of Reb Nosson ז"ל; a law connecting the Halachah of washing hands to the deeper spiritual significance of purity and divine service; the writer found there the answer and comfort for this situation] And there is answered everything that passes over a person. And there is no counsel in this world — except faith and much prayer. And one who flees from trouble is wise. [הבורח מן הצרה הוא פקח — "one who flees from trouble is wise" — a Talmudic principle; prudent avoidance of unnecessary conflict is wisdom, not weakness] And whatever good you are able to do — do it. And may He who makes peace in His high places make peace upon us. And always be from among the pursued — and not from among the pursuers [לעולם יהיה מן הנרדפים ולא מן הרודפים — "always be from among the pursued and not from among the pursuers" — from the Talmud, Bava Kamma 93a; G-d seeks out the pursued — the one who is wronged and chased — and champions their cause; it is always better to be the one pursued than the one pursuing] — for G-d seeks out the pursued. And by all presumption — since Hashem Yisbarach seeks him out — He will surely do all good for him. And no person touches what is prepared for his companion. [אין אדם נוגע במה שמוכן לחברו — "no person touches what is prepared for his companion" — the Talmudic teaching that every person's destined portion is reserved for him alone; no one can deprive another of what Providence has designated for him] And I have much to say — but because I am in the open field [על פני השדה — "on the face of the field" — outdoors, in the open; the writer is writing away from home, in an open or field setting, without his usual writing conditions] — and because of the urgency of the wagon — only ask of Hashem Yisbarach to give you good counsel — in how to conduct yourself in this. And also I received the letter from Reb Aizik, may his candle shine — and from Reb Avraham son of Reb Yoel Tzvi, may his candle shine. And surely I pray for them. And yesterday too I was at the grave of Rabbi Meir Ba'al HaNes — and prayed for them. And there is no counsel and no stratagem in this world — from everything that passes over a person — except to spread out one's conversation before Hashem Yisbarach. Words of one who truly loves you — who seeks your peace always, Nussun from Breslov Written Tuesday, Parshas Balak, 5642 (July 1882), from Teverya. The recipient reports household conflict. Counsel from Likutay Moharan sign 250 and Laws of Handwashing law 2. Always be from among the pursued — not the pursuers. A visit to Rabbi Meir Ba'al HaNes. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן