קמט

Hereby know — that I received all your letters — even through Reb Chaim, the son-in-law of Reb Itsmar — I also received it — only he had forgotten them — and I asked him and he remembered. And I have great suffering from the division of hearts [פרוד לבבות — "division of hearts" — the internal divisions and fractures among the Anash themselves; more painful to the writer than the external persecution from the opponents] that is between you — more than from the controversy that is upon you from the opponents. And it was in my mind to write some letter to our veteran friend and Chassid Reb Nachman, may his candle shine. But I sat with my mind — to ask you whether to write or not — for I do not know whether he will ever uphold: "I have never transgressed the words of my companion." [A Talmudic principle: he who says "I have never transgressed the words of my companion" — meaning he always honored and heeded the requests of his fellow; the writer is uncertain whether his letter to Reb Nachman will be received and honored] And also if I knew that my words are heard by your father, may his candle shine — I would surely not have been sluggish to write to him. For the suffering is great — that my wife, may she live, told me — from the daughter of Reb Shmuel Henech, may his candle shine — the magnitude of the suffering that is being caused to his wife, may she live. And your father fulfills: "and among brothers he shall be fruitful." [Hosea 13:15 — "though he bears fruit among brothers — an east wind shall come, a wind of Hashem rising from the desert"; the verse's context is of one who flourishes among brothers but is then struck; applied here with some irony to the father whose behavior is causing discord among brothers]

And tonight I studied law 5 of the Laws of Blessings upon Seeing [הלכות ברכות הראיה — Laws of Blessings upon Seeing — from Likutay Halachos of Reb Nosson ז"ל; laws governing the blessings one recites upon seeing exceptional phenomena — lightning, the sea, mountains, rainbows, great Torah scholars; these laws connect to deep teachings about perception, awe, and divine vision] — and look there — and you will see the great obligation to love one's companion — and what comes of it. And this is what I wanted to write to you — and to Reb Nachman, may his candle shine. In sum — my brothers and my friends: האלט אייך זיך אין איינעם באהבה עזה — hold fast to one another in strong love — and may Hashem be with you — and may Hashem conclude with you — everything for the good. And rejoice yourselves at all times — for through joy you will emerge from all the troubles — and you will merit great expansiveness.

And surely Reb Aizik, may his candle shine, did not do right — in that he said to the "known one" [ל'ידוע' — "to the known one" — a deliberate circumlocution for someone whose name or identity is being avoided; the writer refers to someone involved in the internal dispute without naming him directly] "Shabbat Shalom." But they need not distance themselves because of this — for we do things worse than this — and Hashem Yisbarach does not distance us — and also Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple do not distance us — only they strengthen us in all kinds of strengthening — and pray for us in the aspect of judgment — so that our spiritual odor should not become foul, G-d forbid [שלא יהיה ריחנו ח"ו — "so that our odor should not be foul, G-d forbid" — a Kabbalistic concept: a person's spiritual state has an odor before Heaven; prayer in the aspect of judgment ensures that the odor remains good and does not become foul; Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple pray precisely to protect the spiritual scent of the Anash] — but only to revive our souls.

In sum — my brothers: גאט וועט אייך אויספירן — און איהר וועט אלסדינג איבערקומען — G-d will lead you out — and you will overcome everything. זייט נישט קיין מיחסים — do not be ones who give pedigree accounts [מיחסים — meyukhasim — those who pride themselves on their lineage and pedigree; here used ironically: do not act as if your honor and descent are at stake — do not stand on ceremony and pride when humiliation is the path to true honor] — for they already shamed Rabbainu ז"ל to his face — in Zlatipoli — in the bathhouse. And also his holy disciple. And I myself heard how they were shaming him to his face — and he bore it all — and did his own work. And now we see what they merited through this. And you too will bear it — and surely everything will be for the good. And what Reb Aizik, may his candle shine, wrote to me — that he has it from all sides and from the neighbors — this is your trial — that you merit — if you will be strong in your strength — for the fullness of good. And do not forget the story of the Baal Shem Tov — explained at the end of Chayei Moharan.

Words of one who loves you, Nussun from Breslov Written Tuesday, Parshas Vayeitzei, 5643 (November 1882), from Teverya. Suffering from the internal division of hearts among the Anash — more painful than the external persecution. A teaching from Laws of Blessings upon Seeing. Hold fast to one another in strong love. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן And also the letter from Reb Yosef, may his candle shine — from the 2nd of Vayeitzei — I also received. And why did he not bring me a letter from my daughter from Breslov? And also my wife's son — whose name is Aharon — also dwells in Breslov — and surely Reb Yosef also saw him. And my wife, may she live, has suffering — that he brought her no letter from her daughter Chaike, may she live — and from her son Aharon, may his candle shine. And my wife, may she live, has the fever again this time. And because of this my mind is greatly confused — and I cannot write to you several words — to give life to my soul and to your soul — from the words of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple — through which every day we see other novelties — upon which all the worlds depend. And from them I see the greatness of the power of free choice [כח הבחירה — the power of free will and free choice — bechira; one of the foundational concepts in Rabbainu ז"ל's teachings: the great power of human free choice, which is so great that it can even darken such great lights as those of the Anash; a sobering recognition of the importance of each person's choices] — which can darken such lights — even among the Anash. And we are obligated to give over our souls — and to be gathered together in fellowship [hitva'adus — the fellowship assembly] — perhaps we will merit to hear one word from their words — which stand at the very summit of all the worlds. And even to be in a house where the name of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple and our assembly is mentioned — is no small thing. For our assembly is no small thing — for the main provocation of the Adversary in your encampment is because of the assembly. And each one of us must ensure that he himself should not be the cause of separation — and to pray greatly — that the houses that were built through the assembly should not be destroyed, G-d forbid — and to be a neighbor to the assembly. And each one must love his companion — and judge him favorably. For a little light drives away much darkness. And even if we see in one person that he has a bad character trait — all our fellowship must pray for him — that Hashem Yisbarach help him to break this bad trait. As is explained: "My fellowship — is there anything in the world that you have not swept over — come, let me be destroyed with them." [A paraphrase of a Talmudic saying from Sanhedrin 98b — a leader who says of his generation: "my fellowship" — meaning: is there anything, any failing, that you have not swept over me? If so — come, let me be destroyed together with them; one who is bound to his fellowship shares in their fate and their merit; a cry of total mutual responsibility] More I have no leisure to write — for I am preparing letters for my son Moshe Efraim, may his candle shine. And perhaps Reb Dov, may his candle shine, is coming — and he has with him my money — the sum of three rubles — send it to me immediately — for my time is pressing. And also — what did Reb Yosef, may his candle shine, say about the money from Tcheryn — for he wrote a letter saying they want to send it — and where is it? And also write to me whether our friend Reb Efraim arrived home safely to Jerusalem. And revive my soul. And regarding the letter to your co-parent-in-law — G-d willing after Shabbos I will write to him and send it to you — for now I have no leisure because of my own letters. And also write to me and ask Reb Yosef — whether the letter arrived that we sent to Uman in the name of your co-parent-in-law — for in it there was also a letter for Reb Yosef from my wife. And may Hashem Yisbarach send a complete healing to wife Leah, may she live — and to the wife of Reb Yosef. Words of one who truly loves you — truly and in truth — and may Hashem Yisbarach give you the vessel that holds blessing for Israel — which is peace [Last Mishnah of Uktzin — "The Holy Blessed One found no vessel that holds blessing for Israel except peace"; the very last words of the entire Mishnah; the writer closes with this as a blessing: may you receive the vessel — peace — which alone can hold all blessing] , Nussun from Breslov Written the night before Thursday, Parshas Vayishlach, 5643 (late November/December 1882), from Teverya. The wife's fever has returned. Internal unity of the Anash — pray for one another, do not be the cause of separation. "A little light drives away much darkness." נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן Your letter from Tuesday and Wednesday — I received from the hand of the woman on Friday — the eve of Shabbos. And you gave us life with your letter — that you received my letter — for I had suffering — perhaps the letter was not delivered to you. And our letter is a secret of secrets. And you gave us life — in that you wrote to me that you were joyful in Meron [מירון — Meron — the burial site of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai on Mount Meron near Tzfas; one of the most important holy sites in Eretz Yisroel for Breslov Chassidim; a visit there to pray and rejoice] — by the light of the Tzaddikim — may it rejoice. So may joy flow upon you and upon me — always — from the sources of joy. Chadei — Rabbi Shimon [חדי רבי שמעון — chadei is Aramaic: "rejoice!" — an Aramaic imperative; "rejoice with Rabbi Shimon" — an exhortation addressed directly in the Aramaic imperative to be joyful together with Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai] — and give yourselves life at all times. For blessed be G-d — the books of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple rest on your table — and sometimes — almost every day — you study in them novelties such as these. And look in the letter on the excellence of his Torah and his holy books — sign 37 — and we must establish each day some joy about this — with permanence. [לקבע בכל יום איזה שמחה על זה בקביעות — to make fixed and permanent — keva — a regular, set, established joy every single day; not occasional but permanent and fixed] And we must not confuse our minds — with the controversy and the humiliations — for "from the desert — a gift" [Numbers 21:18 — "and from the desert — Mattanah" — a gift; a Talmudic teaching: the Torah was given in the desert — midbar — and is also a gift — matanah; what appears to be a desert of humiliation and emptiness is actually the place from which the gift emerges] — for through them we merit such good. And the controversy raises and elevates a person. And the main thing is that Hashem Yisbarach should help — that there should not be, G-d forbid, division among us. And even about this — we need not rebuke — even one who errs in this — for "Abraham was one" — and his attribute was lovingkindness. And regarding what you wrote — that I should write to your co-parent-in-law — I do not know — surely Reb Yosef, may his candle shine, and Reb Dov, may his candle shine, spoke with him about Rosh Hashana — and what did he say to them? And nevertheless — if you write to me what to write to him — surely I will write to him and send it to you. Or if my mind is inclined — I will write to him and send it to him from here. Only write to me — how one writes to Gonrad [חנראד — Gonrad or Conrad — presumably a town in the diaspora to which the letter would be sent] — in the Russian language. And also I asked — to bring good tidings to the woman Dabris — the wife of Reb Tevil — that there came to my hand — in his name — Kamiel — from Reb Moshe Yadid — from her daughter — the sum of three rubles — with a letter from her daughter from Breslov. And write to me with whom to send it to her. And I paid postal money on behalf of the letters. Words of one who loves you, Nussun from Breslov And greetings of peace to Reb Aizik, may his candle shine — and to all the Anash. Woe — and bitter — over our bitter and most bitter breaking — that I heard this very moment — of the passing of the Tzaddik, the Chassid Reb Efraim — may his merit protect us. Woe to me — woe to me — woe, woe to me — over a basket full of books [צנא מלא דספרא — Aramaic from the Talmud [Sanhedrin 68a] — "a basket full of books" — the Talmudic elegy for a great scholar who has passed; Reb Efraim is mourned as one who was a basket full of Torah and holy books] — who gave over his soul — in order to be present at the Rosh Hashana of the Tzaddik — to pray in the aspect of judgment [תפילה בבחינת דין — prayer in the aspect of strict judgment — a specific Kabbalistic concept: the Tzaddikim who are hidden in the diaspora pray from the aspect of strict divine judgment; this specific manner of prayer is explained in Likutay Halachos in the laws about the Tzaddikim who are set apart and hidden in the diaspora] — as is explained in Likutay Halachos — on the exceptional Tzaddikim who are stored away as treasure in the diaspora — that this is prayer in the aspect of judgment. And now I ask — to inform me when he passed away — and whether he was in Uman — healthy — on Rosh Hashana — and in what place he passed away. For my heart aches over the passing of such a precious stone. And I want to know how and what his passing was. And how fortunate is he — for four or five years he was drawing close to Rabbainu ז"ל — with all his might — with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength — and drew close to himself with all his powers — to Reb Nosson ז"ל. How fortunate is he — in peace shall he rest upon his resting place. And we need in all respects to study his composition at least a little — so that his lips should murmur in the grave. [שיהיו שפתותיו דובבות בקבר — "so that his lips should murmur in the grave" — from the Talmud [Yevamos 97a]: one who cites a teaching in the name of its author causes the lips of that author to murmur in the grave; by studying Reb Efraim's compositions and citing his name, his lips will murmur in the grave — a form of continued spiritual life] And from now — "death shall be swallowed up forever." [Isaiah 25:8 — "He will swallow up death forever — and Hashem G-d will wipe away the tears from all faces"; a verse of ultimate consolation and eschatological hope applied at the moment of grief] Words of the above-mentioned. Written Sunday, Parshas Mikeitz, 5643 (December 1882 / Chanukah), from Teverya. Joy at Meron. Controversy as the desert from which gifts flow. "Abraham was one — and his attribute was lovingkindness." A stunning postscript: the writer hears this very moment of the passing of the Tzaddik Reb Efraim — "a basket full of books." נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן Hereby know — that I received all your letters — even through Reb Chaim, the son-in-law of Reb Itsmar — I also received it — only he had forgotten them — and I asked him and he remembered. And I have great suffering from the division of hearts [פרוד לבבות — "division of hearts" — the internal divisions and fractures among the Anash themselves; more painful to the writer than the external persecution from the opponents] that is between you — more than from the controversy that is upon you from the opponents. And it was in my mind to write some letter to our veteran friend and Chassid Reb Nachman, may his candle shine. But I sat with my mind — to ask you whether to write or not — for I do not know whether he will ever uphold: "I have never transgressed the words of my companion." [A Talmudic principle: he who says "I have never transgressed the words of my companion" — meaning he always honored and heeded the requests of his fellow; the writer is uncertain whether his letter to Reb Nachman will be received and honored] And also if I knew that my words are heard by your father, may his candle shine — I would surely not have been sluggish to write to him. For the suffering is great — that my wife, may she live, told me — from the daughter of Reb Shmuel Henech, may his candle shine — the magnitude of the suffering that is being caused to his wife, may she live. And your father fulfills: "and among brothers he shall be fruitful." [Hosea 13:15 — "though he bears fruit among brothers — an east wind shall come, a wind of Hashem rising from the desert"; the verse's context is of one who flourishes among brothers but is then struck; applied here with some irony to the father whose behavior is causing discord among brothers] And tonight I studied law 5 of the Laws of Blessings upon Seeing [הלכות ברכות הראיה — Laws of Blessings upon Seeing — from Likutay Halachos of Reb Nosson ז"ל; laws governing the blessings one recites upon seeing exceptional phenomena — lightning, the sea, mountains, rainbows, great Torah scholars; these laws connect to deep teachings about perception, awe, and divine vision] — and look there — and you will see the great obligation to love one's companion — and what comes of it. And this is what I wanted to write to you — and to Reb Nachman, may his candle shine. In sum — my brothers and my friends: האלט אייך זיך אין איינעם באהבה עזה — hold fast to one another in strong love — and may Hashem be with you — and may Hashem conclude with you — everything for the good. And rejoice yourselves at all times — for through joy you will emerge from all the troubles — and you will merit great expansiveness. And surely Reb Aizik, may his candle shine, did not do right — in that he said to the "known one" [ל'ידוע' — "to the known one" — a deliberate circumlocution for someone whose name or identity is being avoided; the writer refers to someone involved in the internal dispute without naming him directly] "Shabbat Shalom." But they need not distance themselves because of this — for we do things worse than this — and Hashem Yisbarach does not distance us — and also Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple do not distance us — only they strengthen us in all kinds of strengthening — and pray for us in the aspect of judgment — so that our spiritual odor should not become foul, G-d forbid [שלא יהיה ריחנו ח"ו — "so that our odor should not be foul, G-d forbid" — a Kabbalistic concept: a person's spiritual state has an odor before Heaven; prayer in the aspect of judgment ensures that the odor remains good and does not become foul; Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple pray precisely to protect the spiritual scent of the Anash] — but only to revive our souls. In sum — my brothers: גאט וועט אייך אויספירן — און איהר וועט אלסדינג איבערקומען — G-d will lead you out — and you will overcome everything. זייט נישט קיין מיחסים — do not be ones who give pedigree accounts [מיחסים — meyukhasim — those who pride themselves on their lineage and pedigree; here used ironically: do not act as if your honor and descent are at stake — do not stand on ceremony and pride when humiliation is the path to true honor] — for they already shamed Rabbainu ז"ל to his face — in Zlatipoli — in the bathhouse. And also his holy disciple. And I myself heard how they were shaming him to his face — and he bore it all — and did his own work. And now we see what they merited through this. And you too will bear it — and surely everything will be for the good. And what Reb Aizik, may his candle shine, wrote to me — that he has it from all sides and from the neighbors — this is your trial — that you merit — if you will be strong in your strength — for the fullness of good. And do not forget the story of the Baal Shem Tov — explained at the end of Chayei Moharan. Words of one who loves you, Nussun from Breslov Written Tuesday, Parshas Vayeitzei, 5643 (November 1882), from Teverya. Suffering from the internal division of hearts among the Anash — more painful than the external persecution. A teaching from Laws of Blessings upon Seeing. Hold fast to one another in strong love. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן