טו

Tuesday, the 24th of the Omer count [Sefiras HaOmer — the 49-day count between Passover and Shavuos; the 24th day falls approximately three and a half weeks after Passover, in late spring], 5636 [= spring 1876 CE] — the Holy City of Teverya, may it be established and built for good — written from the home.

To the honor of my truly and wholeheartedly beloved friend — embedded in the walls of my heart [הנצמד בקירות לבבי — "the one joined, attached, embedded in the walls of my heart" — nitzmed: bonded tightly, fused into the very stone of the heart] — the veteran Chassid — Morainu v'Rabbainu Reb Nussun — together with peace upon all our truly beloved: Reb Aizik, may his candle shine, and Reb Nussun, may his candle shine.

Thanks to G-d for our lives — here all of us are in the way of life and peace. May I merit to hear from you life and peace and good tidings at all times — Omain Netzach Selah Va'ed.

Your letter from Tuesday of Tazria [Parshas Tazria — the portion dealing with purity and impurity; it falls in early to mid-spring] I received — and also another letter together with the letter from Tulchin [Tultshin — Tulchin, a city in Ukraine; a significant center of the Breslov community] I also received. And it was a reviving of my soul — that blessed be G-d, your son Morainu v'Rabbainu Sender Chaim, may his candle shine, is, blessed be G-d, in the way of life and in peace. And you are preparing yourself to make him a chalakah [חאלאקע — the ceremony of a boy's first haircut, traditionally performed at age three; a joyous occasion in Chassidic communities, often celebrated at the tomb of a Tzaddik on Lag Ba'Omer] with a good omen. So may you and your wife, may she live, merit to make for him a bar mitzvah and a wedding, G-d willing, with a good omen. And may your father, may his candle shine, and your mother, may she live, merit to see your joy. And also all your beloved ones and your father-in-law, may his candle shine, and your mother-in-law, may she live — and all who wish to see good for you — may they all merit to see your joy always.

And I am unable to travel to you for the chalakah — because G-d willing, it is my intention — may Hashem bring it to completion for good and direct my steps [ה' יגמר לטוב ויכון צעדי — an echo of Psalms 37:23: "the steps of a man are established by Hashem"; the writer surrenders the plan to G-d's direction] — to travel, G-d willing, on the coming Wednesday which comes upon us for good, toward Rosh Hashana. And my intention had been to travel first to Yerushalayim, may it be established and built for good, and from there to Uman [Uman — the city in Ukraine where Rabbainu ז"ל is buried; the destination of the annual Rosh Hashana pilgrimage]. But for two reasons I cannot: first — my wife, may she live, is not sufficiently in good health. And second — I do not have enough for the expenses, for aside from this I have already borrowed from my sister, may she live, four hundred groshen. And I am compelled to travel via Teiteira to my brother, may his candle shine [נרם יאיר — here the writer writes out the blessing in full: neirom ya'ir — "may their candle shine" — rather than the usual abbreviation נ"י; the full written-out blessing for his own family members carries a tenderness beyond the abbreviated form], and to my sons, may their candles shine [again נרם יאיר written in full — the same tender distinction] — and there I must linger a little. And I wish to be in Uman, G-d willing, for the first of Elul. Therefore I must leave earlier. And surely I would have wanted to be with you together as one at the chalakah of your son, may his candle shine. Therefore — rejoice in the Name [תשמחו בשם — "rejoice in the Name" — in Hashem's Name; directing the celebration toward its true divine Source], and I from afar will also rejoice.

And do not worry at all about the consular affairs — for Hashem Yisbarach will surely bring it to completion for good. For the matter is not yet concluded from the labor [עדין אינו גמר מהמלאכה — "it has not yet been finished from the work" — G-d's work in this matter has not yet reached its completion; the delay is unfinished process, not abandonment]. And surely they will pay you — even with the full profit [אפילו עם העסקא — "even with the business-profit" — principal and interest both, in full]. Only one must bear it a little patiently. And Hashem Yisbarach did this to you deliberately [במכון — "with intention, deliberately" — G-d arranged this situation with specific purpose, not randomly] — in order to begin from here to flee to Hashem Yisbarach and to pray to Him. For all things are signals to draw near to His service, may He be blessed. And Hashem Yisbarach will not allow your honestly earned money to be lost — not even once. Only we must cry out to Hashem Yisbarach about our not-good deeds, and sigh many sighs — and a sigh is the completion of deficiencies, in material matters and in spiritual matters alike — and He will sweeten everything. Only we must not be lazy in prayer. For in the diaspora there is buying and selling [משא ומתן — commerce, the give-and-take of trade] — but here, in Eretz Yisroel, the main buying and selling is prayer. And to merit prayer in its fullness — it is impossible to merit except when we spend our days in the books of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple. Therefore, my beloved brother and companion — be strong! And gather together as one united bond [באגדה אחת — "in one bundle / bond" — the word agadah here means a binding together, a gathering into a single strong unit, as scattered reeds are bound into one unbreakable bundle], and study together the said books, and fulfill the three nekudos [the three foundational points of holiness taught by Rabbainu ז"ל]. And then at all times there will come to be made upon you a melafum [ויהיה נעשה בכל עת מלאפום — "and it will come to be made upon you at all times" — passive and continuous: the melafum is not something they produce but something that is wrought upon them as a result of their work, constantly, moment by moment; melafum is the vowel-point of fullness and completion — the "O" sound — representing a state of completeness achieved when the three nekudos are fulfilled] — and He will fill [וימלא — "and He will fill" — the image of filling a vessel to the brim; Hashem Himself is the one who fills] all your requests [משאלותיכם — "your requests / petitions" — what you have specifically asked for, your named prayers] — all for good, in this world and in the World to Come.

Words of one who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov dwelling here in Teverya, may it be established and built for good.