קס

Herewith is enclosed a letter — which I wrote to the nagid [הנגיד — the nagid — the patron and community leader; Reb Chaim Yehoshua; a prominent and wealthy communal figure] Reb Chaim Yehoshua — and I do not want his trusted agent to read it before him. Therefore I am sending it to your honor — enclosed within your letter — so that you should read the letter before the above-mentioned nagid — and explain to him the truth of my letter. For I am not touching either side — only the truth as it appears in my mind and my heart — I wrote to him. And also I heard from afar that you consider that I am not judging you favorably, G-d forbid. Is it possible for your honor to believe this? For Rabbainu ז"ל warned us in many Torah discourses — to judge favorably — even those who shame us — and even to judge oneself favorably — for each person surely knows the wounds of his own heart. And particularly — to a faithful friend such as you — for Hashem Yisbarach knows the truth — how I love the Anash. And I know — that no two people's minds are alike. And specifically — from differing actions — when simple unity is made — this is precious in the eyes of Hashem Yisbarach. And we need only to ensure — not to cause, G-d forbid, division of hearts — for we are all rooted from one root. And I have no agitation against you — to diminish, G-d forbid, the love between us — but as before — and as from ancient times — with strong and very great love. Only every person who is not in a state of perfection — sometimes errs in some matter. But my love for you is fastened in my heart and in my mind — for you are among the people of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple. How fortunate are you — and how fortunate is your portion — and how fortunate is my portion — and how fortunate are we — how good is our portion — and how pleasant is our lot — and how beautiful is our inheritance.

And blessed be G-d — the days of Purim are drawing palpably near. [ממשמשין ובאין — "drawing near palpably, approaching with tangible closeness" — from mimashmashin — feeling, touching with the fingers; the days of Purim are palpably approaching, close enough to touch] May Hashem Yisbarach help us too — that there should be made for us also the downfall of Haman — and Amalek — may his name be blotted out — and his remembrance be erased. And may we merit to rejoice in the joy of the holy Purim — and the downfall of Haman and Amalek. And may Hashem Yisbarach merit us — to cry out beforehand — a great and bitter cry — and afterward to rejoice on the holy festival of Purim — with hand-clapping and dancing — as per the will of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple. And may there be drawn upon us — on Purim — within the joy — supremely elevated divine awe [יראה עלאה דעלאה — Aramaic from the Zohar: "supremely elevated divine awe" — the highest and most refined level of divine awe; the supernal awe that transcends even ordinary awe — the awe of the completely purified soul; this specific level is drawn down specifically through the joy of Purim] — as is explained in Likutay Halachos — in the Laws of the Firstborn Kosher Animal. [הלכות בכור בהמה טהורה — Laws of the Firstborn Kosher Animal — from Likutay Halachos of Reb Nosson ז"ל; a law that connects the Halachah of the firstborn kosher animal to the deep teachings about Purim, joy, and supremely elevated divine awe]

And because of the urgency of the Shabbos eve — I was brief — and he says peace to my truly beloved.

Words of one who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov

Written Friday, Parshas Vayakhel, 5643 (March 1883), from Teverya. A letter enclosing a separate letter for the nagid Reb Chaim Yehoshua. A defense of the writer's love for the Anash. Purim approaches. Supremely elevated divine awe drawn down through Purim joy. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן Letter 158 | קנח (Kuf-Nun-Ches)