קסח

Your letter I received on Friday — the eve of Shabbos — after midday. And I had no leisure at all to reply to you as befits replying to two such beloved ones. Only I wrote you a receipt for your letter. And also I asked — since I am sending — with our veteran Chassid friend Reb Volveh — who is called Reb Ze'ev — from Jerusalem — the sum of seven groshen — to distribute: to my friend Reb Nachman, may his candle shine — two groshen. To Reb Dov — two groshen. To Reb Itzig — two groshen. To Reb Aizik — two groshen. And to the widow of Reb Itzele — one groshen. [Note: the distribution totals nine groshen, not seven — there may be a scribal error in the source or the writer counted differently] And I ask of you — perhaps your co-parent-in-law, may his candle shine, will come — and bring letters to my hand from the diaspora — that you send them to me immediately — and revive my soul. For I have no letter from anywhere. And for the sake of Hashem — be in joy for the great Hillula [הלולא רבא — Aramaic: "the great Hillula" — the celebration of the anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai on Lag Ba'omer at Meron; the greatest annual Chassidic celebration in Eretz Yisroel; hillulah from Aramaic — celebration, jubilation] — for Rabbainu ז"ל will surely also be there. One who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov Nussun the above-mentioned. To Reb Nussun son of Reb Hirsh in Tzfas, may it be established — my friend Reb Nussun, may his candle shine — receive this guest — who is among the distinguished of the Anash — with a pleasant countenance. [בסבר פנים יפות — "with a pleasant countenance" — from the Mishnah, Avos 1:15: "receive every person with a pleasant countenance"; the specific Mishnaic phrase for warm, open-faced hospitality; the honored way of welcoming a guest] For blessed be G-d — he stayed with me too — eight days — with a pleasant countenance. Written the night after Shabbos, around Lag Ba'omer, 5643 (May 1883), from Teverya. A brief letter sending seven groshen for distribution. A request for prayers at the Hillula of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. A letter of introduction for a distinguished guest. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן