קעז

I received your letter — with the sugar [ציקר — tsuker — Yiddish: sugar — from German Zucker; the recipient sent a gift of sugar along with the letter] — through Morainu v'Rabbainu Reb Chaim, may his candle shine. And I remain indebted to your honor for the sugar. And several words of the letter I did not understand — the words themselves [לא הבנתי התבות — "I did not understand the words" — תיבות — individual written words; not the general handwriting style but specific words within the letter that were unclear or illegible and could not be deciphered] — what you wrote to me from your co-parent-in-law, may his candle shine — that his wife wants. And I made you an agent to bring good tidings to the elder Reb Nachman, may his candle shine, of Uman — that today I obtained a bill of exchange [אוו"ז — a bill of exchange or financial voucher; a formal document guaranteeing the payment of a specified sum of money at a specified place] for him — in the sum of one hundred rubles — a payment. Only tell him in secret — so that no one else should know. And for the present — you can give him whatever he needs — to give life to his soul. And I ask of you — to write me the price of the payment among you — how many groshen one ruble of Teverya money comes to — for here they give me for each ruble thirteen and a half groshen. And I do not want to exchange until I have news from you — at what rate the Teverya money stands among you. And it is in my mind — to bring the bill of exchange at the time of my coming — G-d willing — to your encampment. Perhaps G-d willing — for Shabbos Nachamu. [Shabbos Nachamu — "the Shabbos of consolation" — the Shabbos immediately following the fast of Tisha B'Av; named for its Haftarah beginning Nachamu nachamu ami — "console, console My people" (Isaiah 40:1); the writer hopes to visit Tzfas for this Shabbos] If at least it will come to thirteen and a half groshen of Teverya money among you. And if not — I will be compelled to exchange here — and to receive a bill of exchange on the money — to your encampment. For I do not want the responsibility of carrying the money with me. Therefore write to me.

And also I have suffering — from what you wrote to me — that you have a controversy with your brother, may his candle shine, and his son, may his candle shine. For I want there to be peace among the Anash — in the merit of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple — who warned greatly about love and peace. And how can blessing dwell upon you — when at every turn there is found among you another controversy? And "the Holy Blessed One found no vessel that holds blessing for Israel — except peace." [From the Mishnah, last of Uktzin — "The Holy Blessed One found no vessel that holds all blessing for Israel except peace"] And one must pray greatly for peace. For controversy is despised — and peace is great. And all the losses of those who dispute — are because there is no peace and true love among us — "for over all transgressions — love covers." [Proverbs 10:12 — "hatred stirs up strife — but love covers over all transgressions"] And I pray to Hashem Yisbarach — that there should be love. And also all of you — all of you must pray greatly to Hashem Yisbarach. For our love is no trivial thing — for through it one can gather together — and mention Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple. And to mention their name is a rectification for the soul, spirit, and higher soul. For they are eternal — eternally eternal.

Nussun from Breslov

Written Tuesday, Parshas Masei, 5643 (July 1883), from Teverya. Sugar received as a gift. A bill of exchange for 100 rubles obtained for the old man of Uman. The writer hopes to visit Tzfas for Shabbos Nachamu. A call for peace — "the Holy Blessed One found no vessel that holds blessing except peace." נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן