קפ

I received your letter — and also the objects — in their completeness. And I greatly ask of you — and of your wife, may she live — that you should not be involved, G-d forbid, in the controversy. And even whoever disputes against you, G-d forbid — receive him with love. And may you merit to complete repentance — and "he will return and be healed." [Isaiah 6:10 — "lest he see with his eyes and hear with his ears and understand with his heart and return and be healed" — the verse of repentance and healing; applied here: whoever is involved in the controversy — if received with love — will return and be healed] And particularly — since now blessed be G-d — it is the month of Elul — the time of repentance. And it is impossible to merit repentance — except through humiliations. And let him be silent and still. And particularly — the controversy between the women — through which, G-d forbid, Troyitz [טראויצע — Troyitz or Trowitz — a community that was destroyed; the writer refers to a historical destruction of a Jewish community that was caused by controversy among women — used as a warning of what internal discord can lead to] was destroyed, G-d forbid. And also in the days of the Ari ז"ל — the redemption was ruined — and through controversy it was broken. [A tradition that in the time of the holy Ari ז"ל — a spiritual redemption was imminent — but was prevented by internal controversy; a sobering reminder of how high the stakes of internal peace truly are] And for the present — congratulations to you — for a congratulation is always a good sign. And do not worry at all — for Hashem is with you and by you and close to you. And Hashem Yisbarach — G-d willing — will conclude everything for you for the good — in the merit of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple.

And I ask of you — and of all the Anash — to pray for my wife — for since Shabbos she has had the fever every single day. May Hashem Yisbarach have mercy upon her. And we have no counsel — except prayer and supplication and faith and trust and joy. For in the course of time — everything will pass. And sufferings accomplish nothing at all. And through joy — everything is turned to good.

And also greetings of peace to my friend, our truly beloved, Morainu v'Rabbainu Reb Aizik, may his candle shine — together with peace upon his wife and his son, may his candle shine.

ידידי הרב איזיק — למען ה' פליווע נאר בתפילה ותחנונים — וועסטי זעהן ווי אזוי השי"ת וועט דיר אלסדינג העלפן — My friend the Rabbi Aizik — for the sake of Hashem — fly only [fli nor — Yiddish: "fly only" — an idiom of total concentration and immersion — fly with full force in prayer and supplication alone; soar in it; give yourself over to it entirely as a bird gives itself over to flight] in prayer and supplications — and you will see how Hashem Yisbarach will help you in everything.

Words of one who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov

Written Tuesday, Parshas Ki Savo, Elul 5643 (August 1883), from Teverya. A plea to stay out of the controversy entirely. Month of Elul — repentance through humiliation. The wife's fever daily since Shabbos. A Yiddish exhortation to Reb Aizik: "fly only in prayer."

נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן Praise to G-d — here all of us are in life and in peace. So may I merit — to hear from you — life and peace — from abundant success and expansiveness — and from abundant joy — without limit. Two of your letters I received properly — one through the hired coachman — and one through Reb Dovid Tzvi, may his candle shine. And surely I pray for our veteran Chassid friend Reb Yaakov, may his candle shine.