מז

Thursday, the Torah portion of Matos-Masei, 5638, according to the minor reckoning — here in Teverya, may it be established and built for good. [Begun Thursday; completed the following Monday of Devarim, as the addendum explains]

To the honor of our beloved, my strong friend, the wondrous veteran Chassid — Morainu v'Rabbainu Reb Nussun, may his candle shine — together with peace upon your father, may his candle shine.

Today I received your letter with the draft through Reb Yudel son of Dina who is from here [בן דינא דפה — "son of Dina who is from here / of here" — the Aramaic relative particle d' — naturally woven into the description as in spoken Aramaic-Hebrew blend: "son of Dina — d'fah — who is of this place"]. And through Reb Zeidel the donkey-driver I received no letter at all. But on Tuesday of this week I received your letter with the letter of Reb Nussun Lirsman — through a non-Jewish carrier — from Tuesday of Pinchas. And I immediately replied to you with a letter through this carrier — and inside it was enclosed a small letter to Reb Nussun Lirsman, may his candle shine. And I was compelled to give the carrier for the letter one coin of 20 paras. And also for your letter I wrote as well to give him 20 paras.

And I cannot express in a letter how you gave me life with this money you sent — for there is not even a single prutah. And to my sister I owe the sum of three hundred and sixty groshen — because she purchased wheat for me, G-d willing for rent — and I am unable to receive any more. And beyond this — her money is wedged into places where it is impossible to extract it [תחובים — techuvim — "wedged, stuck, inserted into a tight space" — from the root meaning to insert and press into a tight space; not merely "tied up" but physically wedged and stuck, unable to be drawn out; money that has gone into places from which it cannot be moved]. And she too has financial pressure. And my money has still not come — which my sons and daughter sent me from Teiteira in the name of the rabbi Reb Yehuda Aharon from Lvov — before Passover — and there is no voice and no response.

And regarding your traveling to the diaspora — one must deliberate on the matter greatly — after your wife, may she live — may Hashem Yisbarach send her a complete healing — is not at home; on whom does the precious child of yours remain? And also you have fear. And if you travel for Rosh Hashana without monetary claims it will not be a great fear for me — for you can be in Uman. But now you need to appear before your brother Yisroel Leib, may his candle shine, and your brother Sender — face to face [לראות עצמך עם אחיך — "to see yourself with your brother" — the Hebraic idiom for presenting oneself, appearing in person, showing one's face; to confront the situation and be seen — a face-to-face appearance, not a letter or intermediary] — and there needs to be a great public accounting. But since your co-parent-in-law, may his candle shine, and Reb Tzvi, may his candle shine, wrote to you to travel — surely they know that you have nothing to fear. But I cannot understand: when Hashem Yisbarach helped him with such a miracle — and he received from the master such a sum — of which three-quarters had been after all hope was abandoned [שלשה חלקים היה אחר יאוש — "three-quarters were after ye'ush" — the Talmudic legal category of despairing of recovery; once an owner despairs of recovering lost property it changes its legal status; three-quarters of the amount had been given up as irrecoverable; its return was therefore beyond the realm of natural expectation — a miracle drawn by prayer] — but the prayers of the Anash who prayed with great force drew the Jewish money out of the husks. Therefore I cannot understand why he does not at least repay you the principal — and why do not you and your father, may his candle shine, write — and also your mother, may she live, was there and she knows your standing [מעמדך — ma'amadcha — "your standing, your position, your status" — from amad — to stand; the full picture of one's position and circumstances; not merely "situation" but specifically where one stands and what one's standing is in this matter].

Therefore, my son my friend — until after the Ninth of Av set a fixed time every single day to pray to Hashem Yisbarach that He give you good counsel — and to recite prayer forty every day — and to surrender yourself to Hashem Yisbarach and speak with your father, may his candle shine, and with our friend Reb Nachman, may his candle shine. And I will certainly also pray for you — and in an abundance of counselors there is salvation. And perhaps Hashem Yisbarach will help you — that within this time your wife, may she live, will come in complete healing. And if this matter came from Hashem — to travel — He will send you strong thoughts. And yes and no take in your hand — only: may Hashem do what is good in His eyes, as He knows. For it is Hashem Who establishes the steps of a man. And also what helps is that he should strengthen his heart — your brother — that he send you your money without any monetary claims. And I can only reply to you with what we received from our fathers: that Hashem is good to all — in everything one needs — both in material and in spiritual. Although you also know this and I also know this — but even so we must arouse each other at all times to actively use this at all times with fresh ardent longing — as if today we heard these things from Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple. For there is no other counsel besides this. And may Hashem Yisbarach send you quickly and soon a complete healing for the pain in your eyes — and for your wife, may she live, and for your brother, may his candle shine. And may Hashem Yisbarach give you the good and complete counsel in a manner that will bring you success to eternal eternity.

Words of one who truly loves you, who always seeks your welfare, who desires your success in this world and the next, and who pleads on your behalf every day in truth,

Nussun from Breslov

Added Monday of Devarim:

The letter was delayed with me because Reb Yudel did not give me the money until yesterday. And also because of the receipt for rent from the administrators which I wanted to send together. And also I did not want to write to you that I had a wound on my left hand and I received great pain from it. But yesterday, blessed be G-d, the wound opened for me — blessed be G-d, blessed be G-d — the immense pain lightened a little. And blessed be G-d I give thanks to the living G-d. And I asked to reply to me whether you received the letters from Thursday of Matos-Masei through the non-Jewish carrier. Cover note addressed separately: To the honor of the widely-renowned patron Morainu v'Rabbainu Chaim Yehoshua, may his candle shine — I have greatly requested of his elevated eminence to be so kind as to deliver this letter to my friend Reb Nussun son of Reb Tzvi, may his candle shine, from Troyits — for it is urgent and it will be reckoned a great mitzvah — to the Holy City of Tzfas, may it be established and built for good. Omain Netzach Selah Va'ed.