י

Thursday, the Torah portion of Shemos [Parshas Shemos — "Names" — the opening of the Book of Exodus; it falls in late December or January], 5636 [= early 1876 CE] — Teverya. To the honor of my friend — our ohavainu — why, it is none other than the wondrous one himself, the veteran Chassid — Morainu v'Rabbainu Reb Nussun — together with peace upon all the members of his household.

Your letter together with the alef-vav [א"ו — a specific monetary sum or coin denomination used in this community; designated here for Reb Dov] for Reb Dov — I received properly. And you gave me life with the good tidings about your brother-in-law, the son of my true beloved — Morainu v'Rabbainu Reb Moshe, may his candle shine [Reb Moshe is beloved to the writer both in himself and as the son of one who is the writer's true beloved — the relationship is doubly precious]. May you thus merit all the days of your life to bear good tidings [a blessing drawn from Isaiah 52:7: "how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one who brings good tidings"] — for Rabbainu ז"ל said that into the one who bears good tidings, Eliyahu the Prophet [Elijah — the herald of all redemption; in Breslov teaching the bearer of true good tidings participates in Eliyahu's sacred mission] was clothed.

But I do not know the meaning of the matter — what was it that caused him to leave quickly at that time? And also — why did your dear father-in-law himself not write us a letter about such good tidings as these, to give life to many souls who had been grieving over this and crying out in prayer and supplication? Therefore I ask of you to write me every word of the root of the matter [כל דבר שרש — "every word of the root" — the full story, down to its roots; leave nothing out]. And also the money you sent me for your brother Sender, may his candle shine — to kindle olive oil at the tomb of the Tanna the Rambam — I will surely kindle it and pray that Hashem Yisbarach grant him success in receiving all the money from the lord [a creditor or landlord from whom money is owed]. And also the money from our shared son-in-law, our friend Reb Tzvi, may his candle shine — I will surely kindle that as well.

And right now — on Tuesday — I went at once with our friend Reb Kalman, may his candle shine, to the holy resting place [ציון — tzion — the grave-monument of a Tzaddik, literally "a marker, a sign"] of Reb Nachman of Horodenka [Rabbainu's grandfather — one of the early Chassidic masters, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, buried in Tiberias], and we prayed for them and for our friend Reb Nachem Zalman, may his candle shine. And yesterday we went to the holy resting place of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai and his holy disciples [the great sage who preserved Torah learning after the Temple's destruction; his grave is traditionally located near Tiberias]. And G-d willing, next week — which is coming upon us for good — we will surely be at the Rambam's tomb. And also to pray for my wife, may she live, daughter of Reb Leib, daughter of Feige — for these eight days she has been seized by a cough [ההוסט — der hust — Yiddish for a cough, embedded in the Hebrew mid-sentence — the same natural code-switch into Yiddish that appeared in Letter 7 with vais ich nisht] so severe that she no longer has the strength to endure it. For whenever any ailment comes upon her it comes upon her with great and burning wrath [בחרון אף גדול — b'charon af gadol — "in great burning anger" — a biblical phrase for the fierce, consuming force of divine wrath; the writer applies it to the ferocity with which each illness seizes his wife, as though the illness itself burns with terrible force], exceedingly so. May Hashem Yisbarach have mercy. Therefore — arouse mercy upon her. For we have nothing to lean upon except Hashem Yisbarach and our precious companions — for each person must feel the troubles of his companion and rejoice in the salvation of his companion [a foundational Breslov obligation of fellowship: shared suffering and shared joy are not sentiments but duties of true brotherhood].

And also please write to me about our friend Reb Aitzikel, may his candle shine, and about his wife, and about their health. And also whether the money came to him from his son, may his candle shine — to give life to his soul. And also whether perhaps he has any news of his son from Breslov — regarding the ticket [בילעט — bilet — a travel permit or conscription document; borrowed from the European languages, used widely across the Russian and Ottoman empires] of his son that was sent to Kamenitz [Kamenetz-Podolsk — a major Jewish city in what is now Ukraine] — what became of it. And also perhaps there is some news with Reb Dov the ritual slaughterer and examiner [שוחט ובודק — shochet u'vodek — the ritual slaughterer who also examines the animal; a central communal religious functionary] from Breslov — and who and who are those now going in Breslov as men of valor [לאנשי חיל — "as men of valor, men of strength" — a term of great honor for those who stand firm in their service of G-d]. For my heart pounds upon me [לבי דופק עלי — "my heart pounds upon me" — alai — "upon me, against me" — the heart presses hard against the writer himself from within; more urgent and physical than merely "beats within me"] on account of my wife's son, Morainu v'Rabbainu Yitzchak, may his candle shine, who is dwelling in Troyits and has a travel permit from Wallachia — therefore inquire into this. For I have no letter from Troyits except this one letter that was sent to me through your brother-in-law Morainu v'Rabbainu Nussun, may his candle shine. Therefore — if you know any news, inform me. And reply to me on my letter — first things first and last things last [על ראשון ראשון ועל אחרון אחרון — address each point in the order it was asked; a request for an orderly, thorough reply]. And regarding the consular matter — I trust in Hashem Yisbarach, in the power of the merit of the Tzaddikim and in the power of the sanctity of Eretz Yisroel, that surely it will conclude for you for good, with surpassing elevation and surpassing strength [ביתר שאת ויתר עז — from Genesis 49:3, Yaakov's blessing of Reuven — "with surpassing elevation and surpassing strength" — applied here as a blessing that the resolution will exceed all expectation].

Words of one who awaits at all times salvation from every direction [המצפה בכל עת לישועה מכל הצדדים — not a formula but a precise self-description: the writer is besieged on all sides — illness, distance, financial worry, family concern — yet watching and waiting with full trust for G-d's salvation to come from every direction], Nussun from Breslov