קטו

A certain woman is traveling to the Holy Land — and I sat down with my intention to write to you everything that rises in my mind and in my thought — the binding of thought, speech, and deed — to Rabbainu z"l and his holy disciple. Perhaps I will arouse myself from now — to begin anew to remind myself: this month is the time to circumcise the heart — the letters of Elul alluding to: "to circumcise your heart and the heart of your seed" — and to return in complete repentance — so that I may return in such repentance until I am able to fulfill: "and say: return, children of man — for days have been formed — and one of them to arouse greatly toward Hashem Yisbarach" — for all the business of Rabbainu z"l and his disciple is Rosh Hashana — and this month is a great preparation for Rosh Hashana — and these are days of divine will — will specifically.

And we must yearn and pine and long — when will Hashem Yisbarach merit us — for all the rectifications that are made from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Shemini Atzeret — as is explained in the books of Likutay Halachos — many times — each time in a different manner. As is explained briefly in Likutay Eitzvos — the new section. And the essential thing is the will. And within all this — we must cry out and call and strengthen ourselves with fresh desires — and begin from now anew — to draw ourselves close to Hashem Yisbarach — through the paths of Rabbainu z"l and his holy disciple.

And for the sake of Hashem — let great mercies be aroused on all the graves of the Tzaddikim — for all of Israel stand now in very great distress. Both in Russia-land and here — for here harsh decrees are being renewed every single day — and one decree more harsh than its companion — namely: that Jews shall not reside in the villages at all, G-d forbid. And also they do not allow any person from outside Wallachia to come there — and even one man from Wallachia — when he travels to another country — they afterward do not allow him to return to his own country. In sum: there is no hatred against Israel as there is here. And also from Russia-land one hears here of great devastations. May Hashem Yisbarach have mercy on all Israel — for the compassion that is required for our brothers the children of Israel — is beyond all reckoning. And we are obligated to cry out to Hashem Yisbarach — as is explained in the words of Rabbainu z"l in the Aleph-Beis — that every person must hang the communal suffering specifically upon his own sin [לתלות בחטאו — "to hang it upon his own sin" — from talah — to hang, to suspend; the image of hanging the collective suffering on one's own sin as on a peg — taking personal responsibility as the cause; not merely connecting to it but specifically suspending it there as one hangs something on a hook].

Words of one who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov

Also I convey his good greetings — my friend and beloved — and may the inscription and sealing be good for him — none other than Morainu v'Rabbainu Reb Nussun, may his candle shine — and to all the Anash in general and in particular. I am making a wedding for my son — the precious distinguished young scholar the honor of our teacher Reb Leibele, may his candle shine — and the reception of the families is the coming Shabbos that comes upon us for good — the Torah portion of Shoftim — and the wedding canopy will be G-d willing on Thursday of Tetzei. And may Hashem Yisbarach help — and may the match succeed well — and would that Hashem Yisbarach help me — that I should be present for the coming Rosh Hashana in Uman.

And as we have heard and seen that controversy has been stirred against us — without cause — and I hope that it will be fulfilled for us: "and our enemies shall see and be ashamed." And particularly words of falsehood such as these — where on every page and every page — he remembers our righteous Messiah — and the truth is that they have certainly desecrated him. Therefore do not fear and do not be afraid at all — for many rise against us and Hashem is our shield.

Words of his friend, Yechiel

Written Wednesday, eve of Rosh Chodesh Elul, 5641 (August 1881), from Teiteira. An Elul letter. Reports of pogroms and decrees. Postscript by Reb Yechiel. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן Letter 113 | Kuf-Yud-Gimmel Translator's Summary — Letter 113 Letter 114 | Kuf-Yud-Dalet