קטז

Blessed be G-d — we had a very good Rosh Hashana — and blessed be G-d — the gathering was very, very large. And there were loud cries and pleas for salvation and sighs and meditative contemplations of repentance [tze'akos u'shu'os v'anachot v'hirhurei teshuvah — four distinct forms: loud cries of distress (tze'akos); pleas for salvation (shu'os); sighs and groans (anachot); and hirhurei teshuvah — meditative inward contemplations of repentance; hirhurim specifically means the soul's introspective pondering and turning-over of thoughts in repentance — distinct from the outward cry] at the resting place of Rabbainu z"l — greatly. And it surely ascended heavenward — and Rabbainu z"l will build from them buildings — wondrous and awesome buildings. And I bound you within the holy assembly — for I know your desire also to be there. And I prayed greatly on your behalf. And I received from you the letter — that Reb Aizik's wife wants to divorce him. And I prayed greatly before Rabbainu z"l that Hashem Yisbarach help him — that he be released from her — and that He arrange for him his match — with living and enduring children. For it gives me no ease.

But know — that I suffered a loss here — for they stole from me a small trunk — and the loss comes to approximately ten rubles. And when I come home I will tell you how it was. And G-d willing from now — ask for Rosh Hashana — and I too ask of Hashem Yisbarach — from the Fast of Gedaliah — for the coming Rosh Hashana. For this is the essence of our hope and our life-force — forever.

And now I write: that the letter you sent me — to give the sum of 5024 rubles — I fulfilled your words. And G-d willing when I come home in peace — I will bring you receipts. And also I am sending you the sum of seventy-five rubles. And also Reb Hirsh of Kalibulad said he sent you fifty rubles. And also you have twenty-five rubles — what was given to you for the craftsman. And it will come to a total of one hundred and fifty rubles — against the debt. And I will give to the craftsman the sum of twenty-five rubles. And if you did not receive the fifty from Reb Hirsh, may his candle shine — immediately write to your co-parent-in-law, may his candle shine, by post — and let him travel to Reb Hirsh, may his candle shine, to give it to him — for Reb Hirsh told me angrily that he did not want to give to me but only to send — and I did not speak with Reb Hirsh about this — for I had no leisure — for it was almost Rosh Hashana eve — and he immediately traveled in the morning of the Fast of Gedaliah. But G-d willing after Yom Kippur — when I travel to Tcheryn for Sukkos — I will travel that way — and there I will speak with him.

And also to inform Reb Abba — that within my stolen goods — there were there stolen also the belongings that he sent with me for his son, may his candle shine — and they were stolen from me. And I have suffering from this. But to his brother-in-law Reb Shmuel, may his candle shine — I gave him what he sent with me. And also to say to your father, may his candle shine — that I received the barnaz from your brother Nachman, may his candle shine — on behalf of your brother Yisroel Leib, may his candle shine. And also your sister-in-law Tzarne, may she live, was at Rosh Hashana — and I delivered to her the letter from your brother Sender, may his candle shine — and I spoke with her at length. And when I come home in peace I will tell him. And she also said to me that she will immediately send him a letter herself.

Also I received a letter from all the sons of our friend Reb Nachman, may his candle shine — and all of them were at Rosh Hashana — blessed be G-d. And the letter is enclosed here. More I have no leisure to write — because I want to go to the holy resting place of Rabbainu — and there surely is also his holy disciple.

Words of one who truly loves you — who mentions you at all times for good — and blesses you with the completion of a good sealing, Nussun from Breslov

Written Tuesday, between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, 5642 (autumn 1881), from Uman. A very good Rosh Hashana. Four distinct forms of prayer at the grave. The writer was robbed. Account-settling. Rushing to the grave.

Your letter I received properly — and you gave me life with your letter — that you ask of Hashem Yisbarach to purify you from the evil blood. And this is the essence of repentance: to subdue the blood in the left cavity. And Rabbainu z"l also said in another place: that the quality of contentiousness and victory-seeking comes from the blood in which one did not serve Hashem Yisbarach. Therefore my friend, our beloved — now that Hashem Yisbarach has forgiven you all your sins on the day of the wedding canopy — now settle yourself in a settled and composed frame of mind — in your soul and in your heart — upon what we have come to this lowly world for [l'hai alma shfalah — Aramaic: "to this lowly world" — alma is the Aramaic word for world; a code-switch into the language of the Talmud and Zohar; shfalah — lowly, degraded]. And cast away every kind of victory-seeking and pride. And let your main victory-drive be directed against the evil impulse — not to allow it to enter into your thought. For two thoughts cannot be present at the same time — thus Rabbainu revealed. And establish fixed times in the books of Rabbainu z"l and his holy disciple. And greatly multiply prayer and supplication to Hashem Yisbarach — to save you from the flood of many waters that want to overwhelm us — and from the two mouths of the accuser who wants to chew us up and lies in wait for us in many nets — through his evil character traits. For blessed be G-d you are a person of great intellect — and Rabbainu z"l revealed: that the brain is a partition spread before the desires. And look at what is written in Chayei Moharan — page 15 — part two — in the letter about the virtue of seclusion — and in this letter look at least approximately one day — and there you will find repose for your soul in your youth. And also in the Torah Chayyim Nitzchiyim — Likutay Tinyana, sign 72 — Rabbainu revealed to us: that the essence of greatness is lowliness. And do not have in your heart any envy toward your brother-in-law — for he does not know of any ultimate purpose. And you — blessed be G-d — know what the essential ultimate purpose is. And as I spoke with you in my home — do not take offense at anything — and then you will carry grace and favor in the eyes of all — and even in the eyes of Hashem Yisbarach you will carry grace and favor — and He will have mercy on you — and lead you on the straight and true path. Words of one who truly loves you, Nussun from Teverya Undated — autumn-winter 5642. Personal guidance for the young newlywed. The blood of the left cavity. The brain as partition. Greatness is lowliness. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן Your letter I received properly — one for Reb Simcha, may his candle shine — and one for Reb Shmuel Henech, may his candle shine — and also yours — and from Reb Aizik, may his candle shine — all of them I received. For the sake of Hashem — my brothers and my friends — be strong and let yourselves be strengthened in the study of the books of Rabbainu z"l and his holy disciple — for they are eternal life and the life of the world to come — and the Garden of Eden — "and the eye has not seen." For everything that I study more of their holy and awesome books — I taste a different flavor. And even if I had come into the world only for the purpose that the name of Rabbainu z"l and his holy disciple should be called upon us — that would be sufficient. For Rabbainu z"l and his holy disciple want to bring all who come into the world out from the seven chambers of Gehinnom — and from all the shames that are worse than Gehinnom — and to bequeath to us three hundred and ten worlds — through their holy words. But we must abandon the imagined honor of this world — and even bear humiliations and the pouring out of one's blood. For thus said Rabbainu z"l: every Tzaddik of the generation who is true to truth has the power to guide the world as he knows it. And the ancient Tzaddikim — their main repentance was through afflictions and fastings. But Rabbainu z"l — his main repentance is to flee from honor — and to bear humiliations and the pouring out of one's blood. And just as by the people of the Master of Prayer — fasting and affliction was considered by them more precious than all pleasures — so must humiliation and pouring out of blood be considered precious by us. And particularly when the humiliations come to us of their own accord — and we are not pursuing them — as the people of the Master of Prayer pursued fastings and afflictions — and we must receive them with love and with joy. For through this — the form of the letter aleph is completed — and above — a human being is made from this to sit upon the throne. Therefore — my brothers and my friends — be strong and courageous — in joy — that there is our portion: in the yeshivah of Rabbainu z"l and of his holy disciple. [מישיבה של רבנו ז"ל — "from the yeshivah of Rabbainu z"l" — the spiritual academy and ongoing school of Rabbainu z"l; to belong to his yeshivah is to be enrolled in his permanent spiritual institution, not merely to be in his "fellowship"] And the guarded and preserved treasury of Rabbainu z"l and his holy disciple [אוצר המנצר — "the guarded and preserved treasury" — two distinct words: otzar — treasury; and metzar — the one that is guarded and carefully preserved; from natzar — to guard, to keep watch over; the treasury that is specifically watched over and kept safe] rests in our home. And Hashem Yisbarach will merit us to use them at all times — with constancy. And surely G-d willing our end will be for good. And also those who hate us without cause will be nullified before us. Only for the sake of Hashem — זייט פריליך אין גאט איז מיט אינז אין לעבן אינז אין שרעקט זיך נישט — Be joyful — and G-d is with us and lives with us — and do not be afraid — "stand firm and see the salvation of Hashem" — and the believer will not be shaken. Words of one who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov And I ask of you to find the letter from your co-parent-in-law, may his candle shine — that came into your hand on Rosh Chodesh Elul or a little before — there it is written that he received from the wife of Chaike, may she live — the sum of three rubles. And according to my memory it seems to me that he wrote that he gave it to Reb Dov, may his candle shine — and Reb Dov wrote that he did not receive from him. And surely this is the truth. Therefore I want you to write to me the exact words of the letter from your co-parent-in-law — and I will write to your co-parent-in-law. And also know — that I am sending you the two Meizhides and one quarter of a Meizhide. One Meizhide — give to my friend Reb Nussun, may his candle shine, son of Reb Yekusiel z"l — for I owe him fifty groshen. And one Meizhide — take against the debt that I owe you. And the quarter — distribute: two groshen to Reb Aizik, may his candle shine — and two groshen to Reb Dov, may his candle shine — and one groshen to Reb Avraham Hirsh, may his candle shine — and the remainder to Reb Yosef, may his candle shine. And this money is from the redemption of my sister Chana, may she live — to distribute — for she is not in good health — pray for her. For my son Moshe Efraim sent seven rubles. Therefore I am sending you against the debt with Reb Simcha — and the remainder I will return to you with thanks. Words of the above-mentioned. And greetings of peace to all the Anash. Written Tuesday, Parshas Shemos, 5642 (January 1882), from Teverya. Study of Rabbainu z"l's books — eternal life. Humiliation as repentance. The form of the aleph. A Yiddish closing. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן Blessed be G-d — we had a very good Rosh Hashana — and blessed be G-d — the gathering was very, very large. And there were loud cries and pleas for salvation and sighs and meditative contemplations of repentance [tze'akos u'shu'os v'anachot v'hirhurei teshuvah — four distinct forms: loud cries of distress (tze'akos); pleas for salvation (shu'os); sighs and groans (anachot); and hirhurei teshuvah — meditative inward contemplations of repentance; hirhurim specifically means the soul's introspective pondering and turning-over of thoughts in repentance — distinct from the outward cry] at the resting place of Rabbainu z"l — greatly. And it surely ascended heavenward — and Rabbainu z"l will build from them buildings — wondrous and awesome buildings. And I bound you within the holy assembly — for I know your desire also to be there. And I prayed greatly on your behalf. And I received from you the letter — that Reb Aizik's wife wants to divorce him. And I prayed greatly before Rabbainu z"l that Hashem Yisbarach help him — that he be released from her — and that He arrange for him his match — with living and enduring children. For it gives me no ease. But know — that I suffered a loss here — for they stole from me a small trunk — and the loss comes to approximately ten rubles. And when I come home I will tell you how it was. And G-d willing from now — ask for Rosh Hashana — and I too ask of Hashem Yisbarach — from the Fast of Gedaliah — for the coming Rosh Hashana. For this is the essence of our hope and our life-force — forever. And now I write: that the letter you sent me — to give the sum of 5024 rubles — I fulfilled your words. And G-d willing when I come home in peace — I will bring you receipts. And also I am sending you the sum of seventy-five rubles. And also Reb Hirsh of Kalibulad said he sent you fifty rubles. And also you have twenty-five rubles — what was given to you for the craftsman. And it will come to a total of one hundred and fifty rubles — against the debt. And I will give to the craftsman the sum of twenty-five rubles. And if you did not receive the fifty from Reb Hirsh, may his candle shine — immediately write to your co-parent-in-law, may his candle shine, by post — and let him travel to Reb Hirsh, may his candle shine, to give it to him — for Reb Hirsh told me angrily that he did not want to give to me but only to send — and I did not speak with Reb Hirsh about this — for I had no leisure — for it was almost Rosh Hashana eve — and he immediately traveled in the morning of the Fast of Gedaliah. But G-d willing after Yom Kippur — when I travel to Tcheryn for Sukkos — I will travel that way — and there I will speak with him. And also to inform Reb Abba — that within my stolen goods — there were there stolen also the belongings that he sent with me for his son, may his candle shine — and they were stolen from me. And I have suffering from this. But to his brother-in-law Reb Shmuel, may his candle shine — I gave him what he sent with me. And also to say to your father, may his candle shine — that I received the barnaz from your brother Nachman, may his candle shine — on behalf of your brother Yisroel Leib, may his candle shine. And also your sister-in-law Tzarne, may she live, was at Rosh Hashana — and I delivered to her the letter from your brother Sender, may his candle shine — and I spoke with her at length. And when I come home in peace I will tell him. And she also said to me that she will immediately send him a letter herself. Also I received a letter from all the sons of our friend Reb Nachman, may his candle shine — and all of them were at Rosh Hashana — blessed be G-d. And the letter is enclosed here. More I have no leisure to write — because I want to go to the holy resting place of Rabbainu — and there surely is also his holy disciple. Words of one who truly loves you — who mentions you at all times for good — and blesses you with the completion of a good sealing, Nussun from Breslov Written Tuesday, between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, 5642 (autumn 1881), from Uman. A very good Rosh Hashana. Four distinct forms of prayer at the grave. The writer was robbed. Account-settling. Rushing to the grave. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן