קסב

Blessed be G-d — the holy days of Purim are drawing palpably near — which are the beginning of all beginnings. And joy is also the beginning of all beginnings. And when you want to taste the taste of Purim — look in the laws — the third section [The third section of Likutay Halachos — the laws that deal specifically with Purim and the deeper mystical dimensions of the festival] — which speaks of Purim. And there you will see the great secrets that were revealed in our days — for action and for deed. The sum is: we must rejoice greatly at all times — and particularly on Purim. And for the sake of Hashem — do not worry at all. השי"ת וועט אייך אלסדינג העלפן — Hashem Yisbarach will help you in everything. Only the believer will not be shaken. And He who performs miracles — will surely perform miracles with us at all times — in the merit of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple — who always engaged in faith and in miracles and in Eretz Yisroel.

And my wife, may she live — blessed be G-d — has great expansiveness. But one leg is swollen — and nevertheless she walks. And blessed be G-d — "the Guardian of His people — behold He neither slumbers nor sleeps — the Guardian of Israel — He will save you from the hand of all your enemies." [Psalms 121:4 — "Behold — the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps"; and Psalms 31:16 — "save me from my enemies and from my pursuers"; combined here as a blessing-prayer] So may He save you forever — and perform miracles with us — a sign for good. And may our enemies see and be ashamed.

And may Hashem Yisbarach send a complete healing from Heaven — to our beloved sick person — Avraham Abba son of Ati. [A specific prayer for a sick person listed by name as is customary in Jewish prayer; Avraham Abba son of Ati — likely a Breslov Chassid in need of healing]

And a letter — through Mohamad Salach — I received. And today too I received — through Reb Zeidel. And I had no leisure to extend myself to you in words — because of the wagon.

And for the sake of Hashem — greatly multiply the joy of Purim. And I am a companion to all who fear You — and to all who rejoice on this holy day — through the word [בהתבה — "through the word, within the word" — b'hatevah; the Kabbalistic teaching that the holy day of Purim is received specifically through and within the power of speech and the spoken word; the word — tevah — is both the Hebrew word for "word" and for "ark"; to be within the word is to be sheltered within the protective power of holy speech]. And now — etc. — there is the flowing stream — the source of wisdom. And through this — supremely elevated divine awe is drawn down. And from there — joy is drawn upon us. Only: מיר דארפן זיך שניצן — א רגז — מיא זאל זיך אזוי מאכן פריליך ביז מיא זאל זיך טאקע באמת פריליך זיין — we must exert ourselves — with a rage [a rogez — a rage, an intense angry determination; the Yiddish: "we must exert ourselves — with a rage — one should make oneself so joyful — until one truly becomes joyful in truth"; the teaching that achieving joy sometimes requires an angry, forceful self-determination — a rage against one's own sadness — until the forced joy becomes genuine] — one should make oneself so joyful — until one truly becomes joyful in truth.

Words of one who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov

Written Monday, Parshas Tzav, 5643 (around Purim, March 1883), from Teverya. Purim draws near — it is the beginning of all beginnings. The wife has great expansiveness but one leg still swollen. A prayer for Avraham Abba son of Ati. A striking Yiddish teaching: make yourself joyful with a rage — until you truly become joyful in truth. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן Your small letter — through the Jewish hired coachman — I received properly. And blessed be G-d — I was greatly, very greatly joyful on the holy Purim — I myself — joy in heart and soul. And blessed be G-d — that we have something with which to rejoice. Only yesterday — on Shabbos — after midday — the fever struck my wife, may she live again. May Hashem Yisbarach have mercy on her and on me — for her weakness greatly confuses my mind. Only the books of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple — they strengthen me and hold me by the hands. And blessed be G-d — that He saved you from the theft. [The writer responds to news that the recipient was saved from some theft or robbery — an incident not described in the earlier letters; G-d's protection in saving him from the thief] So may He guard your going out and your coming in — forever and ever.