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Thursday, the Torah portion of Bo [Parshas Bo — "Come" — the final three plagues and the first Passover — the Exodus from Egypt; it falls in late January or early February; the language of the writer's closing prayer echoes the Exodus vocabulary of this very portion], 5638, according to the minor reckoning — the Holy City of Teverya.

To the honor of our ohavainu, my strong friend — Morainu v'Rabbainu Reb Nussun, may his candle shine — together with peace upon his father, may his candle shine, and his wife, may she live — and together with peace upon your precious son, may his candle shine, for length of days and good years. Omain Selah.

Your letter from Tuesday I received today — together with three fish — and also all the letters you sent me last week through Reb Chaim Yehoshua — the sum of money too I received properly. And also I sent you yesterday a small letter with a receipt from the administrators [מהגבאים — from the gabbaim, the communal administrators who manage charitable funds; a receipt confirming donations have been properly received and recorded] through Reb Moshe, may his candle shine, whom you know — and our friend Reb Kalman, may his candle shine, knows him too, for he was formerly a bridegroom here. And surely you received it from me. And regarding the letter from Wallachia — my son did not write me any letter, only greetings of peace. And he wrote to me that via the post he sent me two lengthy letters — and they have not yet arrived. And when they arrive and there is news, then I will write to you.

And I ask of you: since I need to give tithes — I wish to benefit the Anash and cause them to enjoy a share of the tithe [להנות אנ"ש חלק מהמעשר — l'hanos anash chelek min ha'maaser — "to benefit / to cause the Anash to enjoy a share of the tithe" — the word hana'ah — הנאה — means enjoyment, pleasure, benefit; the writer does not merely "give" — he wishes to cause them to experience genuine pleasure and benefit from his tithe; a warm and generous framing of an act of charity]. Therefore lend me the sum of three minted coins of seven groshen [שלשה מטבעות מן שבעה גר' — three coins, each worth seven groshen — twenty-one groshen in total; matbe'os — minted, coined money] — and do with them thus: one good thaler [טאליר — taler — the silver coin ancestor of the dollar] to the wife of Reb Meir ז"ל, and one thaler to the wife of Reb Aizikl, may his candle shine, and one thaler to Reb Meir Blechir, and one thaler to Reb Yosef Adam, and one thaler to the synagogue — for I owe it. This will come to a total of 5025 garoyts [garoyts — Yiddish: small coin units used in this mixed-currency accounting]. And there will remain approximately more than fifteen groshen — do with them thus: five groshen to Reb Dov, may his candle shine — for he is not in good health. And the remainder divide equally among Reb Nachman, may his candle shine, and Reb Aitzikel, may his candle shine, and Reb Kalman, may his candle shine — each one an equal portion. And do not tell them who sent the money — or tell them it is in the name of my sister, may she live. And I have still not received the money from Reb Dov, may his candle shine — and when I receive it, I will keep back the said sum and send it to you through Reb Chaim Yehoshua — and he will settle with you as a debt.

And also I have greatly requested to send the money that belongs to Reb Shmuel Heynich — for he is poor and destitute to a degree that cannot be committed to writing — literally sitting for several days without bread. Only deduct the money that he owes to Reb Dov his brother — for he himself wrote thus last week — to deduct it. And do not hold the money in your hand at all — for in my opinion he thinks it is being held back with deliberate intention [שבמכון אוחזים המעות — "that with intention / on purpose the money is being held" — b'machon means deliberately, purposefully, with specific intent; not accidentally but by design; Reb Shmuel Heynich suspects the withholding is purposeful, which makes the suffering worse].

And know that here they decreed a fast of Behav [תענית בה"ב — the fast of Monday-Thursday-Monday, observed in the weeks after Passover and after Sukkos; its being specifically decreed here suggests particular urgency or communal distress], and they sound the shofar. May Hashem Yisbarach have mercy and hear the cry of the children of Israel in all their dwelling places — to save them from the hand of those who pursue them and oppress them [מיד רודפיהם ולוחציהם — "from the hand of those who pursue them and press / oppress them" — the word lochatzeihem is from the root לחץ — to press, to squeeze, to oppress — precisely the word the Torah uses for Israel's oppression in Egypt; this is the Torah portion of Bo — the last plagues and the Exodus — and the writer prays using the language of Egypt for the current oppressors; the resonance between the biblical redemption and the current need is deliberate and pointed] — swiftly and soon. Words of one who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov