לט

Thursday, the 21st of the counting of the children of Israel [the 21st day of the Omer — the count between Passover and Shavuos; the 21st of Iyar, approximately late April or early May 1878], 5638 — Teverya.

To the honor of our ohavainu, my cherished one — like my heart and like my soul — why, it is the veteran Chassid — Morainu v'Rabbainu Reb Nussun, may his candle shine — together with peace upon his wife — and upon his dear father Morainu v'Rabbainu Reb Tzvi, may his candle shine — and upon your precious son Morainu v'Rabbainu Sender Chaim, may his candle shine.

Thanks to G-d for our lives — life and peace are with us. May Hashem grant and may Hashem Yisbarach help — to hear from you life and peace — with a complete healing in the salvation of Hashem in the blink of an eye — for your wife, may she live, and also for your brother, may his candle shine — in the midst of the healings of His people Israel. Omain Netzach Selah Va'ed. So may it be His will.

Your letter from yesterday I received — through Reb Heynich — together with a letter from Tcherin — and together with the sum of three bishlikim. And you gave me life with the letter from my son. But I had grief that our friend, the man of great substance and a patron of holiness [הגביר — ha'gevir — specifically a wealthy patron who uses his means for holy causes; a man of financial substance and communal significance; distinct from merely "a worthy man"], the fully proper one, G-d-fearing — Reb Abaleh — is not in good health. But this night I recited this prayer of the redemption for him. And likewise all the Anash who received money from him must perform a redemption for him and recite the said prayer — for he supports the building of Rabbainu ז"ל — and he is a Heaven-fearer such as this.

And regarding what you wrote — that he did not receive from me a receipt for the sum of twelve rubles: I wrote immediately on the Fast of Esther a receipt directly to him — for I received the money then, during the Torah portion of Tzav. And he now writes his letter during the portion of Shemini — and my letter could not yet have reached him. Even so, I will write once more through you a receipt — for the sum of twelve rubles and for the sum of seven rubles that came now. And regarding the money — if you have exchanged it already, send it through Reb Chaim Yehoshua, may his candle shine, to the trusted one Reb Dov, may his candle shine. And I am sending you enclosed here a letter from Reb Aizikl from Bucharest — that was written to your hand — and in it there came to him a letter from my son-in-law Yisroel, may his candle shine, and from Reb Nussun Lirsman, and from our friend Reb Nachman the Levi. And I received in your letter news from my wife's sons — and they are, blessed be G-d, in life and in peace. And from my daughter Figa, may she live, and her son, may his candle shine — that she and her son are lying in the hospital in Uman.

And she also had a daughter — and she passed away. And this is what my son-in-law wrote to me: because she became weak in Troyits with her sons — and many women pressed upon her to take her to Uman, where there are doctors — and when they came there and she was poor — the doctor received her and her son into the hospital. And the great nachas I have — you yourself can understand. But Reb Nussun Lirsman comforts me and swears by the truth of his righteousness that it was quickly and they had a healing — and she is in no danger at all, G-d forbid. But to multiply entreaty and supplication I do not lose by. Therefore I ask of all the Anash — and of your father, may his candle shine — and of our friend Reb Kalman, may his candle shine — to seek mercy for her and for her son. And her name is Figa Miriam daughter of Yekhes Sarah — and her son Nachman. For I pray for them always — every single one. And Hashem Yisbarach knows the truth: when they wrote to me about your brother Nachman, may his candle shine — what is passing over him — my grief is very great. And may Hashem Yisbarach have mercy on him and take him out of all his troubles — and gather our scattered ones from all the nations [the classic prayer for the ingathering of the exiles — kibbutz galuyos — applied to the community's scattered members and circumstances]. For his money is righteous, proper money [כי יש לו מעות כשר — "for he has kasher money" — money that is clean, properly earned, fit in every respect; righteous money deserves divine protection and return].

For my love is bound with a soul-love to all the Anash from small to great — and they are all like my brothers. And how we must mourn and sigh over the passing of the veteran Chassid, Reb Sender ז"ל — for while he was alive he would compel with his precious words every single one toward charity [כופה בדבריו היקרים לכל אחד ואחד על הצדקה — the word kofeh means to compel, to coerce, to press upon forcibly; it is from kefiyah — compulsion; stronger than "press" — his precious words were a gentle but irresistible force of love and wisdom that compelled each person toward giving] — for the money of every single one was like an exalted, sublime obligation — and even in the narrow places things expanded and returned to their owners [ואפילו במקומות הצרים נתרחבו ושבו לבעליו — "and even in the narrow places, they expanded and returned to their owners" — the classic teaching: those who gave charity even from their own financial narrowness found that things expanded (nithrachvu — became spacious) and the money returned (shavu — returned) to them with increase; the act of giving in the narrow place itself creates the expansion]. And charity saved every single one from falling so deeply into the lust for money, and from being a person who rushes to become wealthy — only each one in gradual measure and in proper proportion. And all this was corrupted by the adversary through the medium of the elder Yisroel from Minsk. May Hashem Yisbarach have mercy on us and on all our beloved — and set everything right. For Hashem Yisbarach will surely complete through Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple everything for good — and fortunate is the one who will have a portion in this.

And the reason I have not written to you until now: during the intermediate days of Passover I did not write — and after the Passover festival I was not in good health. And even now I am not fully well in my bodily health — for my wife and I had a very strong catarrh. And G-d willing when my wife, may she live, travels G-d willing to the Holy City of Yerushalayim — may the merit of Yerushalayim and the merit of the place of our Sanctuary protect us — that there be for her a complete healing to her two hundred and forty-eight limbs and three hundred and sixty-five sinews. And may she travel in life and in peace — and in her coming home may the blessing of good come upon her.

Thanks to G-d for our lives — life and peace are with us. May Hashem grant and may Hashem Yisbarach help — to hear from you life and peace — with a complete healing in the salvation of Hashem in the blink of an eye — for your wife, may she live, and also for your brother, may his candle shine — in the midst of the healings of His people Israel. Omain Netzach Selah Va'ed. So may it be His will.

Your letter from yesterday I received — through Reb Heynich — together with a letter from Tcherin — and together with the sum of three bishlikim. And you gave me life with the letter from my son. But I had grief that our friend, the man of great substance and a patron of holiness [הגביר — ha'gevir — specifically a wealthy patron who uses his means for holy causes; a man of financial substance and communal significance; distinct from merely "a worthy man"], the fully proper one, G-d-fearing — Reb Abaleh — is not in good health. But this night I recited this prayer of the redemption for him. And likewise all the Anash who received money from him must perform a redemption for him and recite the said prayer — for he supports the building of Rabbainu ז"ל — and he is a Heaven-fearer such as this. Words of one who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov And regarding what you wrote — to the sister-in-law Miriam Sasia, may she live — to write to her family that they should send her money: why did you not write to her to whom to write? Does she know to whom to write? Therefore you write — either yourself on her behalf, or write to her to whom to write — and let her husband write. And she is, blessed be G-d, in her eighth month — may it be for length of days and years. And from this money receive for yourself one bishlik which I owe. And also half a bishlik give to Reb Kalman, may his candle shine, as a redemption for my daughter — that he go to the grave of the holy Ari to pray for her and for her son, may his candle shine — that Hashem Yisbarach send them quickly and soon a complete healing. And also at the other graves of the Tzaddikim. And also if he is able to inform my father ז"ל — let him inform of the said matters. And receive one and a half bishlikim — and fulfill the paying of a creditor as a mitzvah. 📜 And regarding what you wrote — that he did not receive from me a receipt for the sum of twelve rubles: I wrote immediately on the Fast of Esther a receipt directly to him — for I received the money then, during the Torah portion of Tzav. And he now writes his letter during the portion of Shemini — and my letter could not yet have reached him. Even so, I will write once more through you a receipt — for the sum of twelve rubles and for the sum of seven rubles that came now. And regarding the money — if you have exchanged it already, send it through Reb Chaim Yehoshua, may his candle shine, to the trusted one Reb Dov, may his candle shine. And I am sending you enclosed here a letter from Reb Aizikl from Bucharest — that was written to your hand — and in it there came to him a letter from my son-in-law Yisroel, may his candle shine, and from Reb Nussun Lirsman, and from our friend Reb Nachman the Levi. And I received in your letter news from my wife's sons — and they are, blessed be G-d, in life and in peace. And from my daughter Figa, may she live, and her son, may his candle shine — that she and her son are lying in the hospital in Uman. And she also had a daughter — and she passed away. And this is what my son-in-law wrote to me: because she became weak in Troyits with her sons — and many women pressed upon her to take her to Uman, where there are doctors — and when they came there and she was poor — the doctor received her and her son into the hospital. And the great nachas I have — you yourself can understand. But Reb Nussun Lirsman comforts me and swears by the truth of his righteousness that it was quickly and they had a healing — and she is in no danger at all, G-d forbid. But to multiply entreaty and supplication I do not lose by. Therefore I ask of all the Anash — and of your father, may his candle shine — and of our friend Reb Kalman, may his candle shine — to seek mercy for her and for her son. And her name is Figa Miriam daughter of Yekhes Sarah — and her son Nachman. For I pray for them always — every single one. And Hashem Yisbarach knows the truth: when they wrote to me about your brother Nachman, may his candle shine — what is passing over him — my grief is very great. And may Hashem Yisbarach have mercy on him and take him out of all his troubles — and gather our scattered ones from all the nations [the classic prayer for the ingathering of the exiles — kibbutz galuyos — applied to the community's scattered members and circumstances]. For his money is righteous, proper money [כי יש לו מעות כשר — "for he has kasher money" — money that is clean, properly earned, fit in every respect; righteous money deserves divine protection and return]. For my love is bound with a soul-love to all the Anash from small to great — and they are all like my brothers. And how we must mourn and sigh over the passing of the veteran Chassid, Reb Sender ז"ל — for while he was alive he would compel with his precious words every single one toward charity [כופה בדבריו היקרים לכל אחד ואחד על הצדקה — the word kofeh means to compel, to coerce, to press upon forcibly; it is from kefiyah — compulsion; stronger than "press" — his precious words were a gentle but irresistible force of love and wisdom that compelled each person toward giving] — for the money of every single one was like an exalted, sublime obligation — and even in the narrow places things expanded and returned to their owners [ואפילו במקומות הצרים נתרחבו ושבו לבעליו — "and even in the narrow places, they expanded and returned to their owners" — the classic teaching: those who gave charity even from their own financial narrowness found that things expanded (nithrachvu — became spacious) and the money returned (shavu — returned) to them with increase; the act of giving in the narrow place itself creates the expansion]. And charity saved every single one from falling so deeply into the lust for money, and from being a person who rushes to become wealthy — only each one in gradual measure and in proper proportion. And all this was corrupted by the adversary through the medium of the elder Yisroel from Minsk. May Hashem Yisbarach have mercy on us and on all our beloved — and set everything right. For Hashem Yisbarach will surely complete through Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple everything for good — and fortunate is the one who will have a portion in this. And the reason I have not written to you until now: during the intermediate days of Passover I did not write — and after the Passover festival I was not in good health. And even now I am not fully well in my bodily health — for my wife and I had a very strong catarrh. And G-d willing when my wife, may she live, travels G-d willing to the Holy City of Yerushalayim — may the merit of Yerushalayim and the merit of the place of our Sanctuary protect us — that there be for her a complete healing to her two hundred and forty-eight limbs and three hundred and sixty-five sinews. And may she travel in life and in peace — and in her coming home may the blessing of good come upon her. Words of one who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov And from this money receive for yourself one bishlik which I owe. And also half a bishlik give to Reb Kalman, may his candle shine, as a redemption for my daughter — that he go to the grave of the holy Ari to pray for her and for her son, may his candle shine — that Hashem Yisbarach send them quickly and soon a complete healing. And also at the other graves of the Tzaddikim. And also if he is able to inform my father ז"ל — let him inform of the said matters. And receive one and a half bishlikim — and fulfill the paying of a creditor as a mitzvah. Written Thursday, the 21st of the Omer, 5638 (late April or early May 1878), from Teverya. Terrible news: the daughter and grandson in the hospital in Uman; a newborn granddaughter died. Mourning for Reb Sender ז"ל. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן