מח

Thursday, the Torah portion of Eikev [Parshas Eikev — the second paragraph of the Shema and the promise of reward; late July or early August 1878], according to the minor reckoning — here in Teverya, may it be established and built for good.

To the honor of our beloved, the veteran Chassid — Morainu v'Rabbainu Reb Nussun, may his candle shine — together with peace upon your father Morainu v'Rabbainu Reb Tzvi, may his candle shine.

Blessed be G-d — I heard the good tiding about your precious son Morainu v'Rabbainu Sender Chaim, may his candle shine — may Hashem add for him days and years from now on without any illness or pain. And know that G-d willing on the coming Monday — toward evening — I will be by you — for I am coming for the yahrtzeit of my father ז"ל, G-d willing — and to see myself with the Anash. And letters I sent to the diaspora yesterday via the post. And perhaps you will travel before my arrival at your settlement — and may your journey be in going and in returning in peace without any mishap or harm — only to complete all the deficiencies in material and in spiritual. Only I ask of you that you see to it that you receive letters from my son-in-law Morainu v'Rabbainu Yisroel, may his candle shine, with peace upon my daughter — and most importantly — from my wife's sons — without any excuse — from each and every one. And this is for you a mission of a mitzvah on the road [שליח מצוה — shliach mitzvah — "an agent of a mitzvah" — one traveling on a mitzvah-mission is protected from harm; the writer designates the recipient's journey as such a mission specifically so that this protection accompanies him on the road] — for it will give her life. And I am confident in your love for me that you will fulfill my request.

And also mention me every time you go to the holy resting place — and my wife, may the Merciful One protect her [בר"ל — bar rachmana litzlan — Aramaic: "may the Merciful One protect her / save her" — this protective Aramaic formula, rather than the usual "may she live," signals that the wife is in serious danger at this time], daughter of Figa — Nussun son of Baila Leah. And also convey greetings of peace on my behalf to your co-parent-in-law Morainu v'Rabbainu Shmuel, may his candle shine, with his son Morainu v'Rabbainu Moshe, may his candle shine, with his sons-in-law may their candles shine — and to my truly beloved Morainu v'Rabbainu Reb Tzvi from Kalibulad — with strong love. And to all the Anash. And to all my sons and sons-in-law who will be at Rosh Hashana, G-d willing. And perhaps my brothers too may their candles shine will also be there — convey greetings of peace on their behalf from me with strong love.

One who truly loves you,

Nussun son of Morainu v'Rabbainu Yehuda ז"ל from Tiberias And I also ask of you — although you are pressed for your holy journey — even so do this for me: lend me approximately sixty groshen — for approximately six hundred groshen is coming to me from Moldova and has been delayed on the road. And immediately when the money arrives I will settle with your wife, may she live. For it is urgent — for I have not a single prutah. And prepare the money for me at your father's, may his candle shine — and when I am by you I will receive it. Words of Nussun from Breslov.