נד

No date given. [Two separate notes on the same page — one to Reb Nachman of Breslov; one to Reb Itzik]

And convey greetings of peace on my behalf to our strong friend — a companion to me in all who fear You [Psalms 119:63 — "I am a companion to all who fear You"] — a servant in the Holy of Holies — why, it is the veteran Chassid, discerning and wise — and the like of Morainu v'Rabbainu — Reb Nachman of Breslov, may his candle shine — and may he shine forth. May Hashem Yisbarach give him life — as he gave life to my soul through his first letter and his second letter — with his lifting and greatly strengthening words [בדבריו המעלים המחזיקים הרבה — "with his words that lift upward and greatly strengthen and hold firm" — ha'ma'alim — those that elevate and lift; from alah — to ascend; and ha'machzikim harbeh — those that greatly strengthen and hold one firm; two distinct actions: lifting upward and holding firm]. And even without his letter I also pray for him and his household — and particularly for his son, may his candle shine. And particularly since he sent me such a gift — words of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple — which give life to a person's soul from the very beginning of all levels to the very end of all levels.

And my request lies prostrated before his honor [ובקשתי שטוחה מול כבודו — "and my request is spread flat / prostrated facing his honor" — shetuchah — spread out flat, prostrated as one prostrates before a king; the request lies prostrated directly facing his honored presence; an image of complete supplication] — to mention me at all times before Rabbainu ז"ל — that I merit to be consumed by the holy Tzaddik — and by holy faith — and by the Holy Land. And convey greetings of peace to his son Avraham, may his candle shine, and to all the Anash who are found there.

Nussun from Breslov Second note — to Reb Aizik:

And convey greetings of peace to my friend Reb Aizik, may his candle shine. Your letter I received — this is the second time. And know that blessed be G-d your wife, may she live, and your mother-in-law, may she live, are in life and in peace — and all your affairs are properly in order. And do not worry at all — for from Heaven they are detaining you to multiply in abundant outpouring entreaty and prayer [להרבות בעתר ותפילה — "to multiply in aser and prayer" — the word aser is the specific root of intense, outpouring supplication used in the Torah for Yitzchak's prayer for children [Genesis 25:21] and Moshe's prayer against the frogs; an earnest and abundant entreaty that pours itself out before G-d; a stronger and more specific word than ordinary prayer] before Rabbainu ז"ל. And that you are in distress — and yet you are close to Rabbainu ז"ל — know that the Chassidim of old used to sit here by the Tzaddikim for two or three years. And the Tzaddikim of old were poor — and surely the Chassidim did not eat in regular order at their table — only sometimes by this one and sometimes by that one. And they were in joy — for they had found a physician who erases all traces — who can heal the illness of their souls. And they took their minds off their homes — until the time came when their masters sent them home. And you yourself see that from Heaven they held you back — and there is no choice now to travel home. Therefore be in joy — and cry out and cry out again to Hashem Yisbarach [ותצעק ותצעק — the same verb doubled: "cry out and cry out" — the repetition is emphatic; not once but again and again] — with a sharp cry and a distress call [בצעקה וזעקה — two distinct modes of crying out: tze'akah — a sharp, urgent cry; and ze'akah — a cry of extremity and distress, a call for rescue from one in desperate need; together the full range of urgent outcry] — and the wandering itself is a correction for faith — and faith is prayer — and prayer is Eretz Yisroel. And cry out so much to Hashem Yisbarach until they tell you to travel — and then travel in peace to your home. And when Hashem Yisbarach agrees to your traveling, He will surely also providentially arrange for you the travel money. [יזמין לך על הוצאות — "will providentially arrange for you the expenses" — yezamen — to prepare and arrange through divine providential ordering; not merely "provide" but specifically to arrange and make available through G-d's providential preparation] And ask Hashem Yisbarach that He providentially arrange travel expenses for you. For now you can be a little in Uman and a little in Troyits and a little in Teplik — if our friend Reb Nachman, may his candle shine, does not have the capacity to maintain you in regular order. And if he maintains you — surely how good. The general rule: however you are — guard against sadness and melancholy — only "in joy they shall rejoice all the day." And also I ask of you that you see to it that my son-in-law Morainu v'Rabbainu Yisroel, may his candle shine, writes me a letter from himself — and his son Ze'ev, may his candle shine — everything in full detail. Words of one who loves you, Nussun from Breslov Encamped in the Holy City of Teverya, may it be established and built for good [חונה — choneh — "encamped" — from chanah — to encamp, to pitch a camp; the word used for the Israelite encampments in the wilderness; the writer describes himself as encamped in Teverya — not merely dwelling but encamped with the resonance of the Israelite camp, the same root as machaneh used in Letter 49].