נז

Thanks to G-d for our lives — blessed be G-d, blessed be G-d — all of us here are in life and in peace. May I merit to hear from you life and peace — both those dwelling in Eretz Yisroel and those dwelling in the diaspora. Omain Netzach Selah Va'ed.

Your small letter I received last week. And it is a wonder in my eyes that I have had no reply at all from Reb Kalman, may his candle shine — nor from Reb Boruch the Dubnerian, may his candle shine — what he says — since I have no rest from his landlord. And now I come to ask of you: perhaps you have some news about our friend Reb Abaleh, may his candle shine — and you do not want to write it to me — and it is impossible for you to imagine my grief from not being informed. And perhaps our friend Reb Aitzikel came and brought some news. And also as it appears — surely our friend the veteran Chassid Reb Efraim, may his candle shine, is also compelled to be in his home — what is this that we have no news from him at all? Therefore I ask of you: immediately — the moment you have any news — immediately send it to me. And also if Reb Aitzikel, may his candle shine, comes and has letters from my sons and daughters from the diaspora — send them to me immediately through a trustworthy person. And also if there is any news from the diaspora via the post — inform me as well about your brother, may his candle shine. And also write to me if there is any news about the divorce document from Reb Kalman, may his candle shine — inform us as well. And whether your co-parent-in-law, may his candle shine, has already purchased all the hides — and how the price of hides stands now — how the price has risen. And about your health as well write to me — for here I have had the joint ailment for three weeks already — but blessed be G-d — by extraordinary grace, beyond the regular order of things. And my wife and my sister, may they live — they have had for three days — may the Merciful One protect them — a fever — and moreover something that beats in her stomach like a drum. May Hashem Yisbarach save them from now on in the midst of all of Israel.

The general principle: there is no moment without a blow — there is no counsel except to flee to Hashem Yisbarach and to the holy Torah and to the Tzaddik Who sweetens all kinds of bitterness in the world — in the strength of the Torah of loving-kindness which flows down upon us. And we also have nothing except to be constant in his holy books — and to believe in all of them — that all his holy books are needed by us to give life to our souls and to sweeten all the harsh judgments from upon us — as is explained in the Torah "Chadei Rabbi Shimon" — sign 61. And upon this is built the great discourse in Likutay Halachos, Laws of Deposit, law 5. And there we are able to find repose for our souls at all times. And the Torah and the explanation upon the Torah are themselves the encompassing intellect — through which all the harsh judgments are sweetened from upon us and from upon all our brothers the children of Israel. Only we must believe with faith in the sages in truth [אמונת חכמים — emunas chachamim — "faith in the sages" — the specific rabbinic principle of trusting and accepting the authority of the Torah sages; not the faith that the sages themselves possessed, but the obligation to place one's faith in the sages as authoritative transmitters of divine wisdom]. And we must even believe in ourselves — that through our engaging in these new teachings, precious things will be made to happen — not through proof by trial [בלי נסיון — "without nisayon" — without proving through trial and observable test; nisayon is specifically the trial or test that proves something empirically; not through empirical proof but through faith alone] — but through faith alone. For I have no other counsel to counsel you — for in all the counsels of the world they are mixed with the smoke of putrefaction and rot [בעשנים סרוחים — "with putrid, reeking smokes" — seruchim — specifically rotten, putrid, reeking from decomposition; not merely unpleasant but the foul smell of decay and rot; all worldly counsels carry this taint]. And the counsel of Hashem stands forever — and Your righteousness is a righteousness forever — and Your Torah is truth. And they — all the holy books — are the counsel of Hashem.

Therefore, my friend, my beloved brothers — have compassion upon yourselves — and be strong with fresh ardent longing and with fresh will — and engage in the books of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciples — for they are life to those who bring them forth in their mouths. And you are still in your youth — and fix them in your hearts as ink written on fresh paper.

On both this and that there is no news [זו"ז חדשות אין — "this and this, there is no news" — zu u'zu — "this and this, on both counts, in both directions"; the writer means: on both the matters you might wonder about, there is nothing new to report] — only life and peace and joy — נאר פריליך זיין — only be joyful — for in worries nothing is accomplished at all.

Your friend, your truly beloved, Nussun from Breslov

On both this and that there is no news [זו"ז חדשות אין — "this and this, there is no news" — zu u'zu — "this and this, on both counts, in both directions"; the writer means: on both the matters you might wonder about, there is nothing new to report] — only life and peace and joy — נאר פריליך זיין — only be joyful — for in worries nothing is accomplished at all.

Words of one who loves you, Nussun from Breslov Encamped here in Teverya, may it be established and built for good. למען ה' באגער צו לערנין [Yiddish: "For the sake of Hashem — cultivate a desire to study"] — און זאג און סאך תהלים ותפלות [Yiddish: "and say a great many Psalms and prayers"] — און בייט זיך בייא השי"ת אז ער זאל דיר שטארקין דאס הארץ [Yiddish: "and petition Hashem Yisbarach that He should strengthen your heart"] — אז דיא זאלסט גייען בדרך הישר והאמת [Yiddish: "so that you should walk in the straight and true path"].

One who loves you, The above-mentioned Nussun Written Wednesday, 15th of Cheshvan, 5639 (November 1878), from Teverya. Multiple illnesses. All of Rabbainu ז"ל's books are needed. Believe with faith in the sages and in yourselves. While still young, fix the teachings like ink on fresh paper. A Yiddish postscript for Nachman son of Avraham. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן And may Hashem Yisbarach bless you and your wife, may she live, and your son, may his candle shine, and all the members of your household with all goodness — and may Hashem Yisbarach save you from now on from all kinds of sickness and from all kinds of disease [מכל מיני חלי ומכל מיני מדוה — the paired biblical formula from Deuteronomy 7:15 and 28:60: kol choli v'kol madveh — "every sickness and every disease"; the writer deliberately echoes the Torah's words of protection — the same passage that promises G-d will remove all illness from those who keep His covenant; a citation of the Torah's own protective language] — and may He say "enough!" to your troubles — and sweeten from upon you all kinds of harsh judgments in body and in soul and in money — and may He make to shine upon you good tidings from outside the Land quickly and soon. And upon our beloved Anash here and in the diaspora — may He pour out in overflowing abundance [ישפת עליהם — yishpas aleihem — from the root שפע — shefa — to pour out in overflowing measure, to provide in abundance beyond ordinary giving; not merely "pour" but the overflow of shefa — the mode of divine abundance; life and peace poured out in full, overflowing measure] upon them and upon us life and peace and blessing and success — and the fullness of good. Your friend who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov And do not be lazy with your letters to me — each and every time. [ואל תתעצל במכתביך אלי בכל פעם ופעם — the closing admonition; "each and every time" — the doubled phrase insists: not just sometimes but every single time, without exception, without laziness] Written Monday, Parshas Shemini, 5638 (mid-March 1878), from Teverya — the day after Letter 32's completion. A brief practical letter: the mystery of the letters solved, money arrangements, the pisalis, and a beautiful overflowing blessing.