סג

Your letter from Tuesday, the 11th of Beshalach, I received properly. And I had no leisure to reply to you — because I was not in good health. For these two months a certain rib on my left side has been painful — beyond reckoning. And sometimes two days pass that I do not feel the pain as much — and sometimes a day comes when my pain has greatly increased — such that when I am sitting and need to stand or to turn, I cry out involuntarily from the pain. And my sister as well is not fully in good health.

And one letter has been lying with me to send to you — and I had no one through whom to send it. And now I come to reply to you about what Reb Dovber, may his candle shine, told you — that he wishes to send the sister-in-law to your settlement. Know that this is not my wish. Rather — she was by him and told him that here there is not to be found anyone to nurse the infant. And also her mother-in-law — איז איהר נישט געטריי כמו אם אחרת [Yiddish: "is not as devoted to her as a real mother would be"] — and also several more words she said to him about her — that I am unable to write in the open field [על פני השדה — "on the face of the open field" — an idiom for the public domain, the open sphere where anyone might read; the writer cannot write these things "on the face of the field" — openly and publicly in a letter that circulates]. And a certain person from Tzfas told her that he will give her lodging in Tzfas free of charge — and there she will find someone to nurse the infant. And she also told him that she feels in herself — that if she goes to her home in Tzfas she will renew her strength — for her mother-in-law in front of other people presents herself as being — קלאמירשט געטריי [Yiddish: "supposedly devoted, ostensibly caring"] — but between herself and herself — עסן זיא זיך [Yiddish: "they eat each other up — they are in constant friction"] — and the sister-in-law, because of her weakness, is irritable.

And beyond this there are many things — from Wednesday of the Torah portion of Beshalach until now I have given her six bishlikim. And in the end my wife was there today — and she had no meat the whole day. And beyond this she also has the fever — and she has no appetite at all to eat — only she craves sour things — and she is not permitted to eat them. And the doctor — the sister-in-law does not want in any manner. And even so I did not agree to her traveling to Tzfas — because I knew that you yourselves are wandering without a fixed place. And she is drinking fish brine — as people told her to drink. And she had wanted to drink donkey's milk — but it is still not available — only until after two weeks. And my wife goes to her nearly every day. And may Hashem Yisbarach have mercy on her young years — and send her a complete healing. For now — איז גאר נישט גוט — it is not good at all — Hashem Yisbarach can improve — the salvation of Hashem is as the blink of an eye. מיר זאגן איהר אז זי זאל נישט זייגן התינוק [Yiddish: "we tell her that she should not nurse the infant"] — און זי זאל נישט זיצן עם הבעל [Yiddish: "and she should not sit with her husband"] — זאלט זי זעגט נישט מער ווי שלשה פעמים במעת לעת [Yiddish: "she should nurse no more than three times per twenty-four hours"].

And beyond this — you know that my wife, may she live, has barely had two days fully in good health — and she does not even have the strength to go to visit her — for she is at a far distance from her. And with all her strength she goes to her. And my sister is still not fully in good health. And those who are in Eretz Yisroel — האט איטליכער פאר זיך ציט טאן [Yiddish: "each one has his own things to pull and deal with"] — for he has no relative and no redeemer. The general principle — there is no counsel except to pray for her to Hashem Yisbarach. And may Hashem Yisbarach have mercy on her — for the compassion due her is very great.

Words of one who truly loves you — who pleads for your salvation from every corner and every side — and desires your success — and may He Who said to His world "enough!" say to your troubles "enough! and enough!" Nussun son of the master my father Morainu v'Rabbainu of Breslov

And know that I received a letter from Amsterdam — that I should write to them my father's name ז"ל — and they will investigate in Teiteira whether the money belongs to me — and they will send me the money securely.

About the match with Reb Eismar, may his candle shine — I spoke with my sister, may she live — and she told me that there was a great householder — practically a wealthy man — and he has a son-in-law who has been sitting at his table on the supported-study arrangement [על קעסט — kest — the specific Yiddish institution: a wealthy father-in-law supports a son-in-law at his table after the marriage so the son-in-law can continue Torah study without financial worry; a formal arrangement set into the marriage contract] for several years — and he is comprehensively appointed and designated by the Kolel of Vizhnitz [ממנה מהכולל מוויזנצע מכל וכל — "appointed and designated by the Kolel of Vizhnitz in everything and everything" — memuneh — formally designated and appointed; and mi'kol v'kol — comprehensively, entirely; he is the Kolel's fully designated representative in every matter] — and he is a learned man.

And beyond this — one must pray that Hashem Yisbarach providentially arrange a fitting match for him from Heaven. And we already have prayers here for the match as well. And beyond this — Rabbainu ז"ל warned us to ask every matter from Hashem Yisbarach in our own language — and particularly a match is no small thing — for it is a building forever and ever [בנין עדי עד — "a building forever and ever" — the specific phrase from the Talmudic wedding blessings formula; not merely a general "eternal building" but the precise liturgical language of the marriage ceremony itself; the writer invokes it here to emphasize the sacred weight of the matchmaking discussion]. And as it appears — ווייזט אויס אז דא א פייזים שדוך [Yiddish: "it appears that there is a fitting match here" — payzim — fitting, proper, suitable] — and I do not know him except from a distance. And if this matter came from Hashem — it will be concluded most favorably.

Your friend, your truly beloved — who desires to see in you and your sons and your sons' sons the fullness of good — who desires your success as your very own soul desires, Nussun from Breslov

Written Tuesday, 18th of Shvat, 5639 (February 1879), from Teverya. Severe rib pain for two months. Miriam Sasia's dire condition in full detail. Matchmaking discussion for Reb Shmuel's family.

Your letter and the letter of your precious son Morainu v'Rabbainu Reb Nussun, may his candle shine — I received this very moment — and you gave us life with your letter — for our eyes were consumed yearning for your letter. And first — give congratulations and congratulations to our beloved in truth Morainu v'Rabbainu Reb Shmuel, may his candle shine — together with peace upon his wife, may she live, and his daughter, may she live — and the son-in-law, may his candle shine — and may Hashem Yisbarach give that it be at a propitious hour and for length of days and good years.

And after this — as your precious son wrote to me — to write to him how much the Tzaddik Reb Abaleh — the memory of the righteous and holy one, blessed for the life of the World to Come [זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה לחיי עולם הבא — an extended memorial formula: "the memory of the righteous and holy one, blessed for the life of the World to Come" — more than the usual ז"ל; the word kadosh — holy — and the blessing extending specifically to the World to Come marks Reb Abaleh as of extraordinary standing; a fuller formula reserved for the especially righteous] — gave me: I cannot write exactly — for it was not in equal amounts. But in total it comes to approximately 20 per year. And this money he would send me sometimes in two installments and sometimes in three installments. And beyond to me — he would send to my elderly mother three rubles every year. And to the woman Chana, granddaughter of the holy Tzaddik the great rabbi Reb Avraham Ber of Khmelnik — two rubles per year. And to her two sons as well — two rubles per year. And to Reb Yosef Aizler — sometimes two rubles per year and sometimes one ruble per year. Thus he would send every year — from the day of my arrival in Eretz Yisroel. Only in this year I received from the said Tzaddik the sum of 30 rubles. Therefore write according to your expressed opinion. And know that I blessed be G-d am grateful to the said Tzaddik — and I recite Kaddish for him every evening and morning every day. And regarding what our friend your son wrote to me — that your co-parent-in-law wishes that I be at your settlement for Purim — I have several reasons why I cannot travel — for my wife is not in good health — and also due to my pain I am unable to sit on a donkey for approximately seven hours. Only may Hashem Yisbarach help us in the merit of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple — that you receive there the days of Purim in great joy — and I here.