סד

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.

And the sister-in-law Miriam Sasia, may she live — blessed be G-d — her illness has eased a little. May Hashem Yisbarach send her a complete healing quickly and soon. And also for our friend Reb Aitzikel, may his candle shine — may Hashem Yisbarach send him a complete healing — for we are a small precious remnant [מתי מעט — metei me'at — "a small number of people" — the specific biblical phrase from Deuteronomy 26:5: "a small number of people" — Yaakov going down to Egypt; the phrase carries the resonance of a precious small remnant sustained by divine providence against all odds] — and the merit of his journey for Rosh Hashana will stand for him — that he should lengthen days and years.

And also I asked to convey greetings of peace on my behalf to your son-in-law Reb Tzvi, may his candle shine — that he should trust in Hashem — for surely G-d willing Hashem Yisbarach will complete things for him for good — for we certainly pray for him always — and for all the Anash. And why have you not written to me what is heard about your son Morainu v'Rabbainu Yisroel Aryeh, may his candle shine?

More news there is none — only life and peace and the fullness of good.

Your friend, your truly beloved — as beloved brothers and friends, Nussun from Breslov

And I have greatly asked of you — when you write a name-slip [צעטיל — tzetl — Yiddish: a small slip of paper; specifically in Breslov practice a prayer name-slip submitted at the resting place of Rabbainu ז"ל or another Tzaddik, with the name of the person one is praying for written on it; not merely a general note but a formal prayer submission at the holy site] to Reb Avraham, the brother-in-law of the Tzaddik Reb Abaleh ז"ל — also write down Reb Kalman as well — for it is a great mitzvah. And do not look at the bad — only at the good.

Nussun from Breslov Encamped here in Teverya, may it be established and built for good.

Written Thursday, 4th of Adar, 5639 (February or March 1879), from Teverya. A wedding in Reb Shmuel's family. Detailed accounting of Reb Abaleh's giving. Cannot come for Purim. Reb Aitzikel ill — be strong in trust.

Letter 62 | סב (Samech-Beis) 📜 Translator's Summary — Letter 62 Letter 63 | סג (Samech-Gimmel)