עז

But now I was aroused — for the days of the holy festival of Shavuos draw near and come. And because I studied in Likutay Halachos, part two, Laws of Blessings on Fruits, law 5 — the entire law — and because of this I was aroused to write to you: what are we keeping silent about — and we do not cry out to one another with a great voice and with fresh arousal — that there is such a great light in the world — and we walk in darkness? And we are not even like a blind person who walks at least after his staff — and we who have such a great light — which can guide us in all the worlds in a good and straight path — and we can even in this bitter world live and rejoice — and its light can give us life in every kind of life and joy — if we would be constant in the book of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple — which are life for those who study them. And it is worth studying from their words even a single movement — and not to use our own intellect at all. And what was — is it with a boorish and unwise people?

And now what can I say to you, my brothers my friends? Now in this sweeping torrential flood of great waters of each and every one — we have no counsel except to receive the healings of the soul and the body from the Physician who is the owner of the holy books. And the more we are constant in them — to receive their candle-flames [נרותם — "their candles / their lamps" — from ner — a candle, a lamp; each book of Rabbainu ז"ל carries specific individuated candle-flames — not merely general illumination but the particular flame of each teaching] — this will be healing for life — so that it will be called life. And we have nowhere to flee except to the Torah and to prayer. And we have cause to rejoice at least — that we are not opponents of such lights. And if we are joyful — and one commandment draws another commandment — surely He will merit us to make use of the holy treasuries — and there will be drawn upon us joy that is more than our own joy. And the strength of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple comes from the crowns with which they crowned us at Mount Sinai — which were joy. And particularly sadness — Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple warned very greatly about this — for it avails nothing at all — and the mind is not in freedom because it is diminished thereby. And whoever is drawn after grief, G-d forbid, and so on. And everything that passes over a person — one must tell before Hashem Yisbarach every single thing in its detail — and rejoice in full expansive openness.

And the beloved of my soul — Reb Aizikl, may his candle shine — the adversary wants to overpower him — with melancholy over his not yet having children. For until now he had a great benefit — that he had no children together with these troubles — for if he had children with them he would not be able to release them. And we must believe that everything the Merciful One does — He does for good. And now one must pray before Hashem Yisbarach with grace and supplication — in joy and not in melancholy — for this and for every matter — and not, G-d forbid, in melancholy. For melancholy and sadness is like complaints against Hashem Yisbarach — and this is not the will of the Creator, may He be blessed. Only pray to Hashem Yisbarach and believe in Hashem Yisbarach that He hears your prayers. And "faith" — in gematria is "sons." And in this merit may you all be merited with the fullness of good.

And it is my will that G-d willing on the holy Shabbos you study this law — and give life to your souls. And G-d willing on Shavuos — receive the holy festival of Shavuos in great joy — with clapping of hands and dancing — for this befits the receiving of the holy Torah. And I G-d willing here will also rejoice — and will tie my joy to your joy — for we are all one soul — in the seventy souls of the house of Yaakov — and particularly since I love you without any division of heart.

And I ask of you to write to me whether you received this letter. And also to inform me immediately upon the arrival of your dear co-parent-in-law, may his candle shine — and if there are letters for me with him — to send them to me immediately and at once — and it will be a great mitzvah.

On both this and that there is no news — only life and peace and joy. For Rabbainu ז"ל said: what makes the world far from Hashem Yisbarach is because they do not have settled composure of mind — and the counsel for settled composure of mind is joy. And the completion of the tikkun that Rabbainu ז"ל wants to repair us with — is through the ten kinds of melody — and this is the generality of joy.

One who loves you in truth, 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. Written Wednesday, the Day of Kinship — the eve of Shavuos, 5640, from Teverya. What are we keeping silent about? Their candle-flames. Emunah = banim. Ten kinds of melody. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן