פג

Your letter from Thursday I received yesterday toward evening — through Reb Dov, may his candle shine. And about what you wrote to me at the end — about your son, may his candle shine — that he came home with headache and fever — my mind was greatly thrown into confusion. And surely I pray for him at all times. But now one must greatly multiply prayer — for we have nothing to lean on except prayer and supplication. And recite Psalms — as is explained in Shichos Ha'Ran, sign 98 [Shichos Ha'Ran — "The Conversations of our Teacher Reb Nachman" — a collection of the private conversations and teachings of Rabbainu ז"ל recorded by Reb Nosson ז"ל; sign 98 specifically discusses Psalms as a support and staff] — that Psalms is a support and staff. And immediately give a redemption — in the numerical value of his name — in paras [כמנין שמו פאריס — "in the numerical value of his name — in paras" — a specific instruction: calculate the gematria of the son's name, and give that number of paras — the small Ottoman coin — as a charitable redemption; Rabbainu ז"ל commanded to multiply redemptions as a healing practice]. For Rabbainu ז"ל commanded to multiply redemptions. And trust in Hashem — for He will surely lengthen his days and years. And I will return to Hashem and ask Him to forgive me — that I should not be the separating screen [שלא אהיה אני מסך המבדיל — "that I should not be the separating screen" — a specific concept from Shichos Ha'Ran and Chayei Moharan: the writer prays that his own sins not become a separating barrier between his prayers and their acceptance Above; the screen that blocks the prayer from rising] — as explained in Shichos Ha'Ran and in Chayei Moharan — the parable that Rabbainu ז"ל said to Reb Yudel ז"ל. And trust in Hashem and rejoice in Him — for even during the period between the straits it is forbidden to be in sadness — only a broken heart. [רק לב נשבר — "only a broken heart" — the crucial distinction: sadness is forbidden even during the mourning-period of the Three Weeks; but a broken, contrite heart — lev nishbar — which comes from longing and repentance rather than depression — is not only permitted but desirable and holy; the broken heart and sadness are not the same thing]

And I have greatly asked of you — as I heard here through a letter — that people came from Teiteira — new people — to Tzfas, may it be established — to ask them about my brother Michl, may his candle shine, and about my son Aizik, may his candle shine, and about my daughter Sheindl — the wife of Reb Boruch the candle-seller — and about my other brothers. For it is close to a year that there is no letter from them — and my life is spent. And if you have any news — write to me immediately. And also immediately to write to me about your son, may his candle shine — to give life to my soul and to my wife's soul. And Reb Aizik, may his candle shine, has no cause to be resentful against me — for I did what was fully proper and fitting [כהגן — k'hagen — "as is proper and fully fitting" — from hagen — proper, decorous, fully appropriate; the writer conducted himself in the entirely correct and fitting manner] — namely: I took the large letter — and inside it I placed my own letter that I wrote to Reb Pinchas Yosef, may his candle shine, on thin paper — and wrapped them together. And on the outside of the large letter I wrote: to deliver the packet to Reb Aizik of Bucharest, may his candle shine. And furthermore I told her that I had written three letters — one to Reb Shmuel, may his candle shine, one to your hand, and one to Reb Aizik, may his candle shine — and I commanded her that she herself should personally deliver each letter into the hand of each person — and not through her son, may his candle shine. And I do not know how it was lost with her. And about the receipts — surely they will write as is necessary to write — or I will send them — or I will bring them myself G-d willing when I travel to your encampment for the yahrtzeit, G-d willing.

Words of one who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov

Written Tuesday, 5th of Av, 5640 (August 1880), from Teverya — four days before Tisha B'Av. The recipient's son is ill. Psalms as a staff. A pidyon in the numerical value of his name. The separating screen. A broken heart — not sadness. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן I inform you that I arrived home blessed be G-d in peace — and all my household in life and peace — blessed be G-d. May I merit to hear from you at all times life and peace — and return and live from within great expansiveness — without limit. And I give thanks to Hashem — the G-d Who is good and Who does good — Who performed for me a miracle on this road. For all the mules arrived at a very narrow place — and there were trees and thorns — and my mule hastened to run there — and passed under one thorn — and threw off from me the cap and the skullcap and the glasses [הקאפילוס והיארמילקע והאוגין בריל — Yiddish: kapelyush — the outer cap or hat; yarmulke — the skullcap; and oygn bril — eyeglasses; all three thrown from him by the thorn-branch as the mule ran beneath it] — and a thorn pierced my hand — until approximately a quarter of a log of blood flowed from my hand [רביעית דם — "a quarter of a log" — a Talmudic measure of liquid volume; approximately half a cup; a significant loss of blood; the Talmudic revi'is — a quarter of a log — is the minimum amount of blood whose loss is considered significant in Halachic contexts]. And this was for me a miracle — that it did not pierce my eye, G-d forbid. And this was a miraculous path. And I attributed it to the merit of those who accompanied me — the Anash who are called by the name of Rabbainu ז"ל. And if I had further merited that our friend the Chassid Reb Nachman, may his candle shine, and our friend the Chassid Reb Dov — were among my escort companions — I would have been saved from everything. And at the moment of the incident I accepted upon myself to love you with a new love — as a father for a precious son — and as beloved brothers. And I arouse myself and arouse you with a fresh arousal — to count all the days of Elul — each and every day. And this counting of repentance is above time — therefore there was no time at all until now. And from now our days and years begin. And we must return to Hashem Yisbarach — and yearn and pine toward Him — with strong desires — to do His will, may He be blessed — desire after desire. And desire is thought — and from thought speech and deed are made. For according to the desire of the person — so are the speech and the deed. And particularly you — the young ones — you can every day — either in the early morning or toward evening — go to the resting place of the holy Ari [Reb Yitzchak Luria ז"ל, the holy Ari — whose grave is in Tzfas; the writer is addressing the young Anash of Tzfas who have daily access to this holy site] — and meditate there in repentance — and pour out there all that is in your heart before Hashem Yisbarach. And there one can actualize all the good character traits — both children, life, and sustenance — and trust — and joy — and love of companions without any conflicts — only complete love. And to search and seek in each and every one only the good — for Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple commanded us and warned us very, very greatly about this — to walk on this path. And this is the boundary of holiness and love — and "love covers all transgressions" — and even each person for himself — the entire day let him cover his own transgressions with love — through his good point — and search in the good points. And only one hour a day let him confess his sins before Hashem Yisbarach — and conclude with good points. And may it be G-d's will that our merit multiply — until everything is turned to good. On both this and that there is no news. For the sake of Hashem — G-d willing — when Hashem Yisbarach sends a complete healing to our friend Reb Nachman, may his candle shine — or perhaps when there is any good news from the diaspora — to inform me. Your friend, your truly beloved, Nussun from Breslov Encamped in Teverya. My friend Reb Nussun son of our teacher Hirsh, may his candle shine — I bring you good tidings — that yesterday on Thursday a letter came to me from my son Aizik, may his candle shine, and from my brothers, may their candles shine — with money. And I wanted to send you six Meizhides against your debt — and for now I ask of you to inform me of Reb Nachman, may his candle shine, and of your son, may his candle shine. Written Monday, 2nd of Elul, 5640 (August 1880), from Teverya. A safe return from a journey — with a dramatic near-accident. A fresh arousal for Elul. Children, life, sustenance at the grave of the holy Ari. Love covers all transgressions. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן Now — I already wrote to you on Monday a letter — and today I saw the letter still at Reb Dov, may his candle shine — and I wrote on it a good tiding — blessed be G-d — that a letter came to me from my son Aizik, may his candle shine, and from my brothers — from all of them — blessed be G-d — that they are in life and in peace. But from each and every one I have great suffering. But blessed be G-d — they are Breslov Chassidim — and finding great expansiveness — and they ask of the Anash who are in Eretz Yisroel to ask mercy for them — that Hashem Yisbarach fulfill for each one the requests of his heart for good. And particularly for my brother's daughter Morainu v'Rabbainu Ze'ev, may his candle shine — Mistress Miriam Figa daughter of Esther Rachel — for approximately four months she has headache and nasal pain [כאב הראש והחטם — "headache and pain in the nose" — ha'chatam — the nose; a specific nasal pain accompanying the headache; she cannot eat and cannot sleep from the pain] — and she cannot eat and cannot sleep from her pain — and she is the wife of my kinsman [ש"ב — abbreviation of שארי בשרי — "my flesh and kin" — a relative by marriage, a close kinsman; broader than merely "brother-in-law"] Yitzchak Ber, may his candle shine. Therefore I have asked of you to pray for her — and for all whom I list here — at every time you go to the holy graves. For they are my brothers — and also your brothers — for we are from one root. And also they sent me money — approximately nine Adamim [אדמים — adamim — a coin denomination; likely from the Turkish/Ottoman monetary system; the writer specifies "approximately nine" as the sum received] — and they greatly gave me life. May Hashem Yisbarach give them life in the fullness of good. And I am sending you the sum of six Meizhides — and write on my prayer-name-slip [הקוויטל — kvitl — Yiddish: the prayer-name-slip submitted at a holy grave; names are written on it for intercession at the grave of a Tzaddik; in Breslov usage specifically the slip presented at the grave of Rabbainu ז"ל; not merely a "receipt-note"] the sum of one hundred and fifty groshen that I received — and the remainder and two groshen distribute to the Anash as follows: And yesterday I studied in Likutay Halachos, Laws of Passover, law 9 — and I desire that you and our friend Aizik, may his candle shine, study it — and your soul will be revived — like cold water from a springing spring — from the flowing stream, the source of wisdom — which purifies from all impurities. For yesterday after the study I experienced a fresh new life-force. And my complete counsel is: in the month of Elul and the Ten Days of Repentance — engage in studying in the book Likutay Eitzvos [Likutay Eitzvos — "Collected Counsels" — also known as Likutay Eitzvos Chadash — a work organizing the practical guidance of Rabbainu ז"ל and Reb Nosson ז"ל by topic; the writer recommends the section on Elul and Rosh Hashana specifically for this preparatory period] — the new section — the letter Elul and Rosh Hashana — and from there you will know G-d willing how to receive Elul and Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur and Sukkos. Your friend, your truly beloved, Nussun from Breslov And write to me a receipt for the letters with the money. And also — what happened with our friend Reb Nachman, may his candle shine — and your son, may his candle shine. And also whether you had a letter from your father, may his candle shine — and what he wrote from the diaspora. And greetings of peace to your co-parent-in-law, our beloved, may his candle shine — together with peace upon his wife. Written Thursday, 5th of Elul, 5640 (August 1880), from Teverya. Letters from the diaspora finally arrived. A niece has severe head and nasal pain. A distribution of six Meizhides. A teaching from Laws of Passover, law 9. The counsel to study Likutay Eitzvos during Elul. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן Your letter from Thursday I received yesterday toward evening — through Reb Dov, may his candle shine. And about what you wrote to me at the end — about your son, may his candle shine — that he came home with headache and fever — my mind was greatly thrown into confusion. And surely I pray for him at all times. But now one must greatly multiply prayer — for we have nothing to lean on except prayer and supplication. And recite Psalms — as is explained in Shichos Ha'Ran, sign 98 [Shichos Ha'Ran — "The Conversations of our Teacher Reb Nachman" — a collection of the private conversations and teachings of Rabbainu ז"ל recorded by Reb Nosson ז"ל; sign 98 specifically discusses Psalms as a support and staff] — that Psalms is a support and staff. And immediately give a redemption — in the numerical value of his name — in paras [כמנין שמו פאריס — "in the numerical value of his name — in paras" — a specific instruction: calculate the gematria of the son's name, and give that number of paras — the small Ottoman coin — as a charitable redemption; Rabbainu ז"ל commanded to multiply redemptions as a healing practice]. For Rabbainu ז"ל commanded to multiply redemptions. And trust in Hashem — for He will surely lengthen his days and years. And I will return to Hashem and ask Him to forgive me — that I should not be the separating screen [שלא אהיה אני מסך המבדיל — "that I should not be the separating screen" — a specific concept from Shichos Ha'Ran and Chayei Moharan: the writer prays that his own sins not become a separating barrier between his prayers and their acceptance Above; the screen that blocks the prayer from rising] — as explained in Shichos Ha'Ran and in Chayei Moharan — the parable that Rabbainu ז"ל said to Reb Yudel ז"ל. And trust in Hashem and rejoice in Him — for even during the period between the straits it is forbidden to be in sadness — only a broken heart. [רק לב נשבר — "only a broken heart" — the crucial distinction: sadness is forbidden even during the mourning-period of the Three Weeks; but a broken, contrite heart — lev nishbar — which comes from longing and repentance rather than depression — is not only permitted but desirable and holy; the broken heart and sadness are not the same thing] And I have greatly asked of you — as I heard here through a letter — that people came from Teiteira — new people — to Tzfas, may it be established — to ask them about my brother Michl, may his candle shine, and about my son Aizik, may his candle shine, and about my daughter Sheindl — the wife of Reb Boruch the candle-seller — and about my other brothers. For it is close to a year that there is no letter from them — and my life is spent. And if you have any news — write to me immediately. And also immediately to write to me about your son, may his candle shine — to give life to my soul and to my wife's soul. And Reb Aizik, may his candle shine, has no cause to be resentful against me — for I did what was fully proper and fitting [כהגן — k'hagen — "as is proper and fully fitting" — from hagen — proper, decorous, fully appropriate; the writer conducted himself in the entirely correct and fitting manner] — namely: I took the large letter — and inside it I placed my own letter that I wrote to Reb Pinchas Yosef, may his candle shine, on thin paper — and wrapped them together. And on the outside of the large letter I wrote: to deliver the packet to Reb Aizik of Bucharest, may his candle shine. And furthermore I told her that I had written three letters — one to Reb Shmuel, may his candle shine, one to your hand, and one to Reb Aizik, may his candle shine — and I commanded her that she herself should personally deliver each letter into the hand of each person — and not through her son, may his candle shine. And I do not know how it was lost with her. And about the receipts — surely they will write as is necessary to write — or I will send them — or I will bring them myself G-d willing when I travel to your encampment for the yahrtzeit, G-d willing. Words of one who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov Written Tuesday, 5th of Av, 5640 (August 1880), from Teverya — four days before Tisha B'Av. The recipient's son is ill. Psalms as a staff. A pidyon in the numerical value of his name. The separating screen. A broken heart — not sadness. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן