פד

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.

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.

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 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.