צה

My friend, my truly beloved — as I sent you a letter — and within it was enclosed the prescription — and I asked of you to rouse yourself with alacrity [לזרז עצמך — "to rouse yourself with alacrity and zealous swiftness" — from zerizus — alacrity, the eager and swift performance of a commandment without delay; one of the foundational virtues in Mussar and Chassidic thought; the opposite of sluggishness in commandments] for a great mitzvah which is a life-saving matter — and in the end there was now a wagon — and you did not send with them. Therefore I ask of you once more — to rouse yourself with alacrity and send quickly all the matters that I wrote to you in the letter — and also to send the prescription back to me in return. And do not let a commandment appear trivial in your eyes — for Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple wanted us to engage in practical commandments of deed — specifically with our bodies.

And I come to arouse myself and also arouse you — for the sake of Hashem — engage in the books of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple. For in every single study and study we see the greatness of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple — and how they labor for our benefit forever and into eternities. For whoever studies them — it is impossible that some good quality not cleave to him with the cleaving of dveikus [שלא ידבק בו — "that does not cleave to him" — from davak — the cleaving of dveikus; the same root as the Chassidic ideal of cleaving to G-d; the good quality clings and attaches itself to the learner as a spiritual adhesion] — or at least some good point — for it is no empty word — the words of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple. And we must believe in them — in every single utterance — that it performed for us some good — in the physical and in the spiritual. For the sake of Hashem — do not be lazy about writing me some letters.

And greetings of peace to my friend, our beloved in truth, the veteran Chassid, Morainu v'Rabbainu Nachman, may his candle shine — together with peace upon our beloved Reb Dov, may his candle shine — and your co-parent-in-law, our beloved in truth, Morainu v'Rabbainu Shmuel, may his candle shine — and your dear precious brother, the wondrous one, Morainu v'Rabbainu Sender, may his candle shine — together with peace upon his son Avraham Eliezer, may his candle shine — and to the patron Reb Chaim Krish, may his candle shine — and Reb Yaakov, may his candle shine — and Reb Aizikl, may his candle shine — and together with peace upon all the young men — and together with peace upon all the Anash. Your friend, Nussun from Breslov

Written Monday, Parshas Vaera, 5641 (January 1881), from Teverya. A rebuke — the mastic was not sent. Rouse yourself with zerizus. Every word of Rabbainu ז"ל performs a good.

My friend, my truly beloved — as I sent you a letter — and within it was enclosed the prescription — and I asked of you to rouse yourself with alacrity [לזרז עצמך — "to rouse yourself with alacrity and zealous swiftness" — from zerizus — alacrity, the eager and swift performance of a commandment without delay; one of the foundational virtues in Mussar and Chassidic thought; the opposite of sluggishness in commandments] for a great mitzvah which is a life-saving matter — and in the end there was now a wagon — and you did not send with them. Therefore I ask of you once more — to rouse yourself with alacrity and send quickly all the matters that I wrote to you in the letter — and also to send the prescription back to me in return. And do not let a commandment appear trivial in your eyes — for Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple wanted us to engage in practical commandments of deed — specifically with our bodies. And I come to arouse myself and also arouse you — for the sake of Hashem — engage in the books of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple. For in every single study and study we see the greatness of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple — and how they labor for our benefit forever and into eternities. For whoever studies them — it is impossible that some good quality not cleave to him with the cleaving of dveikus [שלא ידבק בו — "that does not cleave to him" — from davak — the cleaving of dveikus; the same root as the Chassidic ideal of cleaving to G-d; the good quality clings and attaches itself to the learner as a spiritual adhesion] — or at least some good point — for it is no empty word — the words of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple. And we must believe in them — in every single utterance — that it performed for us some good — in the physical and in the spiritual. For the sake of Hashem — do not be lazy about writing me some letters. I received from your co-parent-in-law the sum of ninety-five groshen — and you wrote ninety-seven — and also I received the mastic — and also to say to Reb Aizik that he should not travel now — for I am still not fully in good health. G-d willing on the Shabbos Shirah — if it is the will of the Creator, may He be blessed — then he may come. And beyond this — the precious guest with me — Reb Shmuel, may his candle shine — together with his son — I have no place to lay them down at night — for my house is small. And also to say to Reb Nussun son of Reb Yekusiel ז"ל — that he sent the prik here — and wrote that my sister should sell one — and my sister, may she live, has had the fever now for ten days — may Hashem Yisbarach have mercy on her — and also on my mother who for six weeks has been weak and faint. And likewise he did not write the price — how to sell. And may Hashem Yisbarach send a complete healing to your son Sender Chaim, may his candle shine — and tell him that I ask of him not to be obstinate and hardheaded. [עקשן — ikashan — one who is stubbornly obstinate, who twists and refuses to yield; from akash — crooked, twisted, perverse; a character trait of hardheaded refusal] And in the merit of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple — may he lengthen his days and good years. Words of one who loves you, Nussun from Breslov Written Friday, Parshas Vaera, 5641 (January 1881), from Teverya. The mastic arrived but two groshen short. Reb Aizik to wait until Shabbos Shirah. The sister has fever. The mother weak for six weeks. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן My sister, may she live, is sending seven groshen to Tzfas, may it be established — to be distributed with the hand-deliverer of this letter [המוסר כתב זה — "the hand-deliverer of this letter" — ha'moseir — the designated person who personally delivers from hand to hand; the same specific term as in Letters 71 and 97; not a general postal carrier but the one who personally passes it] — for she is not in good health. And give from this money two groshen to Reb Aizik, may his candle shine — and two groshen to Reb Yoel Hirsh, may his candle shine, and his son, may his candle shine — and one groshen to Reb Meir, may his candle shine — and one groshen to the wife of Reb Yosef, may his candle shine — and one groshen to the wife of Reb Yekusiel ז"ל. And I have asked to pray for her — for she is a proper woman — and she is also one of the people of Rabbainu ז"ל and his holy disciple — like a Chassid in every sense. And beyond this — my mother, may she live, has been ill for six weeks — and she must attend to her as to a sick person. Therefore arouse great mercies for them. And also — I — blessed be G-d — every day my limbs are being strengthened. Only may Hashem Yisbarach grant that the legs strengthen quickly and soon — so that I can go to the mikveh and to the house of study to pray in public congregation. Although I hear Kedushah and Barchu every day — I fulfill the obligation of "he who performs but does not go" — and I want to fulfill "he who goes and performs." And Rabbainu ז"ל wanted us to perform practical commandments of deed with our bodies. On both this and that there is no news — only life and peace. Your friend, one who truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov The above-mentioned Nussun. My wife, may she live, and my sister, may she live, convey greetings of peace to your wife, may she live, and your mother-in-law, may she live, and your son Sender Chaim, may his candle shine. Written Thursday, Parshas Bo, 5641 (late January 1881), from Teverya. The sister's charitable distribution. The writer longs to go to synagogue and fulfill the commandment with his body. The prik returned unsold amid mockery. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן And greetings of peace to my friend, our beloved in truth, the veteran Chassid, Morainu v'Rabbainu Nachman, may his candle shine — together with peace upon our beloved Reb Dov, may his candle shine — and your co-parent-in-law, our beloved in truth, Morainu v'Rabbainu Shmuel, may his candle shine — and your dear precious brother, the wondrous one, Morainu v'Rabbainu Sender, may his candle shine — together with peace upon his son Avraham Eliezer, may his candle shine — and to the patron Reb Chaim Krish, may his candle shine — and Reb Yaakov, may his candle shine — and Reb Aizikl, may his candle shine — and together with peace upon all the young men — and together with peace upon all the Anash. Your friend, Nussun from Breslov Written Monday, Parshas Vaera, 5641 (January 1881), from Teverya. A rebuke — the mastic was not sent. Rouse yourself with zerizus. Every word of Rabbainu ז"ל performs a good. נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן