תרצ"ג

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, [Torah portion of] Va'era , 5693, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. Praise to G-d [ taf-lamed-ches ] for the lives and the peace. Your letter I received yesterday. And you should not be astonished in your eyes that I did not write to you until today — for great troubles [ trachot rabbos ] and great trials pass over me almost every day — both in the health of the body and in livelihood. And Hashem, may He be blessed, has mercy upon me and saves me each time in the path of miracle — without any nature whatsoever. And now we need miracles far greater than before — for the changes of everything in our country have grown stronger beyond all measure [ ad ein shi'ur ]. But Hashem, may He be blessed, saves and rescues each time through miracles and wonders that cannot be explained. And regarding the strengthening that you need — look carefully into the Likutay Aitzos with Hebrew-Yiddish — the entry "Hischazakus" [strengthening] — with great attention as is fitting. There you will find all manner of good and true counsels — to strengthen yourself through them in the point of Judaism — and to renew yourself through them each time in the truth and the faith — as His blessed will and the will of our master, of blessed memory. If only you would fulfill what is explained there, etc. [וכו׳] Your father who blesses you with all good in spirituality and materiality, Shimshon. ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Monday, [Torah portions of] Vayakhel-Pekudei , 5693, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. I am here to inform you that with us everything is with mercy [ b'rachamim ]. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help us and save us with very great mercy — and may we merit to always hear only good, etc. [וכו׳] [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...And nonetheless Hashem, may He be blessed, helps and saves in every detail. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help me to always strengthen myself in true faith and in true trust — and certainly we will be saved from the afflictions that are now pouring over the world. And the main thing: to strengthen oneself in the true daas that our master, of blessed memory, has informed us — for from that daas grow and flourish all good qualities and all foundations of Judaism. Your father who blesses you with all good in materiality and spirituality — and for the reception of the coming festival of Passover with kashrut and joy, Shimshon.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, [Torah portions of] Matos-Masei , 5693, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...Regarding your apology about the matter of thought — I have already written to you that in the Likutay Aitzos with Hebrew-Yiddish — the entry "Machshavos v'hirhurim" [thoughts and imaginings] — there are explained proven and tested counsels for the rectification of thought. Look there carefully with great attention — both in the holy language [ lashon hakodesh ] and in the Hebrew-Yiddish. And you will see there true counsels for the rectification of thought. And if only you would fulfill the counsels explained there. Also look carefully into the Likutay Aitzos — the new one by the Rebbe of Tcherin [ a separate compilation by R' Nachman of Tcherin ] — the entry "Machshavos v'hirhurim" . There too are explained true counsels for the rectification of thought. And certainly one must greatly increase prayer — to merit to fulfill the counsels explained there. For without prayer it is difficult to fulfill any counsel. But when one studies the books of the true Tzadik and prays greatly to Hashem, may He be blessed, to merit to fulfill the counsels explained there — Hashem, may He be blessed, certainly helps one to fulfill them and to receive through them great good. With us there is great need for mercy, etc. [וכו׳] And nonetheless Hashem, may He be blessed, helps us each time through great miracles. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help that the afflictions turn soon into goodnesses and great salvations. Your father, Shimshon Barski. ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Sunday, [Torah portion of] Re'eh , 5693, Uman. Addressed to: To my honored friend, R'... [ the name is omitted in the manuscript ] I was greatly astonished that you are engaged in collecting money for the livelihood of the people of the kloyz [ the Breslov prayer and study hall in Uman ] — yet regarding the strengthening of my livelihood — you do not remember at all — as if you do not know me at all. And is this truly right? — And do all the people of the kloyz have a stronger claim than I do upon the influence that Hashem, may He be blessed, sends for the livelihood of those who draw close to our master, of blessed memory? — And even the gift that was sent for me from a private individual — as per your writing, etc. [וכו׳] When I demand the above from the distributors whom you appointed to be distributors — they send me from one to the other, for... received via the Turgeson [ a Yiddish term for an intermediary or courier ] the money sent to his address — and says that the money belonging to him is not found with him... Also [another] received the money sent to his address — and says likewise that the money belonging to him is not in his possession... [another] is not at home — for he travels throughout the country all the summer days to engage in his livelihood — and I have no one else to demand [it] from. Even what was sent to me from a private individual — and in particular part of the general money — I certainly have no one from whom to demand it. And you are certainly obligated not to forget the goodnesses and the drawing-close that you received through me in general — during your time in Uman — and in particular at the time of your illness, when no person was willing to bear from you any burden or load — and Hashem, may He be blessed, strengthened me to consent that you be in my home for several weeks. And my father and the members of his household, may they live, bore from you many kinds of afflictions. And now he remembers to engage in the good of the people of the kloyz — and me he has completely forgotten — and I am not considered by him even as [a person of]... etc., etc. [וכו׳ וכו׳] And those who testify in the heights [ v'sahadi bimeromim — a Jobian expression: and Heaven bears witness ] know that my livelihood is always through miracle and constriction [ b'nes uv'tzimtzum ]. And it seems to my humble opinion that a great obligation rests upon him to rectify the wrong. Also let him inform me immediately upon receiving the letter whether he sent for me a portion [ manah-karavah — Yiddish term for a cash portion/share ] — for it is necessary for me to know this. I also wish to know who sent for me the said gift included in the money sent for the people of the kloyz . I ask to be informed of this — and if it is possible to strive for me for some assistance that has real substance — I ask [him] to strive [for this] — for my livelihood is in great hardship and constriction. May Hashem, may He be blessed, have mercy. His friend who blesses him with all good in materiality and spirituality, Shimshon Barski.