עת"ר

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. The eve of the holy Sabbath [ erev Shabbos kodesh ], Torah portion of "Vaya'aminu b'Hashem uv'Moshe avdo" — "And they believed in Hashem and in Moses His servant" [ Shemos / Exodus 14:31 — portion of Beshalach ] — the year Asar [5670], here in Uman. Addressed to: My beloved, the honored young married man [ avreich ], Yitzchak Meir, may he live, Karman. Today I received your sealed letter, with your question regarding the match [ shiduch ]. And I did not have enough leisure to speak of this with the elder R' Dovid Tzvi — on account of the busyness of the eve of the Sabbath. And in particular, it is superfluous [ l'mosar ] — for in the letter of R' Dovid Tzvi, may he live, which I am sending here to our friend the young man Aharon Yehuda Zigelman — there you will also find a sufficient answer to your question. For Aharon Yehuda too asked me a few days ago the very same question — quite literally the same question — and I spoke of this with R' Dovid Tzvi, and he answered me as written in his letter placed here. Therefore, read it carefully and you will find a correct answer to your question. And I too, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, agree in the matter of matches with the opinion of R' Dovid Tzvi. I felt, thank G-d, as all that is written in his letter — even before I spoke with him — but I was worried that perhaps I had some error in this. Therefore, upon seeing that R' Dovid Tzvi, the elder, feels the same — my opinion has certainly been strengthened, and certainly that is the truth. For anyone who merits to draw close to the teaching of our holy Rebbe, of blessed memory, is forbidden to conceal his identity when he is asked — and is obligated to answer, to answer [ repetition in original: להשיב להשיב — "to answer, to answer" — a deliberate double emphasis expressing the weight of this obligation ] the one who asks him, mouth full of words [ בפה מלה — "with a mouth full [of words]" — a phrase denoting speaking clearly, explicitly, and without evasion ]: "Ivri anochi" — "I am a Hebrew" [ Bereishis / Genesis 40:15; Yonah / Jonah 1:9 — meaning: I am drawn close to the holy Moharan, of blessed memory ]. And also to make known explicitly — and in particular regarding a match: one must certainly make known that traveling to Uman for the holy Rosh Hashana is for him the very foundation of his Judaism [ yesod yehudaso ], and it is altogether impossible to alter this in any manner whatsoever. And you must trust in Hashem, may He be blessed — as must all the young men who draw close to our master, of blessed memory — for in the merit of our Rebbe, of blessed memory, they will find exceedingly fitting matches [ zivugim hagunnim beyoser ] who will not be opposed to them, G-d forbid. It is understood from all the above that it is forbidden to enter into a match through which one would be distanced from the light of our master's teaching, of blessed memory. And one must trust in Hashem, may He be blessed, that He will arrange such a match as will be an aid and a help to draw closer further — and one must certainly increase prayer for this, and all in wholeness and simplicity [ b'temimusdik un b'peshitusdik — Yiddish suffix -dik appended to Hebrew roots, characteristic of Breslov usage ]. There is no need to elaborate further in this — and this is sufficient for now... Your loving one who desires your good in body and soul in every detail, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Tuesday, Torah portion of "Va'asu li mikdash ( binyan Admo"r z"l ) v'shachanti b'socham" — "And they shall make Me a Sanctuary [ the building [wrought by] our master, of blessed memory ] and I shall dwell among them" [ Shemos / Exodus 25:8 — portion of Terumah ; the parenthetical is Rabbi Shimshon's own gloss in the original, identifying the Sanctuary with the spiritual edifice built by the Rebbe ] — the year Asar [5670], Uman. Addressed to: The honor of the dear Anash , and in particular to the faithful members: R' Yechezkel Mandilayl, and R' Heynich Guterman, and R' Yehuda Zilberman, and R' Shlomo [ שש"פ — an abbreviation whose precise meaning is uncertain; it may stand for an honorific title or role in the community ], and our dear friend R' Dovid Satanovaish, may he live, and may he shine forever [ v'yizrach la'netzach ]. Your letter regarding my traveling to your camp — I received properly. And at the beginning of my reading it, some obstacles and doubts began to enter my mind, out of concern for my bodily health, and also from lack of winter clothing, etc., etc. [וכו׳ וכו׳] But immediately there rose upon my thoughts the holy matter explained in the story of The Wise Man and the Simple Man [ one of the thirteen stories of Rebbe Nachman, from Sipuray Maasiyos ] — that when the letter from the king was brought to the Simple Man, he did not enter into any investigations whatsoever, and asked only: is it without mockery [ b'li leitzanus ]? — and immediately he agreed to fulfill the will of the king and to travel. And for this reason I too agreed — without any investigations whatsoever — to travel, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, to you, for the purpose of the renewal of our souls together in the study of the books of our holy master, of blessed memory — for perhaps this is indeed the will of the King, the King of the Universe [ Malko d'alma ]. I certainly fear to delay the matter. However, this week it is impossible to bring the matter to fruition [ l'hotzi hadavar el hapo'al ] — for you know me, that I am unable to do anything in haste, but only with great patience [ minusdik — Yiddish: patiently, steadily ]. Therefore, I have settled in my mind to fix, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, the day of travel for the coming week, may it come upon us for good. And in particular, my mission differs from the mission sent to the Simple Man in that story in two matters — for to the Simple Man was sent a letter, and also a carriage [ karitah — from the Yiddish/German Karete , a horse-drawn carriage ] — meaning: money for travel expenses — and also clothing, as is explained there. Whereas I must strive on my own, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, to obtain money for travel expenses, and perhaps I will also obtain on loan some item of clothing that I require. And for this reason too the matter must be delayed some days — and in the meantime, until the day of travel, you can still reply to me yet on this letter: whether to travel to you now as per your writing in your earlier letter, or whether to push off the fixed time of the travel to the summer days, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed — for now in the winter days the matter is prevented from me. Also: with you [in Lublin] it is impossible for me to linger beyond the holy days of Purim, may they come upon us for good. Therefore, inform me of your opinion in this. And may Hashem, may He be blessed, grant me in His mercy a complete counsel [ etzah shleimah ] — in the merit of our Rebbe, of blessed memory, who is the Pele Yo'etz [ "Wonder-Counselor" — Yeshayahu / Isaiah 9:5 — a title of the Tzadik who gives wondrous guidance ] — and may I merit to align with His blessed will in every movement and deed [ b'chol tenu'ah v'uvdah ], Amen. Your friends, your companion, and your loving one who seeks your peace and your good in truth — who awaits your letter at the earliest possible moment — and who hopes to Hashem, may He be blessed, to understand for me the hints that He hints to me in every circumstance and cause [ b'chol sibah v'sibah ], in such a manner that I align with the truth in every detail, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. On the eve [lit. "the light"] of Wednesday, Torah portion of "Va'esa eschem al kanfei nesharim va'avi eschem eilai" — "And I bore you upon wings of eagles and brought you to Me" [ Shemos / Exodus 19:4 — portion of Yisro ] — Chapter 29, Torah Part One [ סי' כ"ט ת"א — referring to chapter 29 of Likutay Moharan , Part One [ Torah Aleph ] ] — the year Asar [5670], here in Uman. Addressed to: My dear friend, the honored young man — the servant of the great factory that encompasses all the souls of Israel [ משרת דהפאבריק הכוללת כל נפשות ישראל — an Aramaic-Yiddish construct: meshares d'ha'fabrik — "the servant of the factory" — fabrik is Yiddish/German for "factory." Rabbi Shimshon's affectionate and lofty description of Yitzchak Meir's role in the sacred work of drawing souls close to the Rebbe ] — Yitzchak Meir, may he live, Karman. The two money transfers [ pereevadin ] I received properly [ likavon ], and I conducted myself with the money according to your written instructions — both regarding the fellowship in general, and in particular for myself and R' Getzel [ ר' געציל — Getzel, a Yiddish name in its own right, a diminutive of Gad or of Getzl; not the same as Gedalya ] — in accordance with the earlier arrangement — and also in the specific, particular details [ b'fertei fertiyus ] for what Hashem, may He be blessed, arranged through your hand for me alone. May Hashem, may He be blessed, be in your aid — that you merit to strengthen yourself in your service in general, and in particular in this service: to serve the daas [teaching and inner awareness] of our holy Rebbe, of blessed memory, in truth and with a whole heart, all your days, together with us. For upon this depends the very essence of the soul's sparkling [ hispashtus ], its building, and its renewal at all times — more than through any and all other holy service in the world. For it is explained in the books of our holy master, of blessed memory, that even the vitality [ chiyus ] that one occasionally merits to taste in Torah study, or in prayer, or in other commandments — that too comes only through meriting to serve the holy daas of the true Tzadik, in some service and deed [ b'eizeh shirus v'uvdah ] — each one according to his true strength. The sealed letter that I sent you this past Friday, in reply to your question in the matter of the match — presumably you received it. And it is a wonder to me that you do not write whether you received it — for today I received your kartel [note] in the matter of the mention for healing of your grandmother, etc. [וכו׳] — yet of that letter you make no mention at all. And your kartel regarding your grandmother — I received today, before my going to the holy tziyon . And at the time of my prostration [ hishtatchos ] there, I mentioned her for healing, and I also aroused several other people to mention her for healing. And may Hashem, may He be blessed, hear our prayer and send her a complete recovery as she desires and as you desire. And regarding your question — whether you are obligated to inform your father of the matter of the match — a correct answer has sparked within me [ hisnoteztah li teshuvah nechonah ] from the learning that we studied tonight in Likutay Halachos , the laws of honoring one's father and mother, Law 3. For the essential obligation of the commandment of honoring is because the son receives his garment [ levush — bodily form and vessel ] from his father and mother — through which he serves Hashem, may He be blessed, and performs commandments and good deeds all his days. It is thus explained that the essential obligation to honor them is when they are an aid to him in his service of Hashem, may He be blessed — each according to his spiritual aspect [ bechinatoh ]. But when the son has some opposition and obstacle from his father and mother to his service of Hashem, may He be blessed — he is exempt from heeding them. As it is written: "A man — his mother and his father shall you revere, and My Sabbaths shall you keep" [ Vayikra / Leviticus 19:3 — the Sages derive: if there is a conflict between parental authority and G-d's command, G-d's command takes precedence ] — and this is sufficient for one who understands [ v'dai l'meivin ]... Look there carefully and you will find for yourself also a sufficient answer to your question. There is nothing more to add at present. May Hashem, may He be blessed, lead you in the path of truth and uprightness [ derech ha'emes v'hayashar ] — both regarding the point of your Judaism [ nekudas yehiduscha ] in general and in particular, and regarding the matter of a match — that you merit a fitting match, in the aspect of: "Matza isheh matza tov" — "He who finds a wife finds goodness" [ Mishlei / Proverbs 18:22 ]. Your friend who seeks your good in every detail, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, Torah portion of "V'rachatz b'saro b'mayim ( mimei ha'daas shel hatzadik ha'emes ) v'taher, v'achar yavo el hamachaneh..." — "And he shall bathe his flesh in water [ in the waters of the daas of the true Tzadik ] and be purified, and afterward he shall come into the camp..." [ Vayikra / Leviticus 16:26 — the parenthetical gloss is Rabbi Shimshon's own, revealing the verse's inner meaning ] — the year Ha'Asar [5670], here [in] Uman. [Note: the manuscript reads "ומין" — possibly a scribal error for "אומין" (Uman)] Addressed to: My dear friend as my own soul [ k'nafshi ], the honored young married man [ avreich ], Mr. Yitzchak Meir, may he live, Karman. Your sealed letter from last week — I received on Sunday of this week. And until today I did not have enough leisure to reply to you. And now I am here to inform you that I read your letter very carefully, very carefully [ היטב היטב — "very carefully, very carefully" — a deliberate double emphasis in the original ]. And it appears to me from your words that the Baal Davar [ the Adversary — the evil inclination and its forces of opposition ] is leaping and dancing greatly against the illumination and sparkling of the holy daas [knowledge / awareness] of our master, of blessed memory — in order to ruin and to undermine it, G-d forbid. But in truth, the very overcoming and provocation mentioned above is bearing fruit and growing ever greater — and illuminating and sparkling greatly in many souls of Israel. For if it were not so, the Baal Davar would not be so angered, and would not provoke so greatly — as is explained in Likutay Moharan (chapter 22, Part 1): when a voice of holiness is aroused, there is aroused against it a voice of noise [ havara ] from the Other Side [ sitra achra ]. And one must not fear the battle — on the contrary, one must strengthen oneself through all the above with a fresh strengthening, and strive with all capacity and all strength to support the true building [ havinyan ha'emes ]. For with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, there will be fulfilled: "And You, Hashem, are on high forever" [ Tehillim / Psalms 92:9 ] — and Rashi explained: "forever Your hand is uppermost." And it is written: "The right hand of Hashem is raised high, the right hand of Hashem acts mightily" [ Tehillim / Psalms 118:16 ] — and this is sufficient for one who understands [ v'dai l'meivin ]. And as to what you write me — that it has been settled among you that you will engage in the pure and clear air [ avir hanach v'hazach — a coded phrase for a delicate communal matter, likely the outreach work of drawing souls close ] together with R' Yitzchak Breiter and the young man Aharon Yehuda together with R' Heynich — to this my mind does not incline at all. Did you not know that the stormy wind [ ruach se'arah — the earlier communal strife referred to in previous letters ] caused great harm to R' Yitzchak Breiter, and also somewhat to the young man R' Heynich Guterman — and this is sufficient for one who understands. Therefore, my advice is that you connect yourself with R' Heynich for the matter of the engagement in the pure and clear air [ avir hanach v'hazach ]. And however much Hashem, may He be blessed, helps you to accomplish in this — you must believe that this is presumably the [workings of] Providence [ hashgachah ]. And the main thing that will give me peace of mind — whatever it may be — is when I know that the striving in this proceeds without quarrel [ machlokes ] and hatred, G-d forbid. And if there are found among you some additional people who wish to strive in this matter without quarrel and confusion — how good. And if not — do not let yourself be confused by this, and believe that relief and salvation will stand for me with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, from another place, etc. [וכו׳] ... And believe that if he [i.e., the person in question] genuinely longs for the truth in truth — Hashem, may He be blessed, will carry through and will help in the very best manner possible [ oyf tzad hayoser tov ]. And on account of the busyness of the needs of the holy festival that is coming upon us for good [ i.e., Passover ], I do not have sufficient leisure to elaborate greatly in writing. And if you read carefully, with attention and contemplation, the words of this my letter as written on the first page — you will strengthen yourself, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, with a great strengthening — also in all the matters that concern you personally, in particularity. Your friend and your loving one who desires your success in body, soul, and livelihood — and who blesses you to receive the festival of Passover that is coming upon us with kashrut and joy in all its details — together [ b'tzivasah chadah ] with all our people, the fellowship — and [with] peace, brotherhood, and true friendship [ sholom v'achvah v'reius b'emes ], Shimshon Barski. ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Monday, Torah portion of "Uvayom hashemini yimol b'sar orlaso" — "And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised" [ Vayikra / Leviticus 12:3 — portion of Shemini / Tazria ] — the year Asar [5670], here in Uman. Addressed to: My dear soul-friend, the pleasant young man [ habachur hanechmad ], Mr. Yitzchak Meir, may he live. Praise to G-d, while we are yet among the living and in peace [ b'od hachayim v'hasholom ]. [The letter opens with ellipsis, indicating an omission from the manuscript:] ...I long to know whether you have established for yourself some fixed session [ kviyus ] in the books of our master, of blessed memory — in partnership with some good friend — for upon this depends the very essence of the healing and renewal of our souls. And certainly also in the other studies of Torah — namely Gemara, Mishnah, and in particular Shulchan Aruch — one must establish fixed sessions, for "the two are better than the one" [ Koheles / Ecclesiastes 4:9 ]. And the main thing is to draw out from each and every study clear, practical laws [ halachos pesukos ] for [practical] deeds — how to conduct oneself in every single character trait — for this is the ultimate purpose of all learning. I am not able to elaborate further at present. Your loving one who seeks your good — and desires your success in body, soul, and livelihood — and who blesses you with a kosher and joyous Passover in all its rectifications [ tikunim ], Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Tuesday, Torah portion of Korach — the year Asar [5670], here in Uman. Addressed to: My dear soul-friend, the dear young man [ habachur hachaviv ], Mr. Yitzchak Meir, may he live. I am here to inform you that, praise to G-d, we are among the living and in peace. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help me and save me to align in every detail with His will and with His blessed truth. [The letter opens with ellipsis:] ...I ask you to inform me — in general and in particular — of the wellbeing and the standing of our people [ anshei shlomeinu ]: whether they are searching and seeking a renewal for their souls, and an illumination and sparkling for their daas — from the holy spirit [ ruach kodesh ] of our master, of blessed memory — both through his holy books, and through the connection of one with another [ hiskabroos echad im chavero ], to speak and to tell words of truth and faith, flowing from the holy daas of our Rebbe, of blessed memory. And in particular, inform me of the wellbeing of the converts [ geirim ]: Mr. Dovid Satanovaish, and R' Geilerman, and R' Leizer Langer, etc., etc. [וכו׳ וכו׳] Extend a greeting of peace on my behalf to each and every one of the converts mentioned above. I long very much to write to them separately some word of truth flowing from the daas of our master, of blessed memory — but the writing is still difficult for me, on account of the deficiency of health in my finger [ Rabbi Shimshon suffered from an ailment in his right hand that is mentioned in several letters of this period ]. Although, praise to G-d, it is healing little by little — yet I still need mercy. Your loving one who desires your good in spirituality and materiality, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Tuesday, Torah portion of "V'tzivisi es birchasi" — "And I will command My blessing" [ Vayikra / Leviticus 25:21 — portion of Behar ] — the year Asar [5670], here in Uman. Addressed to: My dear soul-friend, the honored young man [ habachur hanichvad ], Yitzchak Meir, may he live. Your sealed letter I received this past week, but on account of various obstacles I have not replied to you until now. The kvitel [ written supplication note ] placed within your letter — I read it upon the holy tziyon and placed it there. Regarding my livelihood — everything is as before. Certainly the trial [ nisayon ] is great every single day. And aside from waiting and hoping for miracles, I have no path to livelihood whatsoever. But presumably Hashem, may He be blessed, will help me and everything will turn for the good... And regarding the matter of what you write — that you wish to come to Uman: believe me that on one hand I am glad, for I long to see you. And I also yearn for my dear soul-friend Yisrael Aharon, may he live. But because the material abundance in the kloyz [ the Breslov prayer hall in Uman — the main gathering place of the community ] is in poverty and great hardship — for R' Ayzik is no longer providing bread as before, but only what R' Simcha manages to procure for himself with some little bit of very little [ a desperately small provision ] — and all in great poverty and pressure — therefore I do not know how to advise you in this. May Hashem, may He be blessed, give you good counsel in this according to His good will. And regarding the matter of the match [ nechbados shel'cha — lit. "your honored matter" — the honorable matter, a customary circumlocution for matchmaking negotiations ]: certainly my mind inclines [to say] — that you should strive with every manner of striving, and not be particular about the size of the dowry [ nadan ] — and if the bride and the family please you, you should make a match [ mekhutn vern ]. For according to the opinion of our Sages, of blessed memory, it is a great prohibition to remain half a body [ flag guf — i.e., unmarried, incomplete — from the Talmud, Yevamos 62b ] for more than twenty years. And also according to the opinion of our master, of blessed memory, it is a great blemish [ pegam ] — as is known to all our people. Therefore may Hashem, may He be blessed, be in your aid — that you find the fitting mate [ bas zug hahagunah lecha ] from Heaven — in the aspect of: "Matza isheh matza tov" — "He who finds a wife finds goodness" [ Mishlei / Proverbs 18:22 ] — at the earliest possible moment. For it is among the very foundations of Judaism [ mei'yisodei hayahadus ]. There is nothing more to add at present. Your friend and your loving one in spirituality and materiality,

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Tuesday, Torah portion of "V'hashikosi telunas bnei Yisrael mei'alai" — "And I will remove the complaints of the children of Israel from upon Me" [ Bamidbar / Numbers 17:20 — portion of Chukas ] — the year Asar [5670], here in Uman. Addressed to: To the honor of all our people of the holy community of Lublin — the faithful members who drink living waters from a faithful spring whose waters never deceive forever [ אשר לא יכזבו מימיו לעולם — an allusion to Yirmiyahu / Jeremiah 15:18 — "waters that fail" — used here in the positive, inverted sense ] — and in particular to my dear soul-friend R' Yechezkel Mandilayl and R' Heynich Guterman, etc. [וכו׳] I am greatly astonished that for a long time I have received from you no letter whatsoever and no news — regarding the course of the life of your souls, which is the whole of man [ זה כל האדם — Koheles / Ecclesiastes 12:13: "for this is the whole of man" ]. I have longed many times to write to you and to ask you about this — but presumably you knew from the letters of the young man Yitzchak Meir, may he live, that the ailment of my finger of my right hand prevented me from this. And praise to G-d for His kindness which He has dealt with me in the matter of healing my finger — little by little. But it is still not fully healed. Please inform me regarding the renewal of your souls, and the illumination and sparkling of your daas — through your striving and engagement in the holy daas of our master, of blessed memory — which is the general and particular rectification [ tikun haklali v'haprati ] of all the souls of Israel. I ask you to inform me how your togetherness [ hiskabroos ] and your gatherings [ his'va'adus ] proceed among you each day — for the study of the books of our master, of blessed memory, and for public prayer [ tefillah b'tzibur ] — and of your other good practices that are fitting to firmly plant [לקבוע] and to plant/embed [ולנטוע] in the heart the inner truth of the daas of our master, of blessed memory — which is the very purpose of our existence and vitality in this world. Also I ask all the fellowship members to turn their hearts to the hardship of my livelihood that surrounds me at present — for throughout the entire duration of this summer, not a single coin of support [ ma'amad — a system of regular financial support given to Torah scholars and community leaders ] has come from anywhere in the land of Russia. And the main cause of this is the well-known flood [ mabul ] that passed [ a reference to a specific disaster or upheaval — possibly a flooding of the region or a political disruption — that disrupted the usual channels of support ]... May Hashem, may He be blessed, have mercy, and may everything turn for the good... And I have no confidence whatsoever except to wait and to look forward to the Providence [ hashgachah ] of Hashem, may He be blessed, in the path of miracles and wonders — as is my constant way. And at present, the debts and loans from my household's livelihood over the course of this summer have climbed and risen upon my neck [ hishtar'gu alu al tzavarai — a vivid idiom meaning: debts have piled up and choke me like a yoke upon the neck ]. And in particular because I am now compelled to pay in advance for the new lodgings that Hashem, may He be blessed, has arranged for me — money for half a year. Therefore it seems to my humble opinion that upon you, the fellowship members, rests the obligation to gather and assemble together — and to arouse and strengthen one another — to set aside a fitting contribution [ terumah hagunah ] — each one according to his capacity and strength. And to believe in the promise of our holy Torah: "For on account of this matter He will bless you" [ Devarim / Deuteronomy 15:10 ] etc. [וכו׳] And in particular: such a tzedakah as this — through which the daas of our master, of blessed memory, grows and flourishes in general and in particular — is certainly a matter of exalted elevation the like of which has no parallel. I am not able to elaborate further at present. Your loving one who seeks your peace and your success in spirituality and materiality — and who longs for the love of the fellowship in truth, Shimshon Barski.

7. ר' געציל in Letter 7 — previously identified as "presumably R' Gedalya" — corrected: Getzel is a Yiddish name in its own right, a diminutive of Gad or Getzl, distinct from Gedalya.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Tuesday, Torah portion of "V'huva el hakohen..." — "And it shall be brought to the priest..." [ Vayikra / Leviticus 13:2 — portion of Tazria ] — the year Etar [5670], Uman. Addressed to: The honored young married man [ avreich ], my dear soul-friend, Yitzchak Meir, may he live, Karman. Your sealed letter I received yesterday. And I here understand and feel from afar — thank G-d [ב"ה] — how the Baal Davar [ the Adversary — the forces of opposition ] leaps and dances among our people of Lublin — to distance them from the very source of their vitality... and to conceal from them their true light which they received from the beginning of their drawing-close. And here too I speak at times with the fellowship members about this confusion and this destruction — and each time it becomes clear that through human strength and intellect it is utterly impossible in any manner to repair this confusion and this destruction. For it is an exceedingly subtle and spiritual matter — and it is a trial for all the newly drawn-close ones: whether to understand well [ vayovayн ], etc., [וכו׳] and to draw close in truth to the light of our master, of blessed memory — or to draw away, G-d forbid, through this. And I have much in my heart to speak in this matter — according to the illumination of my heart from the daas of our master, of blessed memory — but it is impossible to explain it all in writing, for many reasons. And upon us rests the obligation to trust in what is written in our holy Torah: "Hashem will fight for you, and you shall be silent" [ Shemos / Exodus 14:14 ]. And certainly Hashem, may He be blessed, will complete in His great kindness all the rectifications [ tikunim ] that need to be completed through the illumination of our master's daas in the world — in the very best and most correct manner — and all through the merit and the power of our Rebbe, of blessed memory, whose quality is victory, victory, and [he] will be victorious [ netzach, netzach, v'yinatzeiach ] [ an expression of absolute and eternal triumph — a play on the word נצח which means both "eternity" and "victory" ]. Even what needs to be clarified and rectified and overcome among Anash themselves — for the clarification [ birurim ] and the rectification that need to be repaired among our own people is far, far more difficult than the rectification and clarification of the world at large. For upon this depends the completion of the rectification [ gemar hatikun ]. But the power of our master, of blessed memory, is sufficient for all. However, we need great mercy, and much prayer and hisbodidus [ personal secluded prayer and self-expression before G-d — one of the central practices of Breslov Chassidus ] — that we merit to see with our own eyes the completion of the rectification, etc. [וכו׳] May Hashem, may He be blessed, grant us merit to be renewed and to be strengthened in the building of the vitality of our soul — through the holy light of our master, of blessed memory. Your friend and your loving one who blesses you with all good — and in particular that you merit, through the gift that your father-in-law [ mechutan ] has sent you, to guard every hour and every moment to strive in the rectification of your soul — which is the very main intention of the Counting of the Omer [ sefiras ha'omer ], as is explained in Likutay Halachos , Law 4, paragraph 5 — look there, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Thursday, the [Torah portion of] Tzav [5671], Uman. Addressed to: My dear soul-friend, my beloved, the honored young man — bound by the root of his soul to the Tree of Life [ המקושר בשורש נפשו בעץ החיים — a sublime description: the Tree of Life alludes to the Tzadik and to the Torah's inner light; the recipient's soul is described as rooted there ] — Yitzchak Meir, may he live, Karman. [The letter opens with ellipsis, indicating an omission:] ...I am greatly astonished that you are not writing at all about anything — not about the fellowship, what is heard among them for good or the opposite, and not about yourself anything at all — whether you have awakened somewhat from your sleep that has overpowered you, as is understood from your earlier letter. And although I somewhat understand and feel from afar the smallness of your mind [ katanut mochacha ] and the weakness of your daas and the faintness of your spirit — which surround you from every side, for many reasons — and the main [cause] is on account of the stormy wind and the evil eye [ ayin ra'ah ] that the Baal Davar has introduced... among the fellowship members of Lublin against the point of the truth [ al nekudas ha'emes ]... — and they themselves do not feel that they are opposing the drawing-forth of their own vitality... And because of this you are unable to connect with people whose mind and heart incline in many directions, and they waver between two opinions [ posechim al shtei ha'se'ifim — an allusion to Eliyahu's challenge to the people on Mount Carmel — Melachim I / I Kings 18:21 ]... But because of this — to despair entirely of seeking and searching for renewal of the point within the heart, and to wallow in smallness of mind and in anger and in sadness [ובעצבות], etc. [וכו׳] — this is certainly the opposite of the truth, and this is not what our holy master, of blessed memory, teaches us in his holy books. And regarding your connection with the fellowship members of Anash in Lublin — you are compelled to conduct yourself with great wisdom. For certainly on account of the wind of jealousy and the confusion of the air that the Baal Davar has introduced — in a hidden manner, in their hearts — against my point [ al nekudasi ] — because of this their eye is evil [ einam ra'ah ] also toward you, for the inclination of your heart toward me. And you are compelled to make yourself as though you do not understand and do not feel at all what is in their hearts — and not to become angry and irritated at them. For through anger and irritation, do not act at all — and the truth will not be clarified through this. For the Baal Davar is such an angry and irritated one that it is impossible to subdue and to humble him through anger and irritation — as is explained in the words of our master, of blessed memory, in several places. And far more than what I have written to you in my letter — I have in my heart to speak with you about this matter: words of truth flowing from the holy light of our master, of blessed memory. But it is impossible to explain everything in writing. And perhaps Hashem, may He be blessed, will arrange in His good Providence that you will be able to come — if G-d wills — after the holy festival [Passover] to here, to Uman, and we will speak of this face to face, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed. And for the present — it seems to my humble opinion that regarding your connection with the fellowship members of Lublin: you are compelled to make yourself as one who does not know and does not understand and does not feel what is in their hearts — so that you will be able to quiet and to somewhat nullify the anger and the displeasure that is in your heart against them. Even though your intention is toward the truth, and they conduct themselves with great wrongdoing against me — and they repay evil in place of good — for Hashem, may He be blessed, knows the point of my heart, that my entire intention is for the good in every detail and not the opposite, G-d forbid. Even so — the anger and the displeasure that is in your heart against them for this harms your mind and your heart greatly. And their hatred and jealousy cannot be nullified through this at all. Therefore my advice is that you conduct yourself as stated above. And very, very much do I warn you — for your true good — to look into and study with great attention the laws mentioned above: both regarding your conduct — to be saved from the evil eye, in the Laws of Purim — and regarding your strengthening and your renewal, in the Laws of Tefillin — which you very much need. And certainly you will find there rest for your weak soul, and a true renewal for your spirit and for the point of your heart. And certainly if you will be able to gather together at least with the friend Yisrael Aharon Goldman, and to study together with him in joint session [ b'tzivasah chadah ] those two laws mentioned above — it will certainly be good for you. I am not able to elaborate further in writing at present. Your friend and your loving one who counsels you for your true good — and who desires your success in spirituality and in materiality — and who blesses you to receive the holy festival [Passover] with kashrut and joy — and with a true drawing-close to the holy light of our master, of blessed memory, whose holy Name in gematria [ Hebrew numerology ] equals Pesach [ 148 — a kabbalistic allusion to the Divine Name whose value equals that of the word Pesach ] — and whose holy light takes out each and every one of those who draw close to him in truth from the exile of his evil inclination — which is the very essence of the Exodus from Egypt [ yetzias Mitzrayim ] that [occurs] within each person and in each generation. May Hashem, may He be blessed, grant us merit to draw close to his holy light in truth, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. The eve of the holy Sabbath [ erev Shabbos kodesh ], Torah portion of "V'hayah machanecha kadosh" — "And your camp shall be holy" [ Devarim / Deuteronomy 23:15 — portion of Ki Seitzei ] — 5671, Uman. Addressed to: My dear friend as my own soul [ k'nafshi ], the honored young married man [ avreich ], Yitzchak Meir, may he live, Karman. Your kartel [postal note] in Warsaw — I received properly. And on Monday of this week I traveled from Warsaw directly to Uman. Although I had some longing to travel to Shedlitz [ Siedlce — a city in Poland with a Breslov community ] for a day or two — but since my travel pass [ pas ] was lost in Warsaw, and the will to make any stop along the way was severed from me [ v'nifsak mimeni haratzon ] — except to travel directly to Uman — so I did. My dear and beloved friend — presumably Hashem, may He be blessed, will grant you merit in these days [ i.e., the letter was written around the time of Yitzchak Meir's approaching wedding ] to the marriage [ nisuin ] — which is the first commandment in our holy Torah [ the commandment of "be fruitful and multiply" — Bereishis / Genesis 1:28 — traditionally regarded as the first positive commandment ]. May Hashem, may He be blessed, be in your aid — that there be fulfilled in you: "Matza isheh matza tov" — "He who finds a wife finds goodness" [ Mishlei / Proverbs 18:22 ]. And the main thing: that you merit to the true and eternal marriage of holiness [ nisuin d'kedushah ] — that is, to a true drawing-close to the Tzadik of truth — and to receive from him true counsel of how to be saved from the counsel of the serpent [ atzas hanachash ] — which is the evil counsels of this world of falsehood — as is explained in the Torah [teaching] "V'eileh hamishpatim" , chapter 7, Part 1 [ a Torah teaching of Rebbe Nachman in Likutay Moharan ]. I ask you to inform me of the news happening among our people — whether they are awakening and gathering to engage in the true commerce [ masa umatan ha'emes ] — that is, in the books of our master, of blessed memory, which are our life and the length of our days [ an echo of the blessing recited over the Torah: "for it is our life and the length of our days" ]. And whether they are engaging and striving in the maintenance of our Yeshiva [ hachazakas yeshivaseinu ] as was spoken between us before my departure [ Rabbi Shimshon and the community apparently had spoken about supporting some form of Breslov study group or institution in Lublin ]. Inform me of everything in full detail. And on account of the urgency of the time of the eve of the holy Sabbath, it is necessary to be brief. Your friend and your loving one who blesses you with all good and good life [ v'chayim tovim ], Shimshon.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Tuesday, Torah portion of "V'chanosi es asher achon, v'richamti es asher arachem" — "And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy" [ Shemos / Exodus 33:19 — portion of Ki Sisa ] — the year 5672, here in Uman. Addressed to: My dear, beloved, and precious friend [ ידידי אהובי ויקירי ], Yitzchak Meir, may he live. Your sealed letter with the marks [ markis — German marks — the currency ] — I received properly on the day of the Fast of Esther [ Ta'anis Esther ]. And while I was at the holy tziyon [ the gravesite of Rebbe Nachman ], I mentioned you for good. And also your note [ pitka ] — I read upon the holy tziyon and placed it there. May the good G-d hearken to our prayer and to your prayer, and fulfill all the desires of your heart for good. And from afar I feel the greatness of the confusion of your mind [ bilbul da'atecha ], and the heaviness and the weakness that the imagination [ hamedameh — the imaginative faculty — in Breslov thought a primary source of confusion and falsehood that must be transcended ] draws upon you in general — and in particular now, on account of the doubts of your counsel in the matter of your livelihood. Certainly many fallen fears [ yiros nefalos ] and still greater confusions than before surround you. And although I judge you to the side of merit — and in truth there is great exculpation [ limud zechus ] for you — for one who falls into doubts of counsel is certainly very bitter — the very essence of the bitterness comes from the concealment of the strengthening-teachings [ divrei hischazakus ] of our holy master, of blessed memory, from you. For in the words of our master there is sufficient [power] to sweeten and to nullify from a person all manner of bitterness, at whatever level it may be — and to revive him and to strengthen him with every kind of strengthening — so that he will fear and be afraid of nothing whatsoever in the world. Remember and do not forget — for our master, of blessed memory, has already said that one must cross this world upon a narrow bridge [ al gesher tzar ], and the main thing is not to fear at all [ the famous teaching of Rebbe Nachman: "The whole world is a very narrow bridge — and the main thing is not to make oneself afraid at all" — a foundational principle of Breslov Chassidus ]. And therefore you must strengthen yourself afresh according to his holy words that you have heard and have known FOR A LONG TIME ALREADY [מכר — of old/long since] — and even now his holy books are in your hand: turn them over and over [ hafoch bom v'hafoch bom — an echo of the Talmudic saying about Torah study: "turn it and turn it, for everything is in it" — Avos 5:22 ] — and you will certainly find great strengthening so as not to fear anything. And also regarding the matter of livelihood — you need not fear. For certainly you too, together with your wife, are counted among all created beings whom Hashem, may He be blessed, feeds and sustains — with grace, with kindness, and with mercy. And Hashem, may He be blessed, has abundant bounty also for you. But the fact that Hashem, may He be blessed, conceals from you the counsel you need in the matter of your livelihood — is certainly in order that you raise your eyes on high in truth and place your trust in Hashem, may He be blessed, and pray to Him with all your heart — as is explained in the commentary of Rashi on the verse: "And it was: when Moshe raised his hands, Israel prevailed" [ Shemos / Exodus 17:11 — Rashi explains: could Moshe's hands make war or break war? Rather, when Israel looked upward and subjected their hearts to their Father in Heaven — they prevailed ] — look there. And know, my friend — the very essence of the trial and the testing [ nisayon v'havachanah ] of every person — in which one is tried and tested from Above, [to see] whether he is whole [ shalem ] in his faith in Hashem, may He be blessed — is in the matter of his livelihood: whether he will strengthen himself in faith in individual Divine Providence [ emunah b'hashgachah pratis ], and not forget Hashem, may He be blessed, [in considering] how things will unfold for him — and will not make, regarding the matter of his livelihood, such efforts as are against G-d and His Torah — and does not distance himself from truth and faith, however things unfold for him in the matter of livelihood — then fortunate is he! For this is the very essence of the trial and the testing mentioned above. And certainly, for such strength and such strengthening it is impossible to merit — except through a true drawing-close to the true Tzadik, and through much engagement in his holy books — for the purpose of guarding and doing and fulfilling [ lishmor v'la'asos v'lekayem ]. And the main thing: through the general counsel that our holy master, of blessed memory, has revealed — prayer [ tefillah ] and hisbodidus . And when you merit to strengthen yourself in all the above — certainly Hashem, may He be blessed, will help you in the very best and most correct manner. And be very careful not to fear at all — and not to be in worry and sadness, G-d forbid. On the contrary — strengthen yourself in joy every day. For the quality of joy [ midas hasimchah ] is propitious for all good — as is explained in the books of our master, of blessed memory, in many places. And regarding your doubts — whether to dwell in Biskovitz or in Lublin: certainly it seems to my humble opinion that it is better for you to dwell in Lublin — for many reasons. But it is impossible [to be certain, since] the hints of [Divine] Providence are hinting to you regarding a different matter. Pray to G-d that He guide you in the straight and true path — that you merit to be saved from all manner of errors and mistakes — and then you will certainly be saved with many salvations. There is no more ability at present to elaborate — and this is sufficient for now. If you look carefully at the words of this my brief letter and draw them into your heart in truth — you will find in them great and true strengthening. For they flow, with the help of G-d, from a spring of living waters — which is the light of our master, of blessed memory. Your friend and your true loving one who seeks your peace — and desires your good and your success in body, soul, and livelihood — and who blesses you to receive the festival of Passover that is coming upon us for good, with kashrut and with joy, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, Torah portion of "V'shamar lecha es habris" etc. [וכו׳] — "And He will keep for you the covenant" etc. [ Devarim / Deuteronomy 7:12 — portion of Eikev ] — 5672, Uman. Addressed to: My dear and precious friend [ ידידי ויקירי ], Yitzchak Meir, Karman. The transfer [ pereevod ] of 8=75 [ 8 rubles and 75 kopeks ] — I received today. And it is impossible to explain how you aligned with the point belonging to this very time [ hikavta el hanekudah hashayeches la'es hazos ] — for although hardship and deficiency surround me constantly, as you know — nonetheless, not all times are equal [ lo kol ha'itim shavin ]. And in these days the deficiency surrounded me to a greater degree — until I was compelled to seek for myself a great strengthening from the daas of our master, of blessed memory — to believe that even now Hashem, may He be blessed, will not abandon me — as is His way, may He be blessed, to save me at every time and every moment. Therefore, at the moment this money came to my hand, my spirit was strengthened somewhat — with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed — with a fresh strengthening — to feel and to see in practice that "the kindnesses of Hashem have not ceased, His mercies have not been exhausted" [ Eichah / Lamentations 3:22 ]. And you too certainly must rejoice and give thanks to Hashem — who has granted you merit to be a messenger [ shaliach ] in this matter. And regarding the matter of my traveling — I will tell you the truth: I have longed many times to travel to your camp and also to other places. But the obstacles are many, from several matters. And also I have received no hint from our people of Lublin — whether they too long to see me — in the aspect of: "Meshacheini acharecha narutzah" — "Draw me — after you we will run" [ Shir Hashirim / Song of Songs 1:4 — expressing the soul's longing to be drawn by the beloved ]. And therefore I have delayed until now. And now, close to the holy days of Elul and Rosh Hashana coming upon us for good — I am therefore uncertain whether to travel or not. And in particular because even now I do not feel any drawing power from the Anash of Lublin — whether they long for my coming — although according to my understanding it is very necessary for them to connect with the point of my heart, for the good of MY OWN SOUL [לטובת נפשי — first person singular: Rabbi Shimshon's own soul, not theirs]. But the Baal Davar has confused and mixed up this matter, as you know... And even so — if you truly see and understand that some awakening and renewal will spring forth for our people through my coming to Lublin — inform me. Perhaps Hashem, may He be blessed, will strengthen my mind and my heart to travel to your camp. Also, several weeks ago I received a letter from our friend Yisrael Dovid Greenhauz of Zuzhmir [ Sandomierz — a city in Poland ] — requesting that I come there, to revive them with pure sayings [ amaros teharos ] from the books of our master, of blessed memory. And in this I am certainly now uncertain — both on account of the difficulty of travel along the road, and on account of the pressure of time as mentioned above. Therefore I have handed over the entire matter to His will and His Providence, may He be blessed — as it is written: "According to the word of Hashem they encamped and according to the word of Hashem they traveled" [ Bamidbar / Numbers 9:23 ]. And may Hashem, may He be blessed, help me in His mercy to align with the truth in every detail. Your friend and your loving one who seeks your peace in body, soul, and livelihood, Shimshon Barski. ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, Chukas [5673], Uman. Addressed to: The honored young married man [ avreich ], Avraham Dovid, may he live. Your letter I received. And regarding your request to write you words of strengthening [ hischazakus ] and renewal — I am here to reply to you: [ Yiddish — the entire body of this letter: ] That the main strengthening and renewal you can find — is when you will earnestly begin to study the books of our master, of blessed memory, with contemplation and with great attention — and in such a manner as one studies the Shulchan Aruch [the Code of Jewish Law] — meaning: from each and every paragraph you should draw out for yourself one clear, practical law of how to conduct yourself — with good constancy [ hasmadah tovah ] — or the good conduct presented in that paragraph. And if you yourself cannot clarify the true plain meaning — you should ask [it] of our people who engage in the books of our master, of blessed memory, truly for the salvation of their souls. And then you will receive, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, great good — to strengthen yourself in all things against all the hardships [ harpatkaos ] that pass over you in materiality and spirituality. And you should know that what I write you is not, G-d forbid, in the manner of faith without knowledge [ emunah b'lo daas ] — as is the way of Chassidim who speak of faith only in the manner of a commandment learned by rote [ mitzvos anashim melumadah ] — rather, what I write you comes from the side of the clarification [ hisbarerus ] that has been clarified for me through the trials and hardships and battles that have passed over me from the day of my drawing-close to the light of our master, of blessed memory, until now. And all my existence — that Hashem, may He be blessed, sustains and keeps alive [literally: keeps standing] — and strengthens me, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, to remain standing on my ground — therefore I know, thank G-d, well: that the sparkling of the truth of the words of our master, of blessed memory — that is, of his holy books — is a great rectification and a true remedy for all who draw close in truth to our Rebbe, of blessed memory. Provided that they study them well and with wholeness and with simplicity — to do and to fulfill. And certainly one must be careful to maintain fixed times [ kviyus ] of prayer and hisbodidus [personal, secluded prayer in one's own words] as much as possible — every day — both from the Likutay Tefilos [ the book of prayers compiled by Reb Nosson of Breslov based on the teachings of Rebbe Nachman ], and from Psalms [ Tehillim ], and from hisbodidus — at least every day for several minutes [ minutten ] in the language that one speaks — as we know from the warning of our Rebbe, of blessed memory, about this. And when you strengthen yourself in the study of the books of our master, of blessed memory, as mentioned above — and in prayer every day with simplicity, according to your rung [ madraygah ] — certainly Hashem, may He be blessed, will help you, and your faith will be strengthened. And you will not frighten yourself [ zikh nit shrekin ] from any person more than necessary. On the contrary — when you look with simple faith at the matters of [Divine] Providence — you will find in your circumstances several expansions [ harchavos ] and several salvations as well. And so must one always conduct oneself — and look at the kindnesses [ chasadim ] that Hashem, may He be blessed, does with a person every day — and not be confused by the deficiencies. [ Yiddish continues: ] May Hashem, may He be blessed, grant us merit and help us to fulfill in truth with all our heart the true counsels mentioned above — for they are proven and tested to turn back to the good and to revive — in spirituality and in materiality — all those who strengthen themselves to fulfill them and to conduct themselves by them in truth. Your friend and your loving one who seeks your peace and your good in body, soul, and livelihood, Shimshon Barski.

Addressed to: My dear soul-friend [ lidi nafshi ], the honored Yitzchak Meir, may he live. The letter from our people — written in your hand — and also your letter — I received properly. And I am here sending them a reply in a separate letter. And you should deliver to them their letter. And you I ask: [ Yiddish — main body: ] That you should think carefully [ gut betrachten ] whether — with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed — there will be material abundance for my household's livelihood. For it is explained in Chayay Moharan that our Rebbe, of blessed memory, said that he would have wanted his people to have a steady livelihood without confusion — so that in the place of the service of trust [ avodas habetachon ], they would be able to engage in other services necessarily required for the rectification of their souls. It follows that when one is engaged in other services, one cannot engage in the service of trust. And all my livelihood is certainly [sustained by] a very weak trust [ refa bitachon ] in the path of miracles and wonders. And when I am engaged in the service of traveling, it is certainly impossible to strengthen oneself in trust as when I am sitting in my home — and in particular in Uman, which is especially propitious for all good qualities and also for the quality of trust. Therefore it rests upon those who support [the Rebbe's work] to strive even more in strengthening my livelihood during my travel-wandering on the road — so that I will be able to turn my mind to the good deeds belonging to the time of my engagement in the journey. Also I inform you that the friends R' Abba, and R' Mordechai, and R' Akiva are not at all satisfied with my departure — and in particular the friend Mordechai Polsky literally cannot live in peace for even one day if he cannot gather together with me to study the books of our master, of blessed memory. But they were afraid to prevent me. Therefore they told me to write to you: that you should think carefully whether my traveling is truly necessary for our people of Lublin — and they will then also agree, also agree [ גם כן גם כן — deliberate repetition in original ]. And if it is not very necessary — they would have wanted that I not travel — because they have great compassion [upon themselves], for without the study of the books of our Rebbe, of blessed memory, they have no vitality whatsoever. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help us to take into ourselves the holy daas of our master, of blessed memory, in such a manner that our true vitality will never be interrupted and never be ruined — according to His blessed will and the will of our Rebbe, of blessed memory — who gives life through his merit and through the illumination of his holy daas to all the world — openly and in concealment [ b'isgalya uv'iskasya ]. Your true loving one in materiality and spirituality, Shimshon Barski. I ask [you] to reply to me immediately.

Addressed to: My dear friend as my own soul [ k'nafshi ], Yitzchak Meir, may he live, Karman. Your sealed letter with the marks [ markis — German marks, the currency] I received — and I distributed from the marks-money also to several of our people. And we went to the holy tziyon [ the gravesite of Rebbe Nachman ] and sought mercy for your relative, etc. [וכו׳] — that he be saved from what is known [ from a danger or difficulty Rabbi Shimshon deliberately does not spell out ]... And may Hashem, may He be blessed, have mercy upon him and take him out to freedom [ l'cheirus ] — as he desires — in materiality and in spirituality. I am very astonished at you that you are so remiss in engaging in the purification of the air [ hizduches ha'avir — the coded phrase for the outreach work of drawing souls close to the Rebbe's teaching ] — for this endeavor is the very main preparation for hearing well the words of truth and faith from the true Tzadik — which bring a person to the fear and love of holiness — which is the very main ultimate purpose of man. As is explained in the Torah teaching "Vayehi heim merikim es sakeihem" — "And it was, as they were emptying their sacks" [ Bereishis / Genesis 42:35 — the Torah teaching of Rebbe Nachman based on this verse ]. And in particular — you have truly tasted the light of our master, of blessed memory. And although much of it has been forgotten from you — on account of the battle of the evil inclination and the battle of other people — even so: the good impression [ rishimah tovah ] that has remained within you is certainly more precious than all the successes of the falsehood of this world — for in the end certainly nothing will remain except that little bit of true and eternal good that one has merited through the drawing-close to the true Tzadik. Therefore you must strengthen yourself and not look at any obstacles — and strive once by day and once by night [ pa'am beyom ufa'am b'laylah ] with all your strength — to help and to support and to uphold the holy light of our master, of blessed memory... And this is sufficient for one who understands, for this is the whole of man [ ki zeh kol ha'adam — Koheles / Ecclesiastes 12:13 ]. Your friend and your loving one who seeks your peace and your success in materiality and spirituality, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Thursday, [Torah portion of] Devarim . Addressed to: My dear friend as my own soul [ k'nafshi ], Yitzchak Meir, may he live. Your kartel [postal note] I received. And regarding your afflictions [ yisurin ] and the trials in the matter of your livelihood, etc. [וכו׳] — certainly I feel your bitterness. [ Yiddish — main body: ] But what shall I say to you about this? Our master, of blessed memory, has long since made known in all his books — and in particular in Likutay Halachos — that in the end of days [ b'acharis hayamim ], the drawing-close to holiness and to truth does not come cheaply [ geyt tzu dos hiskarvus nit in nikel ]... Therefore it should not be hard for you at all. Presumably, according to the root of your soul, you must be tested with such a sharp trial [ sharfn nisayon ] — and when you will strengthen yourself to stand on your ground and not let yourself be pushed away from the good impression [ rishimah tovah ] that you have received from your drawing-close to our master, of blessed memory — it will certainly be fortunate [ ashrecha ] — and the trial will also be sweetened, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed. For we know that even the trials of the holy Patriarchs and of the other true Tzadikim were sweetened every time — and how much more and more so [ v'kol shekhein v'kol shekhein — deliberate double emphasis in original ] for small and weak people such as us — will Hashem, may He be blessed, certainly sweeten in His mercy all manner of troubles and afflictions [ tzaros v'yisurin ] — truly in the merit of the Tzadik mentioned above who suffered afflictions for our sake — and this is sufficient for one who understands. But one must strengthen oneself with patience and with hope [ mit hamtanah un mit tikvah ] — and may Hashem, may He be blessed, hasten our salvation in materality and spirituality... Your friend who seeks your peace in body, soul, and livelihood, Shimshon Barski. ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, the first day of the quality of Netzach [victory/eternity] in the Counting of the Omer [ יום ראשון למדת נצח — the 29th day of the Omer, corresponding to the week of Netzach ; Rabbi Shimshon uses the Kabbalistic designation of the Omer days ] — 5669, Uman. Addressed to: My dear friend, Yitzchak Meir, may he live, Karman. Your letter via the young man Moshe Shmuel — I received properly. And you should not be astonished by my delay in replying to you — for the obstacles and the deficiencies and the trials in spirituality and materiality that grew stronger against us in the days following the festival [Passover] — disturbed my mind greatly, until I was unable to concentrate my thought on any service. And I was compelled to nullify myself to one single encompassing service — namely: strengthening of faith and trust [ chizuk emunah uvitachon ] — in order to strengthen my mind and thought so that they not go outside their boundary, G-d forbid. And praise to G-d — from the teaching of our Rebbe, of blessed memory, it is known to us that all this comes from the trials and troubles that passed over the entire Jewish people in the desert in the days of the Counting [of the Omer] — as is known from our holy Torah: that the battle of Amalek, and the trial of the descent of the manna, and the striking of the rock, etc. [וכו׳] — all of these were in the days of the Counting [of the Omer], before the receiving of the Torah. And so it passes in every generation and for every person — upon all those who wish to draw close to the point of the truth in its truth, and to receive the Torah and fulfill it in truth. And perhaps the afflictions and the trials that pass over you — as I understand from your letter, my friend — also derive from what is mentioned above. And certainly at the time of the descent and the trial, the person is in great danger — as is explained at length in the books of our Rebbe, the light of our life, of blessed memory. But Hashem, may He be blessed, has already preceded our wound with our cure — and sent us a savior and a great master [ rav ] — which is the light of our holy and awesome Rebbe, of blessed memory. If we have merited to deepen our thought very carefully, very carefully [ היטב היטב — deliberate repetition ] in his holy books, and to walk in his ways, and to fulfill the counsels hidden and embedded in his holy books — which are propitious to heal all manner of ailments of the soul at every level, for every person and in every time — then we would certainly find at every time and moment a great rectification for all our ailments in body and soul, according to our desire. And we would not draw back from the truth — as several of our people stumble in this — and all because of our laziness in learning the daas of our Rebbe, of blessed memory, with true contemplation as is fitting and correct. Also all the differences of opinion and separations of hearts that the evil inclination casts among all our people in general — and among each and every gathering of our people in particular — and also the differences of opinion among you regarding the shtibel and the beis medrash and other matters pertaining to your togetherness — all this comes from the diminishment of the self-nullification [ bitul ] to the study of the books of our Rebbe, of blessed memory. For even the revealed Torah [ Torah sheb'nigleh ] is called peace — in the aspect of "and all her paths are peace" [ Mishlei / Proverbs 3:17 ] — and in particular the books of our Rebbe, of blessed memory, which are the roots of the Torah — they are certainly propitious to make peace among all opposites, and to equalize all opinions. But one must dig and burrow into them very carefully, very carefully [ היטב היטב — deliberate repetition ]. And the main thing depends on how much one nullifies oneself to fulfill the essence of the repentance [ teshuvah ] of bloodshed and humiliations [ shefichas damim ubizuionos ] for the sake of the drawing-close to the truth — as is explained in the Torah teaching "Kara es Yehoshua" and at length in Likutay Halachos in many places. For the essential illumination from the upper point — which is the daas of the true master — to the lower point — which is the true student — is through the aspect of the Vav within the Aleph explained there — namely, the bloodshed and humiliations that one endures for the sake of the drawing-close as mentioned. But one who still stands on his honor and has not nullified himself to much, much [ הרבה הרבה — deliberate repetition ] bloodshed and humiliations for the sake of the drawing-close to the truth — and in particular if he is still far, still far [ עדיין עדיין — deliberate repetition ] from the engagement in the books of our Rebbe, of blessed memory, as well — in the necessary measure as mentioned — certainly needs to know that he does not yet know at all the inner truth, and in particular should not state his opinion about rectifications and practices. This blemish causes what it causes. From all mentioned above it is understood that upon us rests the obligation to cast away from us our own intellect entirely — and to begin afresh to come to the school [ beis sefer ] that encompasses all manner of rectifications of daas in the world — for each and every person according to his worth and his level — which is the study of the books of our Rebbe, of blessed memory. And when Hashem, may He be blessed, grants us merit to dig and to burrow into them in truth — for the purpose of guarding and doing and fulfilling [ lishmor v'la'asos v'lekayem ]. And in particular to fulfill the command of our Rebbe, of blessed memory — to make from Torah a prayer [ laasos mi'Torah tefillah ] — and at the very least to fix for oneself every day some time in the prayers founded upon the holy Likutay Moharan — then with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, we will certainly find remedies and rectifications for our souls — according to the time and the moment — according to the longing of our hearts. I am not able to elaborate further at present. May Hashem, may He be blessed, grant us merit to fulfill the words of truth explained here — for they flow from the source of truth, which is the daas of our Rebbe, of blessed memory, the root of the rectification of our souls. Your loving one who seeks your peace and your good in body and soul — and who blesses you with a complete recovery [ refuah shleimah ], Shimshon ben Feiga.

[Beginning missing] ...that one must strengthen oneself in prayer and in faith and in trust regarding the matter of livelihood. In the same way one must strengthen oneself in all the above regarding the matter of healing — for from one single source both of them come — that is, from Him alone, may He be blessed. For no created being has the power to give livelihood — and certainly not healing — only Hashem, may He be blessed, gives bread to all flesh, and He alone, may He be blessed, draws healing to all who need healing. As is explained in our holy Torah: "I have struck down and I will heal" [ Devarim / Deuteronomy 32:39 ]. Also strengthen yourself to give tzedakah [charity] according to your capacity — for it is explained in the books of our master, of blessed memory, that tzedakah is a remedy for all manner of illnesses. Also always strengthen yourself in the quality of joy [ midas hasimchah ] — for joy is very propitious for healing — as is explained in Likutay Moharan , Part 2, chapter 24. And always look at the expansions [ harchavos ] — both in livelihood and in the health of the body — as our master, of blessed memory, explained the verse "In distress You have broadened me" [ Tehillim / Psalms 4:2 ]. And this is a very necessary matter — to be saved through it from sadness and worries. Your father who blesses you with all good — with livelihood, health, and complete recovery [ refuah shleimah ], Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Monday, [Torah portion of] Bo , 5686, Uman. Addressed to: My dear and beloved son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. Praise to G-d for the lives and the peace. May Hashem, may He be blessed, in His mercy help [us] always to hear and to make heard only good. Your letter I received this past week, and we rejoiced greatly at your wellbeing and your health — and in particular at the wellbeing of your children, may they live for length of days and good years, etc. [וכו׳] But my dear son — I would counsel you to strengthen yourself to fulfill the commandment of maaser [the tithe — setting aside a tenth of one's income for charity] always — even when it appears that the livelihood is, G-d forbid, not ample. Because it is explained in the words of our Sages, of blessed memory: "When a man sees that his provisions are scarce, let him give from them charity" [ Talmud, Gittin 7a ]. And it is explained in all books of truth and in particular in the books of our Rebbe, of blessed memory, that the commandment of maaser is very propitious for livelihood with kashrut and with ample provision. But certainly in such a matter one must rely on faith — not on human intellect. Also you should look into the Shulchan Aruch [the Code of Jewish Law] in the laws of charity [ hilchos tzedakah ] — and [specifically] the law of priority [ halachas kedimah ] — so that you will know how to conduct yourself with the charity of the tithe [ maaser ], etc. [וכו׳] May Hashem, may He be blessed, have mercy that everything be for the good — even according to our own understanding — as is explained in Likutay Moharan , Part 2, in the Torah [teaching] "V'El Shadai yiten lachem rachamim" — "And may G-d Almighty give you mercy" [ Bereishis / Genesis 43:14 — and the Torah teaching of Rebbe Nachman based on it ]. There is nothing more to elaborate at present. Your father who blesses you with all good in materiality and spirituality — and who always awaits your good letter, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. On the eve [lit. "the light"] of Monday, [Torah portion of] Va'era , 5687, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. [Letter opens with ellipsis, indicating an omission:] ...And regarding our livelihood, there is nothing new to write — certainly Hashem, may He be blessed, performs great miracles with us. But we need much mercy — both in livelihood and in other matters. And certainly there is no counsel except to believe in His Providence, may He be blessed, and to trust in Hashem, may He be blessed, etc. [וכו׳] Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Thursday, [Torah portion of] Yisro , 5687, 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 we are, praise to G-d, among the living and in peace. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help [us] always to hear only good. Yesterday I received your letter, etc. [וכו׳] And regarding your apology [ hisnatzlus ] about the battle of thought [ milchemes hamachshavah ] and the abundance of bustle [ ribui hatredos ] — my counsel is that you should read constantly at all times the letters [in the book] Alim LiTrufah [ "Leaves for Healing" — the published letters of R' Yitzchak, son of Reb Nosson of Breslov, to his father and to the Breslov community — a beloved Breslov text ]. For it is explained there greatly regarding the matter of the battle of thought [ milchemes hamachshavah ] — of R' Yitzchak, son of Moharan"as [ Reb Nosson ], of blessed memory — how he wrote each time to Moharan"as, of blessed memory, regarding the overcoming of the confusions of thoughts that came over him — and what Moharan"as, of blessed memory, replied to him: how to strengthen oneself so as not to be confused at all — only to strengthen oneself to always draw the thought into Torah or into prayer or into commerce [ masa umatan ]. And through this one will automatically be saved from strange thoughts [ machshavos zaros ]. And certainly the main thing is the will [ haratzon ] — meaning: you must long and yearn and request from Hashem, may He be blessed, that He give you livelihood with ample provision and with kashrut and without an abundance of bustle [ ribui hatredos ]. But to be saddened and to worry about the bustle of livelihood — that is, to worry about the fact that you are compelled to engage in the bustle of livelihood — this is certainly forbidden. Remember well what is brought in Likutay Moharan , Part 1, chapter 35: for commerce conducted in faith [ masa umatan b'emunah ] is [in the aspect of] sacrifices and incense [ korbanos v'ketores ]. Therefore you are obligated to engage in commerce for your livelihood with faith, and with joy, and with true trust in Hashem, may He be blessed — and to remember Hashem, may He be blessed, well during your engagement in commerce — and to fix times every day for Torah and for prayer as much as possible. And this is very precious before Hashem, may He be blessed. And you have the right [ yesh lecha reshus ] to seek mercy with joy that Hashem, may He be blessed, give you livelihood without bustle. Now I shall inform you of the miracles and the kindnesses that Hashem, may He be blessed, performed for us this week — on Monday. On Monday of this week my son Pinchas, may he live, was compelled to appear before the government regarding the matter of military service [ avodas hatzavah ]... And this matter is a great danger in materiality and spirituality for such a person. And Hashem, may He be blessed, granted me merit to remember that aside from prayer and the seeking of mercy from Him, may He be blessed, we have no counsel whatsoever to strive for his good and his salvation. And I strove, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, to fulfill the words of our Sages, of blessed memory: "A person should always bring prayer before trouble" [ Talmud, Berachos 8a — one should pray proactively, not only when already in distress ]. And I also fulfilled, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, a small [act of] charity [ tzedakah ]. And Hashem, may He be blessed, in His mercy was in our aid — for His sake, may He be blessed, and for the sake of our master, of blessed memory, in whose holy shade we take shelter — and took him out to freedom for the present — for one year. May Hashem, may He be blessed, thus have mercy with still greater mercy — and save him and take him out to complete freedom without any sufferings and fears, etc. [וכו׳] Your father who seeks your peace and your good in materiality and spirituality, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Tuesday, [Torah portion of] Pekudei , 5687, 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 we are, praise to G-d [ taf-lamed-ches — an abbreviation of תהילה לאל — praise to G-d ], among the living and in peace. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help [us] always to hear only good — and may we merit soon to see one another face to face in joy in every detail, etc. [וכו׳] Also there is [available] to purchase the Likutay Aitzos [ "Gathered Counsels" — a compilation by Reb Nosson of Breslov of Rebbe Nachman's practical guidance, organized alphabetically by topic ] from the Rebbe, of blessed memory, of Tcherin [ R' Nachman of Tcherin — a major Breslov figure who published several compilations of Rebbe Nachman's teachings ] — and it is an abridgment [ kitzur ] of all the Likutay Halachos . And it is a very necessary book for all who truly wish for the rectification of their soul, etc., etc. [וכו׳ וכו׳] Also it seems to my humble opinion that those who are found in your country who seek and long specifically [ davka ] for those Likutay Halachos that are hard to find — this is the work of the evil inclination, who wishes to distance and to push away from engaging in those Likutay Halachos that are found easily. For in truth — through the holy Likutay Moharan and through the Likutay Halachos Orach Chaim , Part 1 — if one studies them truly to do and to fulfill — one can become a complete Tzadik in truth. And you write that the main thing they seek is those Likutay Halachos that are almost impossible to find. Therefore — reply to those who seek: give them the Yoreh Dei'ah [ Part 2 of the Likutay Halachos ] and the Choshen Mishpat [ Part 3 of the Likutay Halachos ] and the other books of our Rebbe, of blessed memory, that are hard to find. If only they would fulfill what is written in the Likutay Halachos Orach Chaim , Part 1, which is available — and afterward let them seek the rest. Your father who desires your peace and your good and the peace of all your household in materiality and spirituality, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Monday, [Torah portion of] Tazria , 5687, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...And may we merit to always recognize His kindnesses and His mercies in every detail — and to give thanks to Him, may He be blessed, for the past — and to trust in Him, may He be blessed, always — and to pray to Him, may He be blessed, in truth for the future, etc. [וכו׳] My son Nosson, may he live — I counsel you for your true good: that you establish for yourself a fixed daily study session [ kviyus limud b'chol yom ] in the Likutay Aitzos with the Hebrew-Yiddish [ ivri-taytsh ] commentary [ Rabbi Shimshon himself worked on a Yiddish translation/commentary of the Likutay Aitzos — here he is urging his son to study the work he is preparing ]. And study every day some paragraphs — both in the holy language [ lashon hakodesh ] and in the Hebrew-Yiddish — and study with patience and with great attention. And with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, you will receive from this a great strengthening and arousal and abundant renewal — which is the foundation and the root for the entire point of Judaism in truth to its truth. And so too tell [this] to all Anash and to all who truly desire the point of truth. Your father who blesses you with all good — and with a kosher and joyous Passover, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Monday, [Torah portion of] Bamidbar , 5687, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. Praise to G-d [ taf-lamed — abbreviation of תהילה לאל] for the lives, etc. [וכו׳] May Hashem, may He be blessed, help [us] to hear and to make heard all good always, etc. [וכו׳] Regarding the constrictions [ tzimtzumim ] and the debts [ chovos ] of yours — there is no counsel except a true strengthening in prayer and faith and trust in truth. In the book Alim LiTrufah it is explained that Moharan"as, of blessed memory, spoke with our master, of blessed memory, regarding the matter of livelihood — and our master, of blessed memory, said to him: "Only trust [ nor bitachon ]." And when you strengthen yourself truly in prayer and faith and trust — certainly Hashem, may He be blessed, will expand [ yarchiv ] for you in His mercy — as is His way, [may He be blessed,] always to benefit His creatures, etc. [וכו׳] And regarding the expanding of the lodgings [ harchavat hadira ] that you need — certainly you have the right to pray to Hashem, may He be blessed, and to seek mercy for this in truth. But to be through this in sadness or in worries or in anger, G-d forbid — this is certainly forbidden. I heard from R' Moshe Breslavyer, of blessed memory [ R' Moshe of Breslov — a Breslov elder who passed on traditions directly from the generation of Rebbe Nachman ], that a certain person presented himself before our master, of blessed memory, with an apology about the deficiency of lodgings — that he has no proper place for the service of Hashem, may He be blessed. Our master, of blessed memory, replied to him: "If Hashem, may He be blessed, knew that your rectification depends on lodgings better than those in which you are sitting — He would certainly have given you lodgings as you desire." It is understood from all the above that certainly one must seek mercy in truth regarding every detail — but to be stubborn, or to worry, or to be saddened — this is certainly forbidden. May Hashem, may He be blessed, have mercy upon us and expand [ yarchiv ] for us from all manner of straits [ mitzarim ] and constrictions — and grant us merit in His kindness to believe that through prayer and supplication in truth one can accomplish before Him, may He be blessed, all manner of salvations and goodness. Your father who seeks your peace and your good in body, soul, and livelihood, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Monday, Torah portion of "Vayiten lecha mital hashamayim" etc. [וכו׳] — "And may He give you from the dew of the heavens" etc. [ Bereishis / Genesis 27:28 — portion of Vayishlach ] — 5688, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. [Beginning missing] ...And you should begin to engage in the printing of the book [ hadpasas hasefer ] with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed. And if you need to devote to the printing endeavor some troubles and exertions [ trachot v'yegi'os ] — do not forget that the striving in the printing of the books of our Rebbe, of blessed memory, is a very great commandment [ mitzvah rabbah ] the like of which has no parallel. And in particular — the books of our Rebbe, of blessed memory, with a Hebrew-Yiddish commentary [ peirush ivri-taytsh ]: such a printing has never yet existed in the world. Therefore the striving in this is a very great commandment — more and more [ ביותר ויותר — deliberate double emphasis ], etc. [וכו׳] [No closing signature preserved — letter breaks off]

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Tuesday, [Torah portion of] Terumah , Rosh Chodesh [ the New Month of Adar ] ( "when Adar enters, joy is increased" [ Talmud, Taanis 29a ]), 5688, 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 we are, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, among the living and in peace, etc. [וכו׳] [ Yiddish — main body: ] And regarding the matters of printing — I am here to inform you that aside from the Likutay Aitzos with Hebrew-Yiddish [ ivri-taytsh ] I cannot engage in any printing whatsoever. For you know that I am a sick man [ a kranker mentsh ]. And my livelihood is always through great miracles — above nature [ l'ma'alah min hateva ]. But because Hashem, may He be blessed, in His mercy has given and placed within me a great and wondrous feeling — to feel how necessary it is for the revealing of the daas of our master, of blessed memory — the Likutay Aitzos with Hebrew-Yiddish: in this I am engaged, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, with all my strength and beyond my strength [ b'chol kochi ul'ma'alah mikhochi ], etc. [וכו׳] Your father who seeks your peace and your good in spirituality and materiality, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, [Torah portion of] Eikev [ אי"ק — an abbreviation of the portion's name ], 5688, Uman [ the manuscript reads אימין — likely a scribal variant of אומין ]. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. Praise to G-d [ taf-lamed-ches ], we are among the living and in peace. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help [us] always to hear only good, etc. [וכו׳] And what you write — that your father-in-law requests some words of strengthening [ divrei hischazakus ], and likewise our friend Ben Tzion Apter requests a letter of strengthening — I am here to reply to you: that all my knowledge [ yedi'os ] comes from the books of our master, of blessed memory — and the books are found in their hands. Let them study them truly as is fitting — and they will certainly find there fresh strengthening at every time. And certainly there is a great obligation to study every day the Likutay Aitzos with Hebrew-Yiddish [ ivri-taytsh ] that Hashem, may He be blessed, granted me merit to bring to light — for it is a great portion of the Likutay Moharan . The Hebrew-Yiddish is a wondrous explanation and commentary, gathered from Likutay Halachos — and it is very propitious to arouse the one who studies it truly, and to strengthen and to fortify him with a fresh arousal at every time — if the intention of the student is truly to fulfill what is explained there. And regarding your deficiencies — both in the matter of livelihood and in the matter of lodgings — it is already explained in all the books of our master, of blessed memory, that aside from prayer and faith and true trust there is no counsel whatsoever. May Hashem, may He be blessed, grant us merit to always strengthen ourselves in the above-mentioned counsels — in truth to its truth — until we accomplish before Him, may He be blessed, with mercy, all our requests. And may there be fulfilled in us "And may G-d Almighty give you mercy" [ Bereishis / Genesis 43:14 ] — as is explained in Likutay Moharan , Part 2, chapter 62. Your father who seeks your peace and your good in body, soul, and livelihood, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. On the eve [lit. "the light"] of Thursday, [Torah portion of] Vayishlach , 5689, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. Your letters from the Torah portion of Toldos and from the Torah portion of Vayeitzei — we received. And we rejoiced with them as is our constant way. And what you wish to know about the gathering of Rosh Hashana — I am here to inform you that there were on Rosh Hashana new souls who have never, never [ מעולם מעולם — deliberate double emphasis ] been in Uman — and some of them were Torah scholars [ ba'alei Torah ] and God-fearing men [ ba'alei yiras Hashem ]. May Hashem, may He be blessed, have mercy — that the truth of the light of our master, of blessed memory, be revealed speedily in all the world — for upon this depends the rectification of the world, etc. [וכו׳] And regarding my travel to Poland — at present it is an impossible matter for many reasons. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help us in His abundant mercy — that we merit to see one another in pleasure and in great joy before Hashem, may He be blessed. Everything is possible. And regarding your traveling to Uman — certainly I and your mother, may she live, long very greatly for this. But this too requires His blessed will — for I cannot do more than send you once again an urging [ faderingl — Yiddish: a summons, a calling forward ]. But certainly it is in His hand and His blessed will. And at present one must believe that even this is for the good — in spirituality and in materiality. Your father who seeks your peace and your good and the good of all your household, may they live, in body, soul, and livelihood, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Thursday, [Torah portion of] Bo , 5689, 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 we are, blessed be G-d, among the living and in peace. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help [us] to merit to hear only good always, etc. [וכו׳] [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...And regarding your strengthening in the ways of our master, of blessed memory — you are certainly obligated to remember well that sadness [ atzves ] is forbidden with a very severe prohibition — both in materiality and in spirituality. In materiality: one must always look at the kindnesses and the goodnesses that Hashem, may He be blessed, bestows at every moment — as our master, of blessed memory, explained the verse "In my distress You have broadened me" [ Tehillim / Psalms 4:2 ] — namely: that one must always look at the expansions [ harchavos ] and the kindnesses [ chasadim ] that Hashem, may He be blessed, constantly bestows upon a person in materiality. And in spirituality: one must always search within oneself and find good points [ nekudos tovos ] — in order to always strengthen oneself in joy. But sadness is very forbidden. Also one must guard oneself greatly from the quality of pride and coarseness of spirit [ midas haga'avah v'gasas haruach ] which is common in your country — for sadness and pride are two corruptions that distance a person greatly from the truth to its truth. May Hashem, may He be blessed, have mercy and always guard us from all manner of bad qualities — and grant us merit to all good qualities — and in particular to true joy [ simchah b'emes ] and to true humility [ shefilus emes ] — for all the above it is impossible to merit except through the holy daas of our master, of blessed memory — when one truly nullifies oneself to his holy light as is fitting. Your father who seeks your peace and who blesses you and your household with all good in spirituality and materiality, Shimshon.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, [Torah portion of] Tetzaveh , 5689, 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 we are, blessed be G-d, among the living and in peace, etc. [וכו׳] [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...And without excuse [ beli teirutz ] — distance yourself from sadness and worries — only strengthen yourself in faith in individual Divine Providence [ emunah b'hashgachah pratis ] and in true trust in Hashem, may He be blessed — in every detail — both regarding livelihood and regarding healing — both for yourself and for your household, may they live. And through this you will always live in joy and with a settled mind [ yishuv hada'as ] — and this is propitious for all good. Your father who seeks your peace and your good in spirituality and materiality — and who always prays for you and for your household, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Monday, [Torah portion of] Metzora , the fifth of the month of Nissan, 5689, 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 we are, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, among the living and in peace. May Hashem, may He be blessed, grant us merit to always hear only good in spirituality and materiality, etc. [וכו׳] May Hashem, may He be blessed, have mercy upon us and sweeten from upon us all our troubles and afflictions — and grant us merit to recognize Him, may He be blessed, and His individual Providence — from within expansion and pleasure [ min toch harchavah v'nachas ] — in general and in particular, etc. [וכו׳] Your father who seeks your good and your success in spirituality and materiality — and who blesses you with a kosher and joyous Passover [ Pesach kasher v'samayach ] —

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Tuesday, [Torah portion of] Emor , 5689, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...But as long as you are unable to travel [to Uman] without any fears and confusions — it is forbidden for you to be saddened by the prevention from traveling to Uman. And even to think about it more than necessary is also forbidden — for the worries and the thoughts about it more than necessary cause, G-d forbid, many stumbling-blocks of sadness and weakness of mind [ chalishus da'as ]. And this is the complete opposite of truth. Certainly one must long and yearn truly to come to Uman — and to prostrate oneself in prayer before Hashem, may He be blessed, at the holy tziyon of our master, of blessed memory. But if one cannot travel on account of the prevention and the danger of the borders [ skanat hagvulin ] — one is certainly forbidden to be saddened and confused by this. For through the study of the books of our master, of blessed memory, and fulfilling what is written there — one can be a complete Tzadik in every place one finds oneself — if it is altogether impossible in any manner to come to the holy tziyon — as is the case now. And regarding this time our Sages, of blessed memory, said: "One who is prevented by force [ ones ] — the Merciful One exempts him" [ Talmud, Bava Kama 28b — the principle that involuntary inability removes the obligation ], etc. [וכו׳] And regarding the weakness of your health and the constriction of your livelihood — you are also obligated to strengthen yourself in faith and in trust in Hashem, may He be blessed — and to hope for healing and for livelihood with ample provision — and to always look at the kindnesses and the expansions that Hashem, may He be blessed, bestows upon you and upon your household — and to strengthen yourself and give thanks to Hashem, may He be blessed, always for each and every kindness. And through this Hashem, may He be blessed, will expand [ yarchiv ] for you — both in livelihood and in healing. And you are obligated to overcome in every possible way — to distance yourself in every manner of distancing from sadness, from worries, and from grief [ yigunim ]. For through these come, G-d forbid, many stumbling-blocks. May G-d guard us. And you can learn true strengthening from me myself — for I am always a sick person, as you know. And regarding my livelihood I have no foundation according to nature whatsoever. And I am always compelled to rely on miracles. And all this is through the little bit of faith and the little bit of true trust that our master, of blessed memory, has instilled in me. And Hashem, may He be blessed, in His mercy does not abandon me, G-d forbid — and helps me in His kindness each time with a little bit of healing and a little bit of livelihood. And so too with you — when you strengthen yourself in faith and in trust and in joy — Hashem, may He be blessed, will help you with blessing and success in the work of your hands — as it is written: "And He will bless you in all that you do" [ Devarim / Deuteronomy 15:18 ]. And you will merit, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, livelihood and healing — for you and for your household. And the main thing — distance yourself from sadness and worries in every manner of distancing — and strengthen yourself in joy and in hope to Hashem, may He be blessed — and to look always at the expansions and the kindnesses that Hashem, may He be blessed, bestows upon you and upon your household at every time. And then it will be good for you — certainly — with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed. There is no need to elaborate further. If only you would fulfill all that is written in this my letter — for I did not write all the above of myself, but from the daas of our master, of blessed memory. [ Yiddish closing instruction: ] This letter you should read for a long time [ zman rav ] — once every day. Your father who seeks your good and your success in spirituality and materiality, Shimshon Barski. ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, [Torah portion of] Bamidbar , 5689, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...It seems to me [ nila'de — abbreviation of נראה לעניות דעתי — it appears to my humble opinion ] that you do not need to be stubborn [ l'his'akesh ] about the travel [to Uman] — only if Hashem, may He be blessed, helps [you to find] such counsels that you will be able to achieve the matter without many confusions and without dangers — then certainly how good! And if not — you are obligated to wait and to seek mercy from Hashem, may He be blessed — until Hashem, may He be blessed, helps you to be able to travel to Uman without great confusions. And for the present — engage every day in the study of the books of our master, of blessed memory, with constancy and with eagerness — and in particular in Psalms [ Tehillim ] and in the prayers [ tefilos ] and at the Gates of the holy Tziyon [ שערי ציון הקדוש — the gates of the holy gravesite of Rebbe Nachman in Uman, where one prostrates oneself in prayer ] — and all in wholeness [ temimusdik ] and simplicity [ peshitusdik ]. And Hashem, may He be blessed, will help that everything be in the very best manner... Your father who seeks your peace and who desires your good, etc. [וכו׳] — and who mentions you for good at the holy tziyon , Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Monday, [Torah portion of] Nitzavim-Vayeilech [ נו"י — abbreviation ], 5689, Uman. Addressed to: A good writing and a good sealing [ kesivah vachasimah tovah — the traditional Rosh Hashana greeting: "May you be written and sealed for good" ] in body, soul, and livelihood — to my dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...Therefore the counsel is that you should pray greatly to Hashem, may He be blessed — but truly completely [ nor emes gomar ] — to know how to conduct yourself in every detail. And Hashem, may He be blessed, will certainly help you to understand the truth of every matter. Your father who blesses you with a good year in body, soul, and livelihood, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Monday, [Torah portion of] Bo , 5690, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. Your letter from last week I received. And I am here to inform you that we are, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, among the living and in peace. May Hashem, may He be blessed, have mercy — that everything turn to salvation and to great good, etc. [וכו׳] And regarding healing — without excuse [ beli teirutz ]: distance yourself from doctors [ rofim ] — only strengthen yourself in the healings explained in the books of our master, of blessed memory: prayer, faith, trust [ tefillah, emunah, bitachon ] — and also charity [ tzedakah ] as much as possible. And all in truth — and with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, they will be healed through the above-mentioned remedies. Your father who blesses you with all good and with a complete recovery [ refuah shleimah ], Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Thursday, [Torah portion of] Naso , 5690, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. Your letter I received before the past festival of Shavuos. And I am here to reply to you — that an awakening letter [ michtav hisorerus ] to Anash — I will not write, for it is impossible to write at present. But it seems to my opinion that if they will truly contemplate within themselves the greatness of the good that they have received through me regarding the illumination of the holy daas of our master, of blessed memory — they will feel on their own that they are obligated to engage in the printing of the Likutay Aitzos with Hebrew-Yiddish with all their strength, etc. [וכו׳] And I hope to Hashem that all the Likutay Aitzos with Hebrew-Yiddish will come to light and will bear fruit [ ya'aseh peiros ]. But perhaps one needs to wait a little while. May Hashem, may He be blessed, have mercy and hasten the revelation of the truth — as His blessed will and the will of our master, of blessed memory. Your father who blesses you with all good — and with ample, kosher [provision] in every detail, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Tuesday, [Torah portion of] Korach , 5690, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...May Hashem, may He be blessed, help you to engage greatly in the books of our master, of blessed memory — and to strengthen yourself and to renew yourself in the point of Judaism always — and to increase always in prayer and supplication to Hashem, may He be blessed. And you will merit to align with the truth in every detail, etc. [וכו׳] ...And the main thing — do not forget the kindness and the goodness that Hashem, may He be blessed, has done with you in so very many matters — and in particularity: the great kindness that He did with you in the matter of lodgings [ ha'dirah ]. And give thanks and praise to Hashem, may He be blessed, always for this and for all the kindnesses and goodnesses that He has done with you besides this. And seek mercy for the future — in general and in particular. And Hashem, may He be blessed, will certainly help you in all matters. Your father who blesses you with all good in materiality and spirituality — and who always looks forward to the salvation of Hashem, may He be blessed, in every detail, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Sunday, [Torah portion of] Ki Seitzei , 5690, Uman. Opening blessing: A good writing and a good sealing [ kesivah vachasimah tovah ] for life and peace and joy. Praise to G-d [ taf-lamed ] for the lives and the peace. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help [us] to always hear good, etc. [וכו׳] [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...For truly, regarding livelihood, there is no counsel whatsoever except true faith and true trust in Hashem, may He be blessed, alone. And if the busyness and the troubles are hard upon you — pray truly to Hashem, may He be blessed — and trust in Him, may He be blessed, truly. And [G-d] will lighten from upon you the busyness and the troubles — and will add for you in His kindness expansion — both in livelihood and in other matters — for His mercies are abundant. Much relief and salvation [come] from the Omnipresent [ Hamakom ], blessed be He. Your father who blesses you with all good, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, [Torah portion of] Nitzavim , 5690, Uman. Opening blessing: A good writing and a good sealing [ kesivah vachasimah tovah ] for life and peace and all good. [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...And according to my faith — you need to do as I have written to you. But if any of Anash wishes to assist you with some help regarding the cancellation of the debts [ bitul hachovos ] — this is permitted. And in this too you must be very careful not to think, G-d forbid, that this is a favor from some person — rather you must believe with all your heart that this comes from His kindness alone, may He be blessed, from His individual Providence. But to constantly [ b'temidus ] look for benefit from people — this is certainly forbidden, for one can thereby fall into great errors and into false beliefs [ emunos kaziviyos ] — which is [in the category of] idol worship — may the Merciful One save us [ ר"ל = רחמנא לצלן — Aramaic: may the Merciful One protect us — a stronger expression of horror than the generic "G-d forbid" ]. And it is already written: "Blessed is the man who trusts in Hashem" [ Yirmiyahu / Jeremiah 17:7 ], etc. [וכו׳] And regarding the confusion of thoughts and disturbing imaginings [ hirhurim hamevalbelin oscha ] that confuse you — this is a great foolishness, and in vain you suffer bitterness from this. And all this is because you are not engaging as is fitting in the books of our master, of blessed memory — and in particular in the Torah teachings of the holy Likutay Moharan — which are propitious to completely heal the blemish of thought [ pegam hamachshavah ]. you should study well and thoroughly [ gut iber-lernen ] the holy Torah teaching, chapter 72, Part 1 — "L'hischazek" [ "To strengthen oneself" — a Torah teaching in Likutay Moharan Part 1, chapter 72, dealing directly with the rectification of the blemish of thought ] — it is explained there well: a complete rectification for the blemish of thought. And secondly: [ Yiddish continues: ] you should study well and thoroughly in the Likutay Aitzos with Hebrew-Yiddish — the entry Mem [the letter מ] — the matter of thoughts and imaginings [ makhshoves un hirhurim ]. But without excuse — study the matter of thoughts and imaginings — both the holy language [ lashon hakodesh ] and the Hebrew-Yiddish commentary — not quickly, but with patience and with great attention. For in that study — thoughts and imaginings in the Likutay Aitzos — there are found complete remedies for the blemish of thought. But one must study it with attention and with patience — several times — so that one will remember to do and to fulfill. And certainly one must also pray greatly to Hashem, may He be blessed, according to those above-mentioned studies — regarding the rectification of thought — in simplicity, in the vernacular [ oyf zhargon ]. And if you fulfill what I write you — I believe that you will, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, soon be saved from the blemish of thought completely [ b'shleimus gamur ], etc. [וכו׳] Your father who blesses you with all good and with a good year — may it be so for all Israel [ kein yhi ], Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Sunday, [Torah portion of] Noach , 5691, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...On the holy Rosh Hashana there were new people who have never been in Uman — and on the night of Motza'ei Rosh Hashana [ the night following Rosh Hashana ] there were in our home several of Anash — and they brought to our home musicians with musical instruments [ klay shir ] — and we rejoiced, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, with great joy — for several hours after midnight. And also on the night of the holy yahrzeit [ the anniversary of Rebbe Nachman's passing — the 18th of Tishrei ] of our Rebbe, of blessed memory — and on the last days of the holy festival of Sukkos — we rejoiced with many people with great joy. And to elaborate on this is impossible. This is sufficient for one who understands, etc. [וכו׳] And may Hashem, may He be blessed, help that everything be as His blessed will and the will of our master, of blessed memory, etc. [וכו׳] Your father who blesses you with all good, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Monday, [Torah portion of] Emor , 5691, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...And Hashem, may He be blessed, helps each time in the path of miracle [ b'derech nes ]. And one must not be in sadness and worries — neither on account of livelihood nor on account of other matters. On the contrary — one must strengthen oneself and renew oneself in faith and in true trust — both regarding livelihood and regarding other necessary matters. For faith and true trust are the very foundation and root of all Torah and all service [ Torah v'avodah ]. Your father who blesses you with all salvations — together with your household — in materiality and spirituality, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, [Torah portion of] Vayera , 5692, 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 we are among the living and in peace. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help us to hear and to make heard only good always. Your letter of Friday, [Torah portion of] Noach , my dear son — I received yesterday. From your letter it appears that you are in smallness of mind [ katanut hamoyach ] and somewhat in worry and sadness — both on account of the deficiency of health and on account of the trial of livelihood. [ Yiddish — main body: ] And it appears that you are not at all making use of the verse "In my distress You have broadened me" [ Tehillim / Psalms 4:2 ] — as our master, of blessed memory, has explained: that every person is obligated to look at the goodnesses and the expansions that Hashem, may He be blessed, bestows upon him — even at the time of his distress. And in particular: you should contemplate within yourself and truly reckon — how many salvations and rescues and goodnesses Hashem, may He be blessed, has bestowed upon you — for His sake, may He be blessed, and in the merit of our master, of blessed memory. Firstly: Hashem, may He be blessed, saved you from the decree of military service at the time of danger — as you remember well. And Hashem, may He be blessed, in His mercy gave you children, may they live, to eternal life [ l'oyvisht — Yiddish: forever, eternally ] — this is a great kindness — you should not forget this, etc. [וכו׳] And in the merit of our master, of blessed memory, Hashem, may He be blessed, expanded [things] for you also in the matter of lodgings. And now — when your health is somewhat not well and your livelihood is also a little constricted — you became frightened and you let into yourself smallness of mind — meaning: worries and sadness, G-d forbid — exactly as though you have never seen, G-d forbid, any salvations and wonders of His Providence, may He be blessed. Know, my dear son — that this is only the work of the Baal Davar [ the Adversary ]. And it is a complete opposite of the daas of our master, of blessed memory. For in all the books of our master, of blessed memory, it is explained that one must strengthen oneself in joy and in hope for the salvation of Hashem always — even at the time of the greatest distress, G-d forbid. And through strengthening oneself in joy and in faith in individual Providence and in true trust in Hashem, may He be blessed — through this all afflictions and all troubles are sweetened and nullified — and one merits to truly be helped in all one's circumstances. In summary: my counsel is that you should remind yourself of the miracles and the wonders that Hashem, may He be blessed, has done with you from then until now. And you should strengthen yourself with faith and trust in Hashem, may He be blessed, truly — and believe and hope that He will continue to do with you miracles and wonders for the good — both in bodily health and in livelihood and in all matters in which you need salvation. And without excuse — do not make use of any vain and empty remedies — only with praise and faith and true trust. And Hashem, may He be blessed, will certainly help you in His kindness — both with healing and with livelihood, etc., etc., etc. [וכו׳ וכו׳ וכו׳] And so too regarding all the debts that you must pay — do not let into yourself any confusion and any worry, G-d forbid — only strengthen yourself with prayer and faith and true trust — and Hashem, may He be blessed, will help you with expansion and you will pay, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed. Your father who blesses you — together with your household — with a complete recovery and with livelihood in ample provision and in pleasure and with kashrut — as His blessed will and the will of our master, of blessed memory — in every detail, Shimshon Barski.

בעזה' יתברך — With the help of Hashem, may He be blessed. Tuesday, Torah portion of "V'atem hadevekim" etc. [וכו׳] — "And you who cleave [to Hashem your G-d]" [ Devarim / Deuteronomy 4:4 — portion of Va'eschanan ] — the year 5692. Addressed to: To all Anash who are drawn close to our master, Moharan [ Rebbe Nachman of Breslov ], of blessed saintly memory — wherever they may be [ di b'chol asar v'asar — Aramaic: in every place and every place ] — may they all stand for blessing. With this I have come to arouse all Anash who are in your camp — and wherever they may be — that they should strengthen themselves with all their power to set aside from their pockets a contribution to Hashem [ terumah laHashem ] for all the matters of our Rebbe, of blessed saintly memory — and in particular for bringing the Likutay Aitzos with Hebrew-Yiddish [ ivri-taytsh ] from concealment to revelation. For in the Likutay Aitzos are included all the counsels [ aitzos ] and teachings [ daios ] of both parts of the holy Likutay Moharan — and it is the distillation [ tamtzis ] and the main intention of our master, of blessed memory, that he intended in his book the Likutay Moharan . So said Moharan"as [Reb Nosson], of blessed memory, several times. And because the minds and hearts of the people of these end-of-days have weakened and become very small — for many reasons that cannot be explained — and also because of the severe afflictions that are now passing over almost every single person, and in particular upon those who wish to strengthen themselves in the point of truth — because of this it is impossible to grasp and to understand the content of the daas [knowledge / teaching] of our master, of blessed memory, alluded in his holy books — for practical deed and action — for every person according to his level. And in particular: the awakening and the strengthening alluded in his holy books for "the dwellers below" [ darei matah — lit. those who dwell below — those on lower spiritual levels ] — namely, for those small in spiritual rank, the impoverished, and the lowest — to arouse them and strengthen them in the aspect of "Awaken and sing, you who dwell in the dust" [ Yeshayahu / Isaiah 26:19 ] — which was the main holy intention of our master, of blessed memory, in all his holy legacy — so said Moharan"as, of blessed memory, several times. And in Likutay Halachos it is explained in these very words: Although our master, of blessed memory, also teaches in his holy books with those who dwell above [ darei ma'alah ] — and shows them in his holy wisdom that they know nothing at all in His knowledge, may He be blessed — in the aspect of "What have you seen, and what have you examined?" [ a reference to the Talmudic passage in Chagigah warning against examining what is beyond human grasp ] — as is explained in the Torah teaching "Ki merachamam yenagelem" [ "For He who has compassion upon them will lead them" — Yeshayahu 49:10 ] — nevertheless, the main teaching is for the dwellers below — to arouse them and strengthen them so that they not be entirely lost, G-d forbid — and so that they too draw close to Hashem, may He be blessed, in every possible way. End of citation. And because the dwellers below certainly cannot on their own understand and grasp from his holy books the counsels and the strengthening that they need — on account of the depth of the concept — therefore Hashem, may He be blessed, arranged in His mercy that the counsels of his holy books be revealed in such a language and in such an explanation that all will be able to study them — both the dwellers above, if they are willing to nullify their imagined honor [ kevodam hamedumeh ] — for in truth even the dwellers above, namely the great Torah scholars, are very much in need of the true daas of our master, of blessed memory, contained in the Likutay Aitzos with Hebrew-Yiddish — if they truly wish to heal their souls in truth to its truth. And in particular the dwellers below certainly need the counsels and the daios of the Likutay Aitzos with Hebrew-Yiddish literally as fish need water — for it is impossible for them to live without water. Likewise, if the dwellers below properly knew the daios and counsels explained in the Likutay Aitzos with Hebrew-Yiddish — they would feel and understand that without those daios they know no vitality whatsoever in the drawing-close to our Rebbe, of blessed memory. For truly — if they do not know his holy daas — even if they were called "Breslov Chassid" for many years, and even if they travel to Uman — there is no substance and power whatsoever in the drawing-close. For the very essence of drawing close to the Tzadik depends on the feeling of his holy daas . As is explained in Likutay Moharan , chapter 255 [ Likutay Moharan I:255 ]: "When one believes in the Tzadik with faith alone — that is, when one believes in the Tzadik with faith alone without daas — one can fall. But when one believes in the Tzadik with daas as well — then it is impossible to fall." It is understood and explained from this holy saying that the very essence of drawing close to the Tzadik depends on attaining and feeling his holy daas — in such a manner that one can receive from him counsels to strengthen oneself to stand firm on one's ground and not to be pushed away from the truth — on account of the changes and afflictions that pass over every single person. And from the Likutay Aitzos with Hebrew-Yiddish — all levels of people can learn and understand his holy daas — provided that they nullify their own opinion and overcome in wholeness and simplicity to fulfill what is explained there — for "it is not the study that is the main thing but the deed" [ Avos / Ethics of the Fathers 1:17 ] — as is well known. Therefore it is incumbent upon you to strive in every possible manner in the printing of the Likutay Aitzos with Hebrew-Yiddish — and to bring it from concealment to revelation. Your loving one and one who seeks your peace in materiality and spirituality, Shimshon son of R' Yisrael Menachem [ שמשון ב"ר ישראל מנחם — Rabbi Shimshon here gives his full patronymic; in all other letters he signs simply "Shimshon Barski" ]

Therefore, my brothers and friends who wish to approach the holy — to draw living waters from the flowing stream, the source of wisdom — and to spread its springs outward to water thereby all the souls of the house of Israel: pay heed and reflect greatly on words of truth and righteousness, coming from the mouth of a faithful man of the spirit of G-d — who is R' Shimshon, may he live — the grandson of our Rebbe, of blessed saintly memory [ R' Shimshon was a descendant of Rebbe Nachman's family line ] — who sits in the seat of wisdom in the yeshiva [ yeshivah ] of our Rebbe, of blessed saintly memory, in Uman — which the nobles of the people have dug with a staff, with their walking-sticks [ Bamidbar / Numbers 21:18 — the verse about digging the well, applied here to those who established the Breslov study-house in Uman ]. For they understood with their pure spirit that if men of heart engage in Torah and prayer all day and all night in the synagogue of our Rebbe, of blessed saintly memory, in Uman — bonded to our Rebbe, of blessed saintly memory — and pouring out their souls every day into the bosom of the holy Tziyon — then they will illuminate and spread the light and the daas of our Rebbe, of blessed saintly memory, over all the face of the earth. As it is written: "And from Matanah — to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel — to Bamos" etc. [וכו׳] "and it overlooked the face of the wasteland" [ Bamidbar / Numbers 21:19-20 — verses traditionally interpreted as describing spiritual ascent through the desert of exile ]. And praise to the Living G-d — their work has borne fruit. For "they have turned the desert into a pool of water, and the parched land into springs of water" etc. [וכו׳] [ Tehillim / Psalms 107:35 ] "and the needy are raised up" etc. [וכו׳] [ Tehillim / Psalms 107:41 ] "The upright see it and rejoice, and all iniquity has shut its mouth" etc. [וכו׳] [ Tehillim / Psalms 107:42 ] — for the people of Poland have drawn close to our Rebbe, of blessed saintly memory, with a true drawing-close and with a clear knowledge [ b'daah tzachah ] the like of which has not been since days of old. And R' Shimshon mentioned above has merited to a correct spirit and to great understanding in the drawing-close to our Rebbe, of blessed saintly memory — in the path of simplicity and wholeness — to an astonishing degree — and has brought merit to the multitude through his faithful words, full of grace, truth, and pure faith — helping them to understand for practical deed and action the daas of our Rebbe, of blessed saintly memory — in settled mind and in the wondrous path of the constriction [ tzimtzum ] of individual Divine Providence — and [teaching] that all that befalls a person is for his good — and that one should not rely on any natural striving — but [rather] to pray for every matter — and to know that all natural striving is only to test the person: whether he will rely on the cause, or merit to know that everything comes from Hashem, may He be blessed. Therefore, know — O Anash — that we are obligated to nullify our thin opinion before his broad opinion in the matter of drawing close to our Rebbe, of blessed saintly memory. And regarding this it is certainly said: "If a matter is too wondrous for you for judgment — you shall arise and go up to the place" etc. [וכו׳] [ Devarim / Deuteronomy 17:8 ]. And we are obligated to fulfill his words simply — to print the book Likutay Aitzos with Hebrew-Yiddish with all our forces. For this book is a wondrous renewal [ hischadshus neflah ] that Hashem, may He be blessed, has granted us merit to have in these generations — in which the darkness covers the earth — and the earth has grown dark — until it is difficult to see the truth — and no man has arisen from his place — and every person falls at every moment to such descents that it is almost impossible to raise him up — as every person knows within himself what passes over him. Therefore Hashem has had mercy on His people — and has seen our affliction — and has looked at our toil — and has had compassion on our great shame — and has given strength and power and fortitude of holiness to R' Shimshon mentioned above — which cannot be believed were it to be told — for in the very extremity of his great weakness, etc., etc. [וכו׳ וכו׳] — nonetheless the spirit of Hashem has rested upon the man mentioned above — and he has translated the book Likutay Aitzos into Hebrew-Yiddish with such a wondrous explanation — that whoever wishes to hear a word of truth and to become familiar with the daas of our Rebbe, of blessed saintly memory, for practical deed and action — can find in it what he seeks — from the highest levels to the very lowest levels — in the aspect of: "from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall" [ Melachim I / I Kings 5:13 ]. And therefore — it is an obligation and a great commandment to assist in the printing of the books of our Rebbe, of blessed saintly memory, in general — and in the printing of the aforementioned book Likutay Aitzos with the Hebrew-Yiddish explanation in particular — and to strive to spread them among Israel — until we merit through this to the complete redemption [ geulah shleimah ] — as is stated in the holy book Chayay Moharan (in [the section on] the greatness of his Torah), that our holy Rebbe, of blessed saintly memory, said explicitly that his holy books are the beginning of the redemption [ aschalsa d'geulah ] — and they are also filled with reproof and great awakening toward Hashem, may He be blessed. These are the words of one who grovels in the dust of the feet of the students of the true Tzadik, Yitzchak son of Esther Breindel Breiter. The 23rd of the month of Menachem Av, 5693.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, [Torah portion of] B'chukosai , 5692, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. Your letter I received during Chol HaMo'ed [the intermediate days] of the past Passover — and until today I have not had sufficient leisure to reply to you — on account of several obstacles and delays. And now I am here to inform you that we are, blessed be G-d, among the living and in peace. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help [us] to hear from you and to make heard from us only good always. And regarding the matter of the needs of the festival of Passover that you wish to know about — I am here to inform you that with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, we had matzos, etc. [וכו׳] in ample provision and with mercy — and all through great miracles that were not at all in the path of nature whatsoever. And so it is the way of all who wish to go in the path of the Torah [Editor's note: here several words are missing] and faith — as the saying of King David, peace be upon him: "The path of faith I have chosen" [ Tehillim / Psalms 119:30 ]. First of all one must know and believe [Editor's note: here several words are missing] that one's livelihood does not depend on any wisdom or striving — but only on individual Providence from Hashem, may He be blessed. And if one has some circumstance [ sibah ] of commerce or craft — one is obligated to engage in this. But one must not trust, G-d forbid, in the circumstance — and think in his heart that through the circumstance he has livelihood. For trust in the circumstance is literally idolatry [ avodah zarah mamash ] — may the Merciful One save us [ Rachmana litzlan ]. Only one must trust in Hashem, may He be blessed, alone. As is explained in Likutay Moharan , Part 1, chapter 62, at its conclusion: that Hashem, may He be blessed, sustains a person — sometimes through a circumstance — for the sake of "trial and choice" [ nisayon uvchirah ] — and sometimes without any circumstance at all. For before Him, may He be blessed, there is no difference between circumstance and no circumstance — for Hashem, may He be blessed, has no need for any circumstance — as is explained there. Look there. [Editor's note: here several words are missing] The very essence of the true Judaism of all who wish to walk in the path of truth and faith [Editor's note: here several words are missing] the Providence over one's livelihood — so as not to trust in any circumstance and not in any person — but only [Editor's note: here several words are missing] alone — and to seek mercy from Hashem, may He be blessed, alone at every moment that one needs livelihood — and to trust in Him, may He be blessed, truly. And certainly He will never abandon one forever. And to always look at the kindnesses and the expansions — as is explained in the words of our master, of blessed memory: the explanation of "In my distress You have broadened me" [ Tehillim / Psalms 4:2 ]. And one must not be saddened and must not worry on account of the deficiencies and the trials — only one must distance oneself from sadness and worries in all possible ways — and strengthen oneself in joy in every possible manner, etc. [וכו׳] Your father who blesses you with all good in materiality and spirituality, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, [Torah portion of] B'ha'aloscha , 5692, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. [Note: The manuscript reads נתן יחי — "Nosson may he live" — without the usual ה at the end, likely a scribal abbreviation] Praise to G-d [ taf-lamed ] for the lives and the peace. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help us in His kindness with complete salvation in every detail. Your letter from the portion of Bamidbar — we received. And what you offer as an excuse regarding thoughts and imaginings [ machshavos v'hirhurim ] — certainly the truth is that one must long for the complete rectification of thought. But one must be very careful not to fall through this into any sadness and worries, G-d forbid. For sadness and worries — even when one is saddened and worried about the deficiency and the corruption of deeds and thoughts — this is a great corruption, far greater than all manner of corruptions of thought and deed. Only one must search within oneself and find good points [ nekudos tovos ] — and strengthen oneself always in joy in all possible ways — both through the good points in spirituality, and through the expansions and the kindnesses that one finds in materiality — when one looks with the eye of truth at the kindnesses and goodnesses that Hashem, may He be blessed, bestows upon every person at every time. Thus our master, of blessed memory, warns us in all his holy books. If only we would merit to fulfill this. And regarding the rectification of thought — it is very good to study several times in the Likutay Aitzos with Hebrew-Yiddish — the entry "Machshavos v'hirhurim" [thoughts and imaginings] — and to look very carefully, very carefully [ היטב היטב — deliberate repetition ] into the Hebrew-Yiddish explanation — and to fulfill what is explained there: how one must conduct oneself in the matter of thoughts. And also to recite the Likutay Tefilos [ the book of prayers based on Rebbe Nachman's teachings, compiled by Reb Nosson ] — all the prayers that speak about the matter of thought. And certainly you will receive from this, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, great healing for the rectification and purification of thought. But one must not be saddened and must not worry about this — for sadness and worries are worse than everything. Only one must be very careful to strengthen oneself in joy as mentioned above. For the quality of joy [ midas hasimchah ] is a rectification and a protection for the thought — that it should not be corrupted in the future — and is a great benefit for rectifying the thought from corruptions of the past. Therefore be very careful to distance yourself from sadness — and strengthen yourself in joy in all possible ways. Also: the longing for the holy Tziyon of our master, of blessed memory, must also be without any sadness — but only in settled mind [ yishuv hada'as ] and in joy, etc. [וכו׳] There is no more sufficient leisure to elaborate in writing. If only you would fulfill what is written in this letter. Your father who blesses you — together with all your household — with all good in materiality and spirituality, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, [Torah portions of] Matos-Masei , 5692, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. We are here to inform you that we are, with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, among the living and in peace, etc. [וכו׳] [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...My dear son — what you offer as an excuse every time regarding your livelihood: the main thing is that you are not contemplating as is fitting the kindnesses and expansions that Hashem, may He be blessed, bestows upon you and upon your household — both in bodily health and in livelihood — and in particular regarding the children, may they live forever [ l'oyvisht ]. It appears that you have forgotten what passed over you — may it not be remembered now [ nit itzt gedacht — a Yiddish idiom meaning "may such troubles not be remembered/repeated now" ] — regarding the children, may they live. And because of this you do not feel the great goodness and the magnitude of the kindness that Hashem, may He be blessed, has done with you — and has granted you as a free gift [ matnas chinam ] — children, may they live, etc. [וכו׳] You must remember this and give thanks in truth. And [remember] the Talmudic saying: "He who gives life will give sustenance" [ Talmud, Ta'anis 8b — if G-d granted life, He will certainly provide sustenance as well ]. And in particular: you should accustom yourself and strengthen yourself to truly fulfill "thankfulness for the past" [ modeh al he'avar ] — and prayer with true faith for the future [ tefillah b'emunah emes al he'asid ] — meaning: give thanks to Hashem, may He be blessed, for every kindness that He does with you and with your household — for the past — and pray to Hashem, may He be blessed, for kindnesses and goodnesses for the future. But — all not asleep and not aged [ nit farshlofen un nit fareltert ] — but fresh and alive — and at least somewhat with joy — not, G-d forbid, with worry and sadness. You should always thus strengthen yourself to fulfill [this] — and I believe that Hashem, may He be blessed, would expand [ volt dir merakhev geven ] for you in every detail. Your father who awaits the salvation of Hashem always — and also your salvation in every detail, Shimshon Barski.

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.

The great recurring themes:

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.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Monday, [Torah portion of] Chayei Sarah , 5694, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...May Hashem, may He be blessed, have mercy and expand [ yarchiv ] for us in His great mercies. At present we are sustained every day through new miracles [ nisim chadashim ]. And one must always trust in Hashem, may He be blessed. And this is the main thing: to recognize every day the kindnesses of Hashem, may He be blessed, and His mercy — and not to worry from one day to the next [ miyom l'chaveiro ]. And to strengthen oneself with all force always — in faith and in joy. And to guard oneself greatly from the falsehood and the impurity that now wander about in the world — and even from the errors that wander about among the God-fearing and the believers among the children of Israel — even among some of Anash who are far from the truth to its truth — from those too one must guard oneself greatly. And there is much to say about this — but this is not the place to explain it for many reasons, etc. [וכו׳] Your father who blesses you with all good in materiality and spirituality, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, [Torah portion of] Va'era , 5694, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...And may we always merit to recognize and to feel the kindnesses of Hashem, may He be blessed, and His great mercy — that He bestows upon us at every time and every hour and every moment, etc. [וכו׳] — and this is certainly in the merit of our master, of blessed memory, etc. [וכו׳] And strengthen yourself anew in faith and trust in Hashem, may He be blessed — in general and in particular — regarding livelihood. For it is explained in the book Sefer HaMidos [ a work of Rebbe Nachman, also known as Aleph-Beis — an alphabetically arranged collection of teachings ] — entry Banim [children] — paragraph 3 — in these very words: "A person has no need to worry about the livelihood of his children — for as they grow, their livelihood grows with them" [ Sefer HaMidos, Banim 3 — a teaching of Rebbe Nachman ]. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help us to believe completely in all the words of the true sages — and in particular in the words of the true Tzadik. Our health and our livelihood are certainly in kindness and mercy — but we need greater mercy still — in such a manner that we will be saved from afflictions. And this is in the hand of Hashem, may He be blessed, alone — and He will have mercy upon us always. Your father who blesses you in spirituality and materiality — and who always prays to Hashem, may He be blessed, on your behalf, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Monday, [Torah portion of] Terumah , 5694, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson — and to all his household, may they live. [Note: The usual formula "may he live" after "Nosson" is absent here] [Letter opens with ellipsis:] [ Yiddish — main body: ] Without excuse — do not forget the magnitude of the kindness and the mercy of the good gift — that Hashem, may He be blessed, has granted you merit to have: children, may they live. For truly — this is a free gift [ matnas chinam ] — and you should always believe and trust in Hashem, may He be blessed — that He will provide livelihood for you and for the children, may they live. You should take care [ acht geben ] that the children, may they live, should not be caught, G-d forbid, in matters of prohibition that are taking place at this time [ a reference to the spiritual and religious dangers under the Soviet regime ]. And in particular — save them from the false opinions and the false wisdoms that are operating in the world at this time. And may Hashem, may He be blessed, have mercy upon us and guard us from all manner of illnesses and afflictions and from all manner of fears — and give to you and to all your children length of days and years — and good livelihood in ample provision and in pleasure and with kashrut — and all good in materiality and spirituality. And in particular in the coming days — which is the month of Adar — in which one must increase in joy [ Talmud, Ta'anis 29a ]. Your father who blesses you with all good in materiality and spirituality, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Tuesday, [Torah portion of] Shemini , 5694, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson — together with all his household, may they live. I am here to inform you that with us, blessed be G-d, there is life and peace. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help us and save us — to hear and to make heard only good always. I am greatly astonished that we have received from you no letter for such a long time. Therefore I ask you to inform us immediately of your wellbeing, your health, and your livelihood — and from each of the children, may they live, for length of days and good years. Without excuse — always look at the expansions and the kindnesses that Hashem, may He be blessed, does with you — and distance from your boundary sadness and worries in every manner of distancing. Do not look at the deficiencies and the trials at all — for deficiencies and trials pass over all the people of the world — even over the wealthy — who, from the holy daas of our master, of blessed memory, know nothing — and do not know with what to give themselves life — and their lives are no life at all. But we — Hashem, may He be blessed, in His mercy has granted us merit to know a little of his holy daas and his holy counsels — and we need to fulfill them in general and in particular: the quality of joy — and in particular to distance from oneself sadness and melancholy [ yarah shechorah ] — for upon this depends the very essence of Judaism. And we need to always strengthen ourselves in joy — and give thanks and praise always to Hashem, may He be blessed, for the kindnesses and goodnesses that He does with us. And always strengthen ourselves in materiality with the verse "In my distress You have broadened me" [ Tehillim / Psalms 4:2 ] — as per the explanation of our master, of blessed memory. And in spirituality — strengthen oneself always with the Torah teaching "Azamrah le'Elokai b'odi" — "I will sing to my G-d while I yet exist" [ Tehillim / Psalms 146:2 — the Torah teaching of Rebbe Nachman based on this verse in Likutay Moharan ] — which our master, of blessed memory, warned very much to always go with this Torah teaching in order to be saved from sadness and from smallness of mind [ katanut hamoyach ] — which is a great blemish even when it comes from spirituality. And on both paths mentioned above — namely: "In my distress You have broadened me" and "I will sing to my G-d while I yet exist" — one can live a life of rest in spirituality and materiality. And all my vitality and existence is only through these two paths — in all that passes over me. And this is all my strengthening. And so you too should do. And when you fulfill all the above — with the help of Hashem, may He be blessed, you will always find kindnesses and expansions in materiality — and many good points in spirituality. Your father who blesses you — together with all your household — with all good in materiality and spirituality — and for the reception of the festival of Passover with kashrut and joy, Shimshon.

✎ Translator's Summary — Added by the Translator Summary & Key Themes — Letters 32–47 (5688–5692)

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, [Torah portions of] Tazria-Metzora [ תו"מ — abbreviation ], 5694, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. Your letter from this past week we received. And I am here to inform you that certainly Hashem, may He be blessed, does great kindnesses and great mercies for us — in materiality and in spirituality. And for the festival of Passover — Hashem, may He be blessed, provided for us matzos and wine of the vine and meat and fish and the rest of the necessary needs — all in ample provision. And for the future — one must strengthen oneself anew in faith in Providence and true trust — and believe that Hashem, may He be blessed, will not abandon us, etc. [וכו׳] Your father who always seeks mercy on your behalf, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Wednesday, [Torah portion of] Vayeshev , 5695, Uman. [Note: The manuscript reads אומאן — a variant spelling of אומין (Uman)] Addressed to: My dear son [ b'ni hayakar ], Nosson, may he live — together with all his household, may they live. I am here to inform you that we are, blessed be G-d, among the living and in peace. May Hashem, may He be blessed, help [us] to hear and to make heard only good and kindness always. I am greatly astonished that you wrote that you have not received from us any letter for a long time — I cannot understand this — for not long ago I sent you a large registered letter [ zakaznoye — Yiddish/Russian: a registered postal letter ] with many words of faith and true strengthening. Presumably you received the said letter after your sending us the letter from the night after the holy Sabbath of the portion of Toldos . There is no news with us. May Hashem, may He be blessed, have mercy and continue to draw upon us kindnesses and mercy as we require always — and grant us merit to true faith and true trust — which is the very essence of kindness and mercy. For through this one can always live a life of rest and a life of tranquility [ chayei menucha v'chayei shalvah ] — for the riches and the expansions of the world are bitter and embitter the lives of their owners — knowingly and unknowingly. But true faith and trust nullify from their owners the bitterness — and draw to them a life of rest and tranquility. Your father who blesses you with all good in materiality and spirituality, Shimshon.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Addressed to: My dear son [ b'ni hayakar ], Nosson, may he live — together with all his household, may they live. I ask you to inform me about my dear and beloved grandson, Yisrael, may he live — for length of days and years — whether he is going to the cheder [Jewish elementary school] to learn — whether he knows the letters [ osiyos ] and the vowel-points [ nekudos ] — whether the teacher studies with him the blessings [ brachos ] for all manner of food and drink, and similar matters. And without excuse — conduct yourself with him with gentleness [ b'nichusa ] in every matter — and do not impose upon him any fear or dread whatsoever in any matter. For the mind of a child is very weak — as is known — and because of this it is forbidden to impose upon him any fear or dread of any thing — so that he not come to any stumbling-block, G-d forbid. Also — without excuse — tell the teacher with whom he learns: that he should not conduct himself with him with any anger or irritation [ keas v'rogez ] — and not impose upon him any fear or dread — both during the study of the Siddur and during the learning of the blessings and similar matters. Let him conduct himself with him with gentleness — and not with anger and irritation — so that his mind not be weakened, G-d forbid. Without excuse — fulfill everything as per my writing in this letter. And may Hashem, may He be blessed, help in His mercy — that you raise him together with all your children for Torah and good deeds — from within the expansiveness and pleasure of holiness [ min toch harchavah v'nachas d'kedushah ]. Your father, Shimshon.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Monday, [Torah portion of] Beshalach , 5695, Uman. Addressed to: My dear son, Nosson, may he live — and to all his household, may they live. [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...And the main thing: strengthen yourself always in faith in Providence — and in true trust in Hashem, may He be blessed. And believe with all your heart that He, may He be blessed, sustains all creatures — and you too He will not abandon — together with all your household, may they live. And without excuse — distance yourself very, very much from worries — and in particular from sadness — may the Merciful One save us [ Rachmana litzlan ]. And when you strengthen yourself in joy always — you will see with your own eyes the miracles of Hashem, may He be blessed, and His goodnesses and kindnesses at every time. Your father who seeks your peace and your good always — and who blesses you with all good in materiality and spirituality, Shimshon Barski.

ב"ה — With the help of G-d. Thursday, [Torah portion of] Vayeilech , 5695, Uman. Opening blessing: A good completion and a good sealing [ gemar chasimah tovah ] for life and peace and length of days and years and all good in materiality and spirituality. [Letter opens with ellipsis:] ...And from afar I feel what has passed over you — may it not be remembered now [ nit itzt gedacht ]. And from now on — may Hashem, may He be blessed, guard you and all your children from all manner of ailments and afflictions and from all manner of fears — and give to you and to all your children length of days and years — and good livelihood in ample provision and in pleasure and with kashrut — and all good in materiality and spirituality — for His sake, may He be blessed, and in the merit of the true Tzadikim who gave to the children in the forest [ an allusion to a story from the Sipuray Maasiyos — the stories of Rebbe Nachman — in which Tzadikim give children in a forest good and long life ] — good lives and long lives — as is explained in the Sipuray Maasiyos . I longed to elaborate further in writing — but because it is close to the Sabbath [ samuch l'Shabbos ] — and also because we are now between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur [ בין כסא לעשור — between the New Moon and the tenth: the Ten Days of Repentance ] — and one must increase greatly in prayer and supplication to Hashem, may He be blessed — that He guard us in His mercy in the new year from all manner of afflictions and fears — and give us in His mercy as a free gift [ b'matnas chinam ]: life and peace and all good, etc., etc. [וכו׳ וכו׳] — and because of this there is not sufficient leisure to elaborate in writing. Your father who blesses you — together with your children, may they live — with a good completion and a good sealing [ gemar chasimah tovah ], Shimshon Barski.

Letter 60 is among the most beautiful in the entire collection — distilling Rabbi Shimshon's personal path to a single sentence: "All my vitality and existence is only through these two paths — in all that passes over me." The two paths: "In my distress You have broadened me" (for materiality) and "I will sing to my G-d while I yet exist" (for spirituality). Letter 63 is entirely about his grandson Yisrael's education — a grandfather's urgent plea: no anger, no fear, no harsh words from teacher or parent. The child's mind is tender. Raise him with gentleness alone.

Letter 65 — the final letter of the entire book — is written on the eve of Rosh Hashana, in the Ten Days of Repentance. Rabbi Shimshon is close to the Sabbath, close to the holy day, and has no time to elaborate. He blesses his son with a gemar chasimah tovah — a good completion and a good sealing — and it is with this blessing that the book closes.

✎ Translator's Summary — Added by the Translator

Summary — The Final Installment (Letters 48–65)