תרפ"ח

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.