אות - ז

[These words were said after Shavuos 569 (1809).[55]] It is very good for someone who is able, to pour out his words before Hashem Yisburach piteously and pleadingly, like a son who yearns before his father, for behold Hashem Yisburach already called us sons, as it is written: "You are sons to Hashem your G-d" [Deuteronomy 14:1]. Therefore it is very good to express one's words and troubles before Him Blessed He like a son who complains before his father with cute and endearing motions which are called "piyestin" (playing, cooing), and even if it seems to someone that in accordance to his conduct he is not like a son before Him Blessed He — even still, behold Hashem Yisburach called us sons, as mentioned above. (Because (Kiddushin 36a): either way — whether or not Israel act befittingly — they are called (by You) sons.[56]) And if now He banishes me Heaven forbid from the aspect of a son, He shall do what is good in His eyes, (but) it is on me to do my part, to make myself as a son,[57] as mentioned above. And how good it is when one can arouse his heart with entreaties until he cries and sheds tears[58] like a son before his father.[59]

And I heard a story about my grandfather Rabbi Nachman[60] o.b.m., when he was on a boat. One time they didn't have bread, and they didn't eat for a few days, until they arrived at some city, and there weren't any Jews there, just Arabs. And one Arab took the aforementioned Rabbi Nachman and gave him to eat, and he had already not eaten many days, and he washed his hands and made the blessing of "hamoatzee (produces bread from the earth)." And before he began to eat, a thought came to him: "Do not (partake the) bread of the stingy ('evil-eyed')" [Proverbs 23:7]. "And our thoughts are not vain whatsoever," (so said Rabbi Nachman my aforementioned grandfather when he related this story), "and I did not know what to do, because I had already made the blessing of 'hamoatzee,' but even still my mind was set to abstain altogether from eating because of this thought.[61]" Afterwards a thought came to him: "And the ravens I have commanded to provide for you" [Kings I 17:4 — Hashem sent Elijah the Prophet food via ravens, known for their greed and cruelty], and then he ate.[62] (And Rabbainu o.b.m. said, when he was relating this: "And this is deserving and very favorable in my eyes that which he set it based on his thought, that evidently if it came to his mind that it was so, certainly it is truly so.[63]) Similarly regarding all the thoughts that come to a person to confuse him, afterwards Hashem Yisburach helps him and sends him a different thought of drawing close. Like the matter mentioned above, that sometimes it seems to a person that he isn't worthy of being like a son before Him blessed He and so forth — even still, it is incumbent on him to do his part as mentioned above, and afterwards Hashem Yisburach will help him, and send him thoughts of drawing close. Because in reality all of Israel, they are all called sons by Him blessed He, and therefore it is appropriate for us to express our words and our distress before Him blessed He as a son who complains before his father.