טו

And now we return to speak of the city of Breslov, where the beatings and stonings intensified so greatly that the majority abandoned Moharan"as as mentioned. And these are the might and wonders of the Creator Yisborach — that even so, a surviving remnant remained among wolves and lions such as these; and yet they could not [prevail] against them, nor against Moharan"as who was then in Kremenchug as mentioned. And though the bilet had been sent to him to return home, his beloved friends wrote him letters and informed him of the letters of the Savraner which had been sent to the towns as mentioned, and wrote that their counsel was that he not come to Breslov, for they saw that if he came they would certainly kill him. And these are the letters referred to in the book of Moharan"as's letters, printed in Jerusalem — in the letter from Monday, Mishpatim, 5595, see there; and in the letter from Monday, Terumah, 5595, see there. For his friends knew that when Moharan"as traveled home from Kremenchug he would certainly travel via Uman; and they imagined that when he received their letters he would remain there and not come to Breslov. But when Moharan"as za'l came to Uman and read the letters there, he nonetheless strengthened and fortified himself through the power of Rabeinu za'l and his prayer, to travel home. And he said: despite all this, I am prepared to travel to my home — only I will remain here at any rate for some time to be vigilant at the gates of the mercy of Hashem Yisborach and to multiply prayer at the holy tziyun of Admor.

He also immediately wrote a letter to the anash of Teplik that they too should come to Uman to join him in prayer. Since this was at the end of the month of Tevet, close to Erev Rosh Chodesh Shevat, the people of Teplik came for Erev Rosh Chodesh Shevat to Uman — among them was also the Rav of Teplik. And Moharan"as told them that the Shulchan Aruch in Choshen Mishpat states: if the pursuer who endangers life is a powerful man and it is impossible to stand against him, it is permitted to hand one's judgment to Heaven. And so all the anash who had come there went with him to Admor's holy tziyun, and he cried out: "Why are you silent? Has he not risen against us, etc.!" And they all prayed with great and powerful weeping and cried out great and bitter cries; and Erev Rosh Chodesh was there more than Yom Kippur. And they greatly besought mercy there from Hashem Yisborach. And he also told them to say kapitel 109 of Tehillim (Psalms). And their cry ascended to the heavens; and not many days passed before the Rav of Savran was stricken with the illness of an intestinal rupture [shever beme'av].

This illness lasted three years until he died from it in a shameful death, as will be mentioned further on. But since at first he did not imagine that the illness would overpower him so greatly, he did not abandon the dispute — until Hashem Yisborach arranged yet other circumstances to quiet the dispute, as will be mentioned further on.