כה

On Thursday — 24 Tishrei — Isru Chag Sukkos 5586 — Hashem Blessed be He helped me: they opened for me the building where the press stood — which had been sealed until now for more than a year and a half. But the press itself was still sealed — until Hashem has mercy quickly. And I will tell the deeds of Hashem — all that passed in this — aside from what is hidden before Hashem our G-d. For Hashem Blessed be He makes great wonders alone — for the one to whom the miracle happens does not recognize his own miracle. After Rosh Hashonah 5586 mentioned above — I rewrote the book Likutay Aytzos — which was the condensed version — with many additions. And there is a complete story about this too.

And behold — the entire year passed. And my hope was still frustrated — for no proper answer had arrived from there. And also in that same year 5586 mentioned above — the hand of Hashem touched me. For my first wife of blessed memory was taken from me on Rosh Chodesh Elul of that year. And before that — my son, my daughter, and my daughter-in-law may they live were bedridden. And I was then away on the road. And they were in very great danger. And through Hashem's pity all of them returned to health — praised be G-d. But afterward my wife mentioned above fell ill. And she passed away in peace as mentioned. And I came home on Tuesday after her passing — in the very depth of my anguish and bitterness of soul and broken heart. For also afterward my son and daughter may they live were not in complete good health. And I had very great anguish — aside from other confusions and so on. And within this — the holy days of Rosh Hashonah arrived. And I traveled on the first Sunday of Selichos to Uman — as was our way every year. And I left my orphaned children at home alone — in very great weakness. And the very depth of the compassion that was then upon me and upon them — impossible to tell. And Hashem in His great mercy did not withdraw His kindness from me. And on that very journey — one man from our anshei sh'lomaynu aroused me to see about printing the remainder of the Prayers at another press — outside my home. And I immediately became strengthened in this. And I trusted in the kindness of Hashem that He would provide me with the large expense. And so I did. And all the obstacles that passed in this — impossible to tell. But Hashem's right hand is exalted — He helped me in His great mercy. And praised be G-d — I completed the Prayers in that year — the year 5587. What shall I speak — He spoke and did. How shall I come before Hashem for all His recompense upon me — that I merited to complete such a merit for the many — which was never in the days of the world.

In the year 5587 mentioned above — in the beginning of Cheshvan — I married my second wife. And in that same year — my son Nachman may he live was born on Monday — 5 Elul. May Hashem Blessed be He bless us to raise him to Torah, to the chupah, and to good deeds — to length of days and years. Amen. At the end of the year 5587 — close to Rosh Hashonah — the evil decree went out in our country to take Jewish men into the army. And we had very great fears then. And then I composed several more Prayers about the decrees — and other Prayers from other discourses from which Prayers had not yet been written. May Hashem Blessed be He help me to bring them to light quickly.

At the end of the year 5589 — we came to Uman to be there for Rosh Hashonah 5590 — as was our custom always. And we had no place in which to pray. For at the beginning — on the first Rosh Hashonah after his passing — which was the year 5572 — we had prayed in the new kloiz that had been built there that summer. For the people of the kloiz had asked us to pray there. And they received us there with great honor. And afterward the matter continued for several years — that we prayed there until the year 5582. At that time — since the number of people traveling to Rosh Hashonah — may Hashem increase them and so on — multiplied, it became impossible to continue praying in the kloiz there. For for our anshei sh'lomaynu alone — we needed our own private study hall.

And then Hashem Blessed be He had pity on us — and suddenly a certain wealthy patron was found there — his name was Rabbi Mordechai — who asked us with great honor to enter his home to pray. And he cleared for us a large room with another large room beside it. And set up for us tables and benches. And prepared for us candles and water. And arranged everything properly. And we prayed there several years. Afterward that man passed away. And we prayed there after his death also one or two more years. Afterward the matter rolled about and it became impossible to pray there any more. And we began to pray in the house of Rabbi Nachman Natan in the ambar [covered area] — in which we had prayed on Rosh Hashonah during his holy living days. And we prayed there also several years. And it came to pass in the year 5590 — it was impossible to pray there any more. And we had great anguish. And we sought a place to rent. And Hashem Blessed be He provided for us a new house that was nearly completed. And the homeowner asked us to pray there — to inaugurate his new home with the holiness of the prayers of fearful and upright Israelites such as these. And we prayed there.

And then close to that Rosh Hashonah — Hashem sent into my heart a powerful arousal that I should engage with all my strength to begin to work on the building of a study hall for our holy gathering in Uman. And this had already occurred to me — and we had already spoken of this several times. But the matter was not assisted until that year — when we saw that we were left very homeless and wandering. And then Hashem strengthened my heart to engage in this. And I knew that the obstacles to this were very very great — both from lack of money since great expense was needed for this — and from fear of the opponents who might prevent it — Heaven forbid. But I knew that even though at every time obstacles stood against us when we wished to engage in his holy affairs touching his holy legacy in the world — even so Hashem Blessed be He always helped us to complete everything. As Hashem Blessed be He had already helped me in the printing matter many times and so on. And all that passed in this — no leisure to tell. For certainly the obstacles and opposition afterward were without measure. But even so I strengthened my hands in Hashem. Until — through Hashem's mercy — I laid the foundation of the holy building in that year — the year 5592 — in the month of Cheshvan. And I worked at this for two years — collecting money and buying the plot and so on. And there passed in this what passed — in particular in the previous year — which was the year 5591 — when the terrible bitter illness called cholera — may the Merciful One save us — went out into the world. It was worse than plague — may the Merciful One save us — and it killed thousands and tens of thousands of souls. And all winter the world was locked. May Hashem have mercy from now on. And afterward close to Shavuos there was the great rebellion of Poland — that Poland rebelled against the Emperor may his honor be exalted. And even so I did not abandon the will and the yearning — and to pray to Hashem Blessed be He about this. And through Hashem's mercy — He did not hide His face from us. And He helped me through the merit of the many — through His wondrous awesome ways beyond reckoning. And He helped us to lay the foundation in that year. What no one would have believed hearing our report — that it would be possible for us to establish a study hall in his holy name in Uman after such dispute and opposition. But truth stands. And the counsel of Hashem will stand forever. For He completed — and will complete all according to His will — and according to the will of all His true fearers. May Hashem Blessed be He help us to complete this holy building quickly. May Hashem complete for our sake. May our eyes see and our hearts rejoice and our souls exult in Your salvation in truth. Amen.