סב

In that summer mentioned above, my son Meir zichrono livracha — who had been born in Cheshvan 5561 as mentioned — passed away. May the Omnipresent comfort me among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

In that summer mentioned above, Rabbainu zichrono livracha sent me to Berdichev to collect a debt for him from his brother-in-law. And I traveled in that summer, and afterward in the following winter — up to five times — until I collected the debt, blessed be Hashem. But several other good things also grew from this — that I went on his mission to Berdichev. And for the printing of his book Likutay Moharan Tinyanna there was great benefit in what I had first been in Berdichev — and something of this will be explained below if Hashem wills it. In that summer mentioned above, his daughter Moras Miryam zichronah livracha traveled to Eretz Yisroel. For she was the daughter-in-law of the Gaon of Valtchisk — and her husband, our teacher the Rav Pinchos zichrono livracha, had already traveled with his father the Gaon mentioned above to Eretz Yisroel in the summer of 5565. And she had remained here — for Rabbainu zichrono livracha had not then been willing to send her to Eretz Yisroel with her husband. And even now Rabbainu zichrono livracha did not wish to send her there. And it was close to the point that she would receive a bill of divorce from her husband. But afterward Hashem Blessed be He arranged it that she herself agreed to travel to Eretz Yisroel. And she traveled in that summer of 5569 mentioned above — with her brothers-in-law, the sons of the Rav of Valtchisk. And Rabbainu zichrono livracha accompanied her himself — going far out of the city on foot — and did not wish to sit on the wagon. And he said: "To Eretz Yisroel one must walk on foot." And all the people of the city walked with him to accompany her in joy and festivity. And wondrous things were heard from his holy mouth at that time. And I did not merit to be present for all of this — for I was on his mission to Berdichev.

In the year 5570 he said at Rosh Hashana the Torah "Tikeu Emuna" [Blow — Faith] [Likutay Tinyanna §5] — which is a very greatly sustained discourse, the like of which in length cannot be found elsewhere among his books. And there were then several stories. At first we spoke with him about the "Magney Eretz" [Shield of the Land] that his opponent had mentioned, and so on.

And also at that Rosh Hashana — when he went to say Tashlich [the casting of sins] — he slipped and fell zichrono livracha and remained sitting on the mud and filth. And his clothes and hand were soiled. And immediately they brought him a change of clothing and water, and his garment was exchanged and his hand washed. And he said not a word about it. And he walked and said Tashlich near the synagogue — for the river was visible from there, since he did not have the strength to walk to the large river as was his way always. Afterward he said the Torah "Tikeu" mentioned above. And at the end of that Torah teaching he mentioned the verse "And I will have compassion on them" and so on — that a person must throw himself into mud and mire in order to perform the will of Hashem Blessed be He. And through this one merits to attain the aspect of the tzaddik and good for him, and so on. Study there that wondrous and awesome matter in detail — and you will understand the wonders of Hashem: how in everything that occurred with him there were wonders upon wonders. And behold — in that year there were no esrogim [citrons] to be found at all. And Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur had already passed, and two and three days after — and still no esrogim had reached our region. And on the night of Motzai Shabbas — which was Sunday, one day before Sukkos — esrogim arrived to the holy community of Nemirov. And there was a very great and awesome commotion there — for a number of people had been waiting in Nemirov for esrogim. And Hashem Blessed be He arranged in His mercy that they also sent esrogim here to Breslov. And Rabbi Naftali traveled with the man who was bringing them here — so that he would not travel with the esrogim somewhere else. And they arrived here on Sunday morning, several hours before daylight. And they roused Rabbainu zichrono livracha. And he purchased a beautiful and wondrous esrog. And he had unbounded, immeasurable joy and delight — great, vast, and mighty.

And he said to Rabbi Naftali: "Was it not so — when you entered the city here, a great light was revealed in all the worlds? For I knew there would be esrogim — for I was confident in the prayer of the Tzaddik the Rav the Gaon of Berdichev — zecher tzaddik v'kadosh livracha. For he is the pride of our congregation." (That is: of all the renowned Tzadikim.) And in the Ashkenazic tongue he said: "Vos da iz di fabrik fun Yudeshkeit" — that here [in Berdichev] is the factory of Jewishness. "This is a wondrous thing."