קנה

Let it not be a wonder in your eyes that I did not reply to you until now — on your letter about the matter of the proposed match that was laid before you. Know — that at the time I received your letter — I was not in the line of health — for I was ill with the katir, G-d have mercy — for approximately ten days — and I did not go even to the synagogue to pray. But my wife, may she live, encountered the elderly mother of the desired one — and came to ask — who and who — and I told her — and it was very pleasing in her eyes. But I wanted to investigate the nature of the young man — in learning — and I could not go out. Afterward a certain woman came and told some falsehood — that the people of Karlin [The Chassidim of the Karlin dynasty — a prominent Chassidic group; the claim is that they refuse to intermarry with Breslov Chassidim] do not agree to make a match with the people of Breslov. And afterward — once again — my wife, may she live, was in the marketplace — and she saw his mother and the elderly woman — and they asked her what had been heard about this. And my wife said: I heard that you do not want — because of Breslov. And they said: who told you? For our holy Tzaddik father from Chmelnik [The holy Tzaddik of Chmelnik — a prominent Chassidic leader; he is the father of the desired young man and he himself is a son-in-law-in-law of Reb Avraham Ber — a distinguished pedigree connecting both families] — he is a son-in-law — and Reb Avraham Ber is his second-degree-relative. And I know that they are all proper people.

And when I heard this — I began to investigate the nature of the young man. First: he is of fine appearance. And also in learning he is good — namely — he can study a page of Gemara anywhere — only posek [Posek — legal decisor; Halachic literature — he has not studied the decisors, the codified law — the Shulchan Aruch and its commentaries — but he can learn Gemara fluently] he has not studied. And he walks on the straight and correct path. Afterward I met with his brother Morainu v'Rabbainu Yechiel, may his candle shine — who is the scribe in the Volhynia kollel [The Volhynia kollel — one of the regional charitable funds in Eretz Yisroel organized by region of origin; Reb Yechiel holds an administrative position as its scribe] — and he too is pleasing to people. And I asked him: what will be the financial obligations? You will give two thousand groshen — and they will give two thousand five hundred groshen. And the money will be Teverya money. [מעות טבריא — "Teverya money" — the local currency standard of Teverya, which differed from the currency standard of other cities; specifying "Teverya money" establishes which monetary scale is being used for the dowry] And from this money — they will take for the gifts — both for the bride and for the groom — as much as they wish. And here — room and board for the couple — only one year. And in Basilik [ביסיליק — Basilik or Vasilik — a town in the diaspora where the groom's family is based; the dowry will be arranged there] — the dowry will be arranged as follows: at the time of the engagement — they will make only heads of paragraphs [ראשי פרקים — "heads of paragraphs" — a preliminary outline agreement; not the full detailed contract but the main points only; the detailed terms are left for the formal tna'im — betrothal conditions] — and set a time for the formal conditions. And at the time of the formal conditions — the clearing of the dowry from both sides will take place. For Reb Yechiel, may his candle shine, will write to his father, may his candle shine — and send the dowry immediately — for he wrote that the dowry has been bound up under his hand for a considerable time already.

And know — that they very much want this — for I told them from what family you are. But I do not know how the conclusion can happen — whether you will travel here — or whether they will travel to your encampment. Therefore write to me whether you want this — in the manner that I wrote to you. And also — how much will your support provision be? And I will speak once more. And know — that they are proper people — and of a fine family — both on the father's side and on the mother's side.

And only from Hashem — who makes the matches — will the match be concluded — "in good" [בכי טוב — "in very good" — the Talmudic expression for completely well and good; but also an allusion: כי טוב — "for it is good" — the phrase used for each day of Creation] — "and there is no good except the Tzaddik." [From the Talmud, Kiddushin 40a — "there is no good except Torah" — and in Breslov teaching this is extended: there is no good except the Tzaddik who embodies the Torah; the match will be sealed through the merit of the Tzaddik] And in the merit of Rabbainu ז"ל — who said that he knows the matter of matches and unions in a way that no person in the world yet knows — and he is the Great Matchmaker — may Hashem Yisbarach help you — that it should be at a propitious hour — and a fitting match from Heaven — for long life and good years — and for generations upon generations — without limit.

Words of one who desires your success and truly loves you, Nussun from Breslov

Written Thursday, Parshas Va'eira, 5643 (January 1883), from Teverya. A full investigation of the proposed match for Reb Eliezer. Fine appearance, good learning (Gemara but not decisors), straight path. Financial terms in detail. Rabbainu ז"ל as the Great Matchmaker.

Praise to G-d — blessed be G-d, blessed be G-d — here all of us are in life and in peace. So may Hashem Yisbarach merit me — to hear from you — life and peace — from within expansiveness — and from within joy — and from within a comprehensive love — without any separation at all. For love and peace are wondrous vessels for holding all good in them.