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Introduction
Who is the man who desires life, who chooses eternal life
[Psalms 34:13]? Who truly pities his soul, who is for the Lord [II Chronicles
15:12]? Let him set his heart to this small volume, small in quantity but great
in quality. Look and see, and be astonished, utterly amazed [Habakkuk 1:5], for
a work has been wrought in their days: paths and counsels, wondrous and
awesome, new yet also ancient, founded upon bases of fine gold [Song of Songs
5:11], planted by streams of water [Psalms 1:3], flowing from the fountain that
issues from the House of the Lord [Joel 4:18]. Deep waters are the counsel in a
man’s heart, which a man of understanding draws forth [Proverbs 20:5]. Come,
behold the works of the Lord [Psalms 46:9]; set your hearts to these words, for
they are matters that stand at the height of the world. Words of the living G-d
and eternal King: words that revive all souls, from the small to the great,
from the highest of levels to the very lowest degree. No word of holy counsel
is hidden from you that you will not find in this book, and all that your soul
asks will not be withheld from you by this small volume. Incline your ear and
hear, open your eyes and see [Isaiah 42:20]; understand and perceive the truth
in its truth. Remove from yourself stubbornness of heart and the ways of
mockery and falsehood. Keep far from you the wisdoms of vanity. Have pity on
your soul and incline your mind and thoughts to the truth in its truth, for if,
G-d forbid, you turn aside from the truth, whom will you deceive? Surely you
will deceive only yourself. Bring this book and look into it: Is there
injustice in its tongue, G-d forbid? Has its step turned aside from the
straight and true path, the path our fathers trod from of old? In the Lord I
have trusted; I shall not be ashamed by these words, neither in this world nor
in the world to come [Psalms 25:2]. I will thank the Lord greatly with my
mouth, and in the midst of the multitude I will praise Him [Psalms 109:30], for
He stood at the right hand of a poor one like me [Psalms 109:31], and
strengthened me and fortified me to gather these awesome roses, these precious
treasures and eternal remedies, these lives of souls, from wells of living
waters, from the fountains of salvation [Isaiah 12:3]. All that flows from them
is founded upon the words of our fathers and our teachers, of blessed memory,
in the Written Torah and the Oral Torah; in the Torah, Prophets, and Writings;
in the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmud; in the Midrashim and the holy books of
the Zohar; and the books of the Ari, of blessed memory. Upon them are these
words built and established, those brought in this awesome volume. To expound
at length on their praiseworthy virtues, a multitude of pages would fall short.
But one who gazes upon them with the eye of truth will see for himself the
precious splendor of their greatness, and the truth will testify for itself.
The Lord, G-d of truth [Jeremiah 10:10], will grant truth to Jacob [Micah
7:20], and send His light and His truth to guide us always in the path of truth
[Psalms 43:3]. May He incline our shoulders to serve Him all the days of our
lives in truth, to love peace and truth [Zechariah 8:19], until the throne of
David is established in kindness, and he sits upon it in truth, speedily in our
days, Amen [Isaiah 16:5].
Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman
