Letter 56 נ"ו

To the honored selves of my dear beloved and pleasant brothers — bound to my soul, etc., etc. — the distinguished Torah scholar, our Master R' Shlomo, may he live — and R' Noton, may he live.

I received their dear letter — and greatly rejoiced to hear of their good welfare — and of the good tidings that they are working on the matter of saving me from death — from the grave — from the pit — from the depths of the sea. And I ask from now on — please, please — do not be lax about this at all, even for a moment. For truly my life is no life. For there is a danger, G‑d forbid, that I should not be a sinner in Israel, G‑d forbid [פושע ישראל — a grave transgressor of Israel; R' Shmuel is referring to the spiritual danger of extended sojourn outside Eretz Yisrael and its effects on the soul]. For the depths of the great sea are without measure and reckoning. And I have been half a body — more than six years. And how can I endure such a life — more bitter than death? My heart is so bitter — I cannot write at all. Oh, oh, oh — how long? How long? How long? What shall I do?

Please — do not cease from prayer and from exertion — with all strength and heart and soul. Save me completely — my body and soul and spirit and neshamah and all the generations depending upon me. And please write immediately all the details — both of the matter of marital peace and of the formal request — all in full detail — write it out clearly. And do everything within your ability — as quickly as possible. And the money remaining from the 2 pounds — please use it to purchase an esrog [אתרוג — the citron used on Sukkos; R' Shmuel is sending money for a non-grafted citron from Eretz Yisrael] from you [Eretz Yisrael] that is not grafted, without a pitom [the stem-end blossom; its absence or presence is relevant to halachic validity] — and send one or two, etc. Please fulfill this. And I hereby greet my dear precious friend — truly my soul and being — our Master R' Yaakov, may he live. What is this — that you do not reply to me with any letter? And it is impossible to assess the depth of my pain and suffering from having no word from you whatsoever — and truly: it is a matter of life for me. Please correct this immediately — write to me of your welfare clearly. And exert yourself with all your strength in the matter of the formal request. And also in the matter of the esrog. Write me clearly all the details of the formal request — and when it will be concluded. And whether my photograph is needed for it, etc. Write everything. And whether it is calm and peaceful in the city without fear — and how Lag BaOmer was. And whether the prayers were with devotion. And whether there was awakening and joy. Write everything at length — to give life to my soul.

And also tell me of the welfare of R' Yisrael Dov from Tiberias — and how the Lag BaOmer in Meron was. And whether you received all the booklets — of Anshei Mohara"n and Sason V'Simcha — and other matters from Rabbainu, of blessed memory, and in how many letters — and whether they are safe with you. And I greet my beloved dear friend — our Master R.A.B.Tz., may he live — and our Master R' Yechiel, may he live — and all the fellowship. Please — do not delay sending letters — for I suffer great pain and consuming of the eyes from this — beyond all measure. From me — who awaits to see them soon: Shmuel son of Feiga.