קז

After the prayer — it came about that I needed to pass through his room for my own affairs — and he looked at me. Afterward I spoke with his brother Rabbi Yechiel zichrono livracha. And I said to him: "Now my mind has fallen — and it could enter my mind that he will pass away." And I need you to strengthen me in this. And he strengthened me greatly — and I strengthened my mind so as not to entertain the thought that he would pass away. For it was among us as a prohibition to allow that thought to enter our hearts.

Afterward I left from there and went to my inn where I ate. And the master of the house was not at home — and I waited a long time for him. And in the meantime I lay down to sleep a little before eating — for I was very weary and could not sleep. And I also engaged in writing the Torah that I needed to correct then. Afterward the master of the house came and I ate with him. And I wished to lie down to sleep there — since I had not slept from midnight onward. And it was very difficult for me — for who knows what was happening there with Rabbainu zichrono livracha. But even so I said in my heart: sleep is impossible to avoid — and if I do not sleep now I will be compelled to sleep later — and who knows what will happen then. And I wished to sleep there. But many are the thoughts in a person's heart — yet the counsel of Hashem shall stand. And Hashem Blessed be He had compassion on me in His awesome mercy and placed it in my heart — and I settled upon the truth: that sleep is impossible to avoid — but I will go to sleep in Rabbainu's house. For who knows what is happening there. And so it was. And I came to his house and entered his room — and behold, there was a very great commotion. And I found him sitting on his chair. But his soul and his life-force were ebbing away and ceasing — and he could no longer sit on his chair. He was almost expiring. And men were standing over him pouring various precious spices upon him to revive him, as is customary. And on that day Hashem Blessed be He arranged that there came there a man from the men of our circle from Teravitze — and he stood over him and engaged with him more than the other men. (And in this too there is a story — that Rabbainu zichrono livracha had already promised him about this in his lifetime.) And when I came there and found all of this — I was very greatly startled. And I said that they should take him immediately and lay him on his bed. And he zichrono livracha himself waved his hand — and did not agree to this.