לט

Afterward I was aroused to establish a printing press in my home — in order to return and print all the books of Rabbainu zichrono livracha — according to his will zichrono livracha — and in particular since it was necessary to correct very much what the printers had corrupted in the first Likutay Moharan — and other corrections. And behold — I began to think about this matter. And many many times passed until I began to engage in this in the year 5579. And Hashem helped me — that I collected some sum from the leading men of our anshei sh'lomaynu — until I bought a press and type in that year. And then there was the joyous wedding of the grandson of Rabbainu zichrono livracha — the veteran and famous and extraordinary teacher Rabbi Yisroel may he live — in the holy community of Tchernobil — with the grandson of the famous saintly Chassidic rav our teacher Rabbi Mordechai may his light shine from there. And all that passed over me in the matter of the press — one would need a large work to explain it. And it is impossible to explain it in writing in any manner. And with the help of Hashem in the World to Come — they will speak of this very very much. And behold — the disputes and obstacles multiplied. And the money ran out. And the press was delayed. And I was unable to print in the year 5579 mentioned above. And throughout all of the year 5580 too — I thought many thoughts about how to begin to print — and it did not succeed in my hands. And the equipment mentioned above stood in my house — the press and the type and a little paper. But I was unable to print because of the obstacle of money — and other many great and very very massive obstacles. And Hashem Blessed be He in His kindness had pity on me — and gave me a strong heart not to abandon the will in any manner. And I greatly strengthened myself and did not abandon the will. And I yearned every time more and more. But even so — the entire year 5580 also passed and I did not manage to establish the press.

And behold — in those years I traveled several times through the region among our anshei sh'lomaynu — in order to gather money further to establish the press. But it did not succeed in my hands as mentioned.

And behold — in the year 5580 mentioned above — after Rosh Hashonah and Sukkos — I greatly began to long for Eretz Yisroel. But then it was heard that there was plague — Heaven forbid — in Istanbul. And I was therefore unable to travel then. And it came to pass one day in the year 5580 — close to Pesach — before Rosh Chodesh Nisan — I settled my mind to speak with my companion Rabbi Yehuda Eliezer about this. And I sweetly counseled with him in secret — that he should travel together with me to Eretz Yisroel. For I had known beforehand that Rabbi Yehuda Eliezer too had yearnings to come to Eretz Yisroel. And he also told me that once he had a dream that he was before Rabbainu zichrono livracha — and he spoke with him about what he needed. And Rabbainu zichrono livracha told him that his tikun was to be in Eretz Yisroel. And therefore Rabbi Yehuda Eliezer mentioned above agreed with me wholeheartedly to travel together with me to Eretz Yisroel — and to give me ten gold ducats toward his travel expenses at least. And he asked me very very much not to take another person — and not to travel without him. And my words with Rabbi Yehuda Eliezer then were in this manner: after Pesach I intended to travel to Nikolayev to seek out Rabbi Leib Dubrowner — perhaps he would agree to spend from his own pocket what was needed for the printing in order to complete it. And if he agreed — good. And then I would return home and not travel from there to Eretz Yisroel. For the printing was very important and precious in my eyes — since it was a merit for the many for all generations. But if I did not manage to get him to help me with what I needed for the press — which amounted to a large sum — then I would travel from there to Odessa. And from there to Eretz Yisroel. And the little money I would collect on the way of my journey would serve as travel expenses for Eretz Yisroel. And I spoke all of this with Rabbi Yehuda Eliezer — so that he should travel with me after Pesach to Nikolayev — on the chance — perhaps I would travel from there to Eretz Yisroel.