נב

And in the meantime — Tishrei passed and the winter days arrived. And then certainly it was impossible to travel to Eretz Yisroel. And also in the meantime — between Yom Kippur and Sukkos — Rabbi David mentioned above passed through the holy community of Tultshin and returned to Eretz Yisroel. And I was unable to travel with him then. And all my thoughts had been that I would travel with him together. And now I could not travel with him — and I was delayed at home. And also at that time the wars of the Greeks were heard — and everyone said it was impossible now to travel to Eretz Yisroel. And also Rabbi David mentioned above — who was an emissary of the Kollel — and the other emissaries: the Rav of Apta did not wish to allow them to travel to Eretz Yisroel because of the dangers. Only after many entreaties — since all the poor of Eretz Yisroel had their eyes dependent on the emissaries' arrival — he was compelled to allow them. And in truth they did not travel from Istanbul by sea — only overland. And they had very, very great expenses — all because of the dangers of the Greek rebellion wars.

And behold — after Yom Tov — Hashem Blessed be He arranged that we began to print the prayers in secret. And here too there is much to tell about the great salvation of Hashem — but here is not its place. And then the longing and the will to travel to Eretz Yisroel returned and burned within me. And I began to think about this very greatly. And there was almost no day that passed without my thinking greatly about this. And Hashem Blessed be He also helped me to innovate wondrous Torah novellae — about the greatness of the effort that every person must make to come to Eretz Yisroel — and that this is the very victory of the battle that one must win in this world. And how much and how much one must strengthen oneself to break through the obstacles to come to Eretz Yisroel. And the very greatness of the holiness of Eretz Yisroel — that the entire Torah is full of the praise of the holiness of Eretz Yisroel, and so on — as explained in our words mentioned above [§16]. And even so — throughout that winter too — obstacles without measure passed over me in my mind. And at every moment the obstacles stood before me like walls of copper and bolts of iron — literally.

And all that passed over me in this matter — it is impossible to tell. Until Hashem Blessed be He helped me — and I left my home close to Erev Rosh Chodesh Shevat to travel to Uman. And I did not tell a single person that there was a possibility in my mind that on this journey I would travel to Odessa and from there to Eretz Yisroel. And in truth — even I myself did not know clearly whether I would merit this — for I was still very doubtful. Afterward there passed over me what passed over me. And Hashem Blessed be He was in my help. Until I merited to come to Odessa — and to obtain the travel ticket there. And to cross the Black Sea and the White Sea in peace — twice — at a time of such war dangers. And now we are going on this Wednesday from Alexandria of Egypt toward the city of Sidon — which is the border of Eretz Yisroel. And I am writing all of this on the ship. May Hashem Blessed be He merit me to come to Eretz Yisroel in peace — swiftly and quickly. Amen — so may it be the will. Yimay Moharnat – Eretz Yisroel – §§20–56