סז

Shabbas passed in peace in the holy community of Kaminka. On Sunday — Parshas Yisro — I traveled with Rabbi Gershon mentioned above and with my companion Rabbi Mendil to the holy community of Tcheirin. And we were in the village where one of our anshei sh'lomaynu lived — our teacher Rabbi Ber may his light shine. And we did not find him at home. And also his eldest son whom I know was also not found. Only his son-in-law the bridegroom — we saw there. And he served us somewhat and honored us with some simple refreshment. And we traveled from there. And we came to Tcheirin toward evening. And I prayed Mincha on the wagon. And before Mincha — I was at first very sad. And I told Rabbi Gershon and Rabbi Mendil mentioned above of my anguish somewhat. And they comforted me somewhat. And they said: behold — did not Rabbainu zichrono livracha say that you will laugh at the entire world and so on. And afterward I and Rabbi Gershon began to laugh. (And we strengthened ourselves with very very great laughter for an unbroken hour.) And through this I gladdened myself somewhat. And this was very very necessary for me then beyond measure. Afterward we prayed Mincha on the wagon. And we came toward evening to the holy community of Tcheirin. And we stopped at the house of our veteran friendly wealthy patron — our teacher Rabbi Ber may his light shine. And they were then praying a Mincha minyan. And I had intended to cross on the boat (called a paron) into the city — to the house of our veteran friend the wealthy patron — our teacher Rabbi Yaakov Yosef may his light shine — where my inn always was. But Rabbi Ber detained us to sleep at his house. For Rabbi Yaakov Yosef was not at home that night in any case. And we remained to sleep there. And we ate the evening meal there. And there were found there two young men from the holy community of Meyrird — who had come to Rabbi Yudl may his light shine — to hear from him the living words of G-d from the Torah of Rabbainu zichrono livracha. And they had not been able to arrive for Shabbas. And they had spent Shabbas in the village at Rabbi Ber's mentioned above. And there they heard that Rabbi Yudl mentioned above was not at home in the holy community of Medzibuizh. And they came here on Sunday to Tcheirin. And they did not find him there either — for he had traveled for the sake of the redemption of captives. And these two men had very great anguish. And they stood in deflated spirit and were greatly distressed. For they were poor and had given over their souls to come here — after great obstacles and financial loss — as the obstacles are widely known when one wishes to draw close to us. And after all of this they had not found what they sought. And in the meantime I had arrived there as mentioned — at the time when they were already prepared to return home. And they stayed there a little. And I spoke with them somewhat. And I comforted them greatly. And I said to them: behold — we see how many people travel to some lord to accomplish some matter for the sake of livelihood — or to conduct some business with him. And they do not find him at home. And they must return home. And all the expense and effort was entirely wasted. And even so — they return and travel again. And it often comes to pass that they travel to lords many times and do not find them at home. Or they find them at home but it is impossible to enter to them — since they are occupied with other matters. How very very much more so — thousands of thousands and tens of thousands of thousands — all the more so — how many times one should come and return and come — for the sake of drawing close to truly upright people — from whom one can receive the vitality of holiness that will be good for one before Him forever and ever. And in particular when one travels for the sake of a holy matter — even if one does not attain the thing — even so the very toil is never lost. For in any case his intention was for the good. And certainly Hashem will pay the reward for every single step and for every single coin and coin that you spent on the expenses. For no single step and no movement for the sake of any holy matter is ever lost — even if one does not merit to attain that very thing. And I then mentioned to them what I had seen in a book about the verse (Koheles 7): "the end of a matter is better than its beginning" and so on. And its place is not here. And through this I comforted and enlivened and strengthened them somewhat. And they traveled home in peace.