קז

On Monday I was once more on the ship mentioned above. And I heard also there more such words — that the matter was not as they said. And even so I saw it was a great danger, and I needed great mercy and a great salvation. And in particular since I had no sufficient money for expenses — for at such a time one needed to spend very greatly. And immediately on that Monday — when I returned from the ship — we sailed in a small boat to Uskudar to try to sell some of the books that were with me. For I immediately saw that the money remaining in my hand when I arrived in Istanbul — about one hundred and fifty taler less a little — was not sufficient even for half the expenses to Eretz Yisroel alone, aside from the return journey. And even so it was very difficult for me to travel to Uskudar — even though it was a city mostly of Israelites, the great city of Israeli settlement more than any other town of Istanbul. But since no Polish people were found there at all — for the few Polish immigrants in Istanbul were mostly all in the city of Galata — but because of necessity. And my essential intention: for how was it possible that I should be in Istanbul and leave there no book of Rabbainu zichrono livracha — Heaven forbid? And only because of this I strengthened myself and said: whatever may come — I shall go there.