קטז

On Monday — Parshas Behar-Bechukosai — there was a somewhat strong stormy wind. And I was praying then in our small cabin below. And Rabbi Yehuda Eliezer was above — occupied in cooking. And great fear fell on him — since he saw that the ship was tilting very greatly to one side — until the upper side of the ship was close to the water. And the wind was growing stronger. And the captain and all the sailors were all occupied in urgency and haste pulling the ropes and other repairs necessary for such a wind. And because of this — great great fear fell on Rabbi Yehuda Eliezer. And I — during the prayer — had not seen any of this. Only from the stormy wind I was somewhat startled. And in particular since I knew the ship was going between mountains and close to the dry land from most sides — for throughout all the days from that Friday until Wednesday — the ship constantly went between the borders of the dry land surrounded from most sides — going from gate to gate each time. And these dry lands were the islands of the sea found abundantly in this sea. In any case — going between mountains — it was more dangerous when there was a strong wind. But even so my heart was strong and I was startled only a little. But Rabbi Yehuda Eliezer was very greatly startled in great fear. And he called to me in a loud voice and said: "Rabbi Natan — alas — oh no — pray and call to Hashem." And the fear rolled over me somewhat more. But even so I was not at all startled and prayed as my way. And so it continued several hours. And also afterward when I said Psalms after the prayer — Rabbi Yehuda Eliezer called to me again in a loud and sad voice — alas — for the sea was going and storming — and similar expressions. And then I stopped and removed my talis and tefilin. And in truth there was some danger that day. But through Hashem's kindness nothing came of it. And we passed in peace. And also the stormy wind was not going in our direction and because of this we also had some anguish. But with Hashem's help — even so they turned the ship in our correct direction — as was the way of sailors. And Hashem helped us — praised be G-d. And also toward evening — Rabbi Yehuda Eliezer went and wished to draw water from the sea for our needs. And a certain sailor came and threw a rope over his head in a playful way. And through this he knocked his hat into the sea — and it was lost until today.