קכד

On Thursday mentioned above — Parshas Bamidbar — the first of the Three Days of Preparation — I entered with the captain in a small boat to Alexandria. And I myself did not know where to enter — since I had no one who knew me there — and did not know a single word of their language — and no Israelite from Poland or Ashkenaz was found there. And I came with the captain until the seashore and stepped onto the dry land. And the captain began to enter the city. And I walked after him — until he passed through the city in several streets. And I saw before me a people I did not know — for the customs of Egypt were different in very many things from the customs of Istanbul — whether in garments, language, types of animals, or other things. And I was startled at the sight. And I passed through the city as if mute and deaf. And all of them were looking and marveling at me. And some were laughing and mocking me to my face. But no person harmed me — Heaven forbid. And I could not ask even where the place of the Jews was — for there was not a single word of their language on my tongue. In the meantime I began to encounter European people — Pachakhin — who came from our lands such as from Ashkenaz and Italy. They were called there Frenkim. And these people — when they saw me — were like relatives. And they began to draw close to me — since we were all from one climate from Europe. But also with them I could not speak — for most spoke Italian or Solvitka. And in the meantime — the captain disappeared from me. And I walked alone through the streets and among the shops — not knowing at all where I was going. And I wished to ask where the rav or chakham was — and no one answered me — for I encountered only Arabs or Ishmaelites. In the meantime — Hashem provided before me two Franks. And they began to draw close to me and ask after my welfare by way of hinting. And they too did not understand the German tongue. And I asked them where the rav and the chakham was. And one answered that he would lead me to the rav. And so he did. And he went until he brought me to the house of the rav — which was close to the place where I had met him. And blessed be Hashem who brought me in peace to the house of the rav. And this was a great kindness from Hashem Blessed be He to me — that I had entered into such a large city in peace — in a place where I was literally mute. And not for nothing do we say three times each day: "We give thanks to You" and so on — "for Your miracles that are with us every day, and for Your wonders and Your good deeds that are at every time — evening and morning and noon." And this — even when a person sits in his home. How much more so on the road in the lands of the sea — in a land so far and so different from our lands. May the name of Hashem be blessed always.

Upon coming to the upper floor where the rav lived — the man who led me went away. And I was left there alone. And the door was closed. And an Israelite came who needed the rav for some business — and knocked on the door. And a woman opened it — but she did not allow me to enter — saying the rav was sleeping — and indicated with her hands the matter of sleep. And I said: even so — I would enter and wait until he woke. And she did not allow me. And I said: I would sit in the gatehouse at the upper floor — for certainly I would not move from here until the rav awoke. And I sat there alone. And this gave me some rest. And I began to think what I needed. In the meantime — the Israelite came back who needed the rav for his business. And he sat with me — and drew close to me. But he did not understand the holy tongue except very slightly — with great difficulty. For their holy tongue was very different from our holy tongue — as was known. And I sat there in the gatehouse for about an hour and more.