קכה

Afterward the rav opened the door. And I entered to him. And he asked me: what was my welfare? And also with the rav it was somewhat difficult to speak. But it was from Hashem — that a certain man had come my way in Istanbul — his name was Rabbi Yechiel from Tzfas — from the people of Lithuania — who had recently come from Alexandria to Istanbul and had sat in Alexandria five months — and already had acquaintance with the rav and with the wealthy patron Rabbi Avraham Tilka. And he gave me two letters — to the rav and to the wealthy patron. For Rabbi Yechiel had stayed in the house of the wealthy patron all five months he had sat there. And these two letters were a very great benefit for a man like me — who had never been tested in this humiliation of needing to go to the rav. And it was very very difficult for me to enter to the rav. And in particular since I was tongue-tied in this land — even in the holy tongue as mentioned. Therefore the letter served me as a mouth. And behold — the rav was somewhat demanding. And immediately he began to say in a tone of displeasure: how does one travel now in such a time to Eretz Yisroel — when such a war was heard with the Greeks? And similar such words. And in truth — even in Alexandria they did not know the truth about this war. And I began to ask the rav — at the very least since I had already come: give us for now at the very least lodgings. He replied: can you pay? I said: and is there no hospitality here? He replied: there was an enactment here not to receive a guest except for up to three days. I answered him: fine — we would eat from our own after three days — only for now give us lodgings to place our belongings. And immediately he sent with me the Israelite mentioned above.