קל

And I went with him until the house of Rabbi Moshe the master of the house. And he entered with me to the upper floor. And Rabbi Moshe had not yet come home — only the woman was there. And she received me with honor by way of hinting. And immediately I prayed Mincha — for the day had already turned greatly. And after Mincha I settled myself somewhat — where I was in the world. And I comforted myself somewhat. And I strengthened myself to trust in Hashem — that everything would be right through His great kindness. And afterward I prayed Maariv and counted the Omer. And before I had finished — the master of the house Rabbi Moshe came and received me with a pleasant face. And I sat with him on their mats as was their way. And afterward Rabbi Yosef came — who also ate there. And other neighboring people. And I spoke with them and they received me with honor. And I spoke with them about the road from here to Eretz Yisroel. And some said we needed to travel through Damietta — a city of Egypt. And this one said thus and that one thus. From within their words — I immediately understood: apparently our road from here would be to Sidon — and from there to Tzfas (may it be built and established speedily in our days, Amen). And this was for me a pleasure and a sign of salvation — that I was immediately speaking about the road of my journey to Eretz Yisroel.

Afterward young men came there — about fifteen or sixteen years old and more — and sat before the master of the house and read before him the portion Bamidbar in their tune and vowels. And we lingered there some hours. Afterward we ate the evening meal — noodles with cheese — with the hands — and with bread — as was their way. And all of this was dear in my eyes — since I had merited at the very least to have a place of rest to sleep in such a far land. And they also gave me to eat. Blessed be Hashem. Afterward they directed me to go up to the upper floor to sleep there. And I slept there on the ground. And my pillows and bedding — I did not yet have there. And they gave me some mat and a straw cushion as was their way. And I slept there. And all of this was very precious in my eyes. But I could not sleep except a little. Early in the morning I arose. And the son of the master of the house went with me to the synagogue. And I asked if there was an immersion house there. And with great difficulty until they understood my intention — and they informed me that in the synagogue there was a mikveh. But the men did not go there to immerse at all — not even on Erev Shabbas or Erev Yom Tov. And I asked the young man to lead me to the mikveh. And he fulfilled my wish and went with me there. And a woman stood there who was designated for women's immersion. And at first she did not wish to allow me to enter. And the young man argued with her on my behalf. Afterward I entered and immersed there. And this greatly greatly enlivened me. For it was more than two weeks that I had not merited to immerse in a mikveh. And I had suffered from this. Therefore I had very great pleasure that I now merited to purify myself in the mikveh. Afterward I went to the synagogue. And there were few people there — and they did not pray in a congregation. Only with great difficulty they afterward gathered a minyan to say Kedushah and Barchu. And I borrowed there a talis and tefilin. And their tefilin were all very very small — their width less than a finger. And the talis I borrowed was of cotton and very small. And there were also woolen talaisim there — but these people at that time had mostly cotton ones. And I prayed in that talis and tefilin in the synagogue.