קמז

On Thursday — Parshas Shelach — 24 Sivan — we came to Tzfas close to midday. And when we came to the small hill close to the city gate — where they unloaded the loads from the donkeys — immediately people went out toward us. They saw and they marveled — that at this time people should come to Eretz Yisroel. And there was great joy and exhilaration upon them when they saw us. And these men were of the Perushim — for the Perushim lived close to the city gate. And immediately they asked us whether we had any news of their emissaries who had gone about two years ago — and from whom they had no information. And I immediately informed them that I had spoken with them in Istanbul — I had a letter from them — and they would soon come. For they had not wished to go with us on the sea to Alexandria from the great fear that existed at that time as mentioned — and their intention was to go overland. And immediately when I informed them of this — in the meantime many people gathered around us. And the crowd grew greatly — and there was great commotion and joy among them. And immediately they grabbed all my belongings and brought them into some nearby house. And they greatly pressed me to give them the letter immediately. And immediately I opened the chest and took out their letter. In the meantime several people surrounded me — most of them from the Perushim — for all of this was in their street. And immediately they strongly pressed me to go with them to Rabbi Yisroel — who was the head and the appointed one among them. And I was compelled to fulfill their wish. And I went with them. In the meantime the people multiplied and gathered — until when I entered the house of Rabbi Yisroel — many many were standing. Until they were compelled to place guards — so that not all of them would push in to enter the house. And I entered the house of Rabbi Yisroel alone. And Rabbi Yehuda Eliezer remained with the belongings. And they did not allow all the people who had gathered to enter the house of Rabbi Yisroel — only some of them. And the rest remained outside around the house. And I had not yet tasted anything that day. And I entered Tzfas fasting. And immediately they gave me coffee there. And I told Rabbi Yisroel the whole matter — that I had stood with their emissaries in Istanbul and so on. And I gave him the letter. And the greatness of the joy that was upon them — there was no measuring it. And I truly enlivened them. And immediately they sent a special messenger to Jerusalem — to inform Rabbi Mendil — their head who sat in Jerusalem — whose son Rabbi Nate was one of the emissaries — and also another Rabbi Nate — and Rabbi Itzili. And afterward Rabbi Yisroel informed me that he had received a letter — that also in Jerusalem there was very great and immense joy from our coming and from our having brought them such good tidings — upon which so many souls depended.