קמח

Within the time I sat a brief while with Rabbi Yisroel — the matter became known throughout the entire city among our Polish-Jewish community. And a great commotion arose from this news — that there were now two men found who had come now to the Holy Land. For it was close to two years that no one had come there. And immediately they came to me — that I should go to them. And I hurried and went to the house of the rav from Skolya. And when I came there — I found that already many men and women had gathered there — in order to see us. And among them was the widow of Rabbi Pinchas Meir zichrono livracha — who was the sister of Rabbainu zichrono livracha — who had recently been widowed. And I entered the house of the rav from Skolya. And there were many people there. And all of them received me with very great and immense joy. And all of them were startled and rushed. And this matter seemed to them a great wonder — that now at this time people should come to Eretz Yisroel — with the intention of returning — only to tread on the holy soil. And the greatness of the commotion and the joy and the vitality that arose from our coming to Eretz Yisroel — it was impossible to explain or measure. And all of them said we had truly enlivened them. For it was two years that they had not seen a person from our land — and had heard no news from there. And they did not know any news — whether it was possible in the world to travel now by sea. And all the people who had been ready at that time to leave the Holy Land did not know the road — how to conduct themselves. And their intention was to go overland — which was very difficult — and the expenses were very great. Therefore there was great joy upon them. And all of them said we had enlivened all of Eretz Yisroel by our coming there. Some of them said these were not men at all — but angels sent from Heaven. And this one said: this was the aspect of Elijah — that suddenly men came from outside the Land to Eretz Yisroel at such a time — when even the emissaries had not wished to travel by sea — only overland. And because of this no person had come to Eretz Yisroel for close to two years. And in particular — since we had not come to establish our residence. And also the rav Rabbi Zev of Bolta said to us in this language: "You have enlivened all of Eretz Yisroel." And afterward I left that house. And in every place I walked — people and women surrounded me. And all of them asked about their families. But I had no letters — since I had left in concealment without the knowledge of all my surroundings — and had not informed them that I was traveling to Eretz Yisroel. And I myself had been uncertain until I sat on the ship. But even so — I brought good tidings verbally to some people — from their families whom I knew — that praised be G-d they were alive and well. And it was a very very great pleasure for them. But even those whom I did not inform about their families — they had great joy and vitality — that at the very least they saw a person from their homeland — for such a long time they had not seen anyone from there as mentioned.