נג

Afterward in the morning he arose with alacrity and did not wish to speak further with any person, and he traveled in haste immediately. And we — our hearts were still burning to return and satisfy our eyes with seeing his holy face, and to hear more words from his holy mouth. And he traveled quickly from the inn. And I began to run after the wagon — even though it is certainly difficult to catch a wagon with strong horses on foot — even so, I said: come what may, I will run and perhaps Hashem Blessed be He will arrange that I catch the wagon. And so it was: I ran after the wagon for a distance. And then they came to a certain hill and let the wagon down slowly as is customary. And then they crossed some bridge — and there one of the men of our circle had gone ahead and stood there in order to meet Rabbainu zichrono livracha again face to face — for he knew that Rabbainu zichrono livracha would not wish to speak with him at the inn, and therefore he had gone ahead to be there. And because of this Rabbainu zichrono livracha was delayed a little there — and also because of the delays of the hill and the bridge as mentioned. Through this I caught up with them. And I returned and came before the grandeur of his holy holiness zichrono livracha. And my companion Rabbi Naftali — seeing that I was running after him — ran also after me. And he too came before Rabbainu zichrono livracha. And we stood there before him — the three of us.

He answered and said: "What do you want — shall I bless you, or shall I say Torah to you?" I answered and said: "The blessing — bless us when you return home. But Torah — say it to us now." For I knew that if we did not hear it immediately it would be a permanent irretrievable loss. Therefore I chose that he say Torah. He answered and said: "I will tell you about what I am traveling." And then he revealed to us the awesome secret of the Tzadikim — that each one builds a Mishkan [Tabernacle] — which is connected to the Torah teaching "Azamrah l'Elokai" that I had heard from his holy mouth on Shemini Atzeres past, as printed in [Likutay Moharan §282]. And he concluded: "In truth they have said: the cantor sees where the children are reading." (And still I do not know what connection this has to his journey to Lemberg — only the very smallest hint of an allusion glimmers to me in this.)

And when he concluded the Torah, R.M. — he who had stood there first — received leave from him. And then kissed his hand. And afterward I received leave and kissed his hand. And then my companion Rabbi Naftali after me received leave and kissed his hand. And then he traveled from us on his way to Lemberg. And we ran after him — and all the time that I saw the wagon with my eyes, I ran after it — until it disappeared from my sight. And then I turned back — and I had still not prayed Shacharis. And we were far from the city. And Hashem Blessed be He arranged for us a wagon going to the city. And we returned with it to the city and prayed. Blessed be Hashem who dealt with me in His kindness for eternity, and granted me all of this.