עב

On Sunday after midday — while he zichrono livracha was speaking with one of the creditors to whom he owed money — a man suddenly arrived from Uman, one of the men of our circle from Teplik, with a sign from Uman. And he told him that they requested him in Uman — that he come and sit there in the lodging mentioned above. And immediately when this man spoke — his holy face became very flushed zichrono livracha. (And at that moment I did not understand what this was — but afterward I understood looking back — for this was a call to his passing. For there in Uman he passed away.)

And I had always longed to travel with him — but I understood from him that if he traveled, his intention was not to take me with him — only it appeared that he would take Rabbi Naftali. But from Hashem it came to be that that Sunday mentioned above, Rabbi Naftali was compelled to return home several hours before the man mentioned above from Teplik arrived. Therefore immediately when I saw that his mind zichrono livracha was to travel to Uman — at the time the man from Teplik came — I began to engage in the matter of the journey so that he would take me. And he zichrono livracha said nothing to me about this — whether he would take me or another person. Only I myself went and called a wagon-driver. And I engaged in all the needs of the journey — until I merited to be taken on this journey to Uman. And had I not come into the world except to make this journey with him to Uman — it would have been enough for me. For much good I merited to hear on this journey — Torah teachings and awesome conversations that revive me and all the house of Israel for generations — as is understood a little by those who hear all that I heard on that journey. And behold: when the man mentioned above came from Teplik with the mission to travel to Uman — I stood trembling. And I saw the wonders of Hashem and His awesome and immeasurable deeds. For throughout all the days of the winter he had spoken of Uman — and the men of Teplik had asked him whether they should prepare the lodging for him there — and he had not agreed. And close to this time he agreed that they travel for this purpose. And they accomplished the lodging mentioned above for him. And in the midst of this his house had burned down. And we were very greatly uprooted and his belongings were scattered and displaced as after a fire. And he had no proper place of rest — for much of the city had burned, in particular all the streets adjacent to the synagogue and the house of study. And in the midst of this scattering and displacement the man mentioned above came from Teplik and invited him to Uman at the proper time and moment — when it had already been decreed from Heaven for his house to burn beforehand. And he had no proper place to sit. And Hashem Blessed be He had already prepared the remedy — for precisely then, close to the fire, he had commanded that they prepare the lodging in Uman. And the emissary came at the proper time. And Hashem Blessed be He arranged everything beautifully in its proper time.

On Sunday mentioned above I began to engage in the needs of the journey — and there were no wagon-drivers to be found then. And also his daughter Moras Adel — may she live — who was here, refused greatly and was not at all pleased that he travel to Uman. And he zichrono livracha did not wish to be insistent about anything. But I saw and understood that in truth his desire was strong to travel to Uman. And I went and hired a wagon at a price much higher than was fitting — and I traveled with him from here to Uman. And we went out from here on Tuesday morning the fourth of Iyar 5570. And he zichrono livracha had already prayed Shacharis and drunk coffee. And I had not yet prayed and was compelled to pray on the wagon. And sitting with him were I, and the man who had come from Teplik, and his attendant. And immediately upon going out from here — he began to speak with me. And he said that it was good and right that we travel from here — for had his house not burned down — and so on — as this conversation is explained elsewhere [Chayay Moharan §186].