The journey to the Land of Israel was long and demanding. The Bat Ayin sailed with his followers on a sailing ship. Along the way, they continued praying with a minyan and reading the Torah. Rabbi Zalman, who accompanied him, served as prayer leader, Torah reader and ritual slaughterer.
The Journey That Surprised the Captain
According to a tradition told by Safed's elders, sailing from Odessa to Israel ordinarily took about four weeks then, while the Bat Ayin's voyage took sixteen days. The captain marveled at the shorter journey and attributed it to the tzaddik's merit. This tradition was recorded in Mizkenim Etbonan and Or HaGalil. Alongside the wonder of the account, the description of prayer and Torah reading aboard the ship offers a glimpse of life during the journey to the Holy Land.
Continue reading: The Bat Ayin Hillula Meal, Bat Ayin and Its Teachings, The Journey to the Land of Israel andStories and Testimonies.