The Rebbe stared intently at his attendant. “You must not see the words I am writing. They must be concealed from your eyes”

The first part of Rebbe Nachman’s journey began with getting a ride aboard a ship to Odessa, but traveling through Odessa was very risky. Almost any Jew who undertook the dangerous journey to Eretz Yisrael (mainly meshulachim who brought money back from Europe to the destitute Jews living in Eretz Yisrael) traveled only through Galatz, Romania. This was a longer route, but Rebbe Nachman chose it anyway. He had heard about the dangers involved in crossing the treacherous waters of the Danube River into the Black Sea, but this did not deter him. And so, they were off!

Odessa

“Rebbe, the people of Odessa heard you were coming, and now look!” The Rebbe’s attendant pointed to the growing crowd of Jews with shining faces who had come to gather at the docks in Odessa to wish Rebbe Nachman a farewell. “Not only that, but they are escorting us to our ship with many coaches!”

The air slowly swelled with the sound of many voices joining as one as the Jews sang and danced as they escorted the great Rebbe toward the ship that would be taking him to Turkey.

As they were waiting on the ship, Rebbe Nachman turned to his attendant and said urgently, “Did you remember to bring the large amount of ink and parchment I requested? I will be writing much Torah during this journey.”

“Yes, of course, Rebbe. I have it all right here. Please, let me have the key to the trunk so I can safely store the Rebbe’s writings there.”

The Rebbe stared intently at his attendant. “You must not see the words I am writing. They must be concealed from your eyes.”

The attendant already knew that as famous and renowned as Rebbe Nachman was across Europe as a tzaddik and chassid, the Rebbe was secretive about his avodah and there was much mystery surrounding his actions and words. He could be more accurately described as a hidden tzaddik. There was more than one instance during the Rebbe’s lifetime that extremely holy seforim that he wrote were hidden away from the human eye. So the attendant was not surprised that Rebbe Nachman would be requesting this of him now, as they embarked on this holy, mysterious journey.

“Yes, Rebbe. You have my word.”

“That is not enough this time. You must swear to me that you will not look at any of the writings. Will you do this? If not, I will not give you the keys to the chest.”

The attendant swore to him.