“Under no circumstances are we traveling to Tiberias today! Even if the donkey driver refuses to return the money, so be it!”

Haifa, the day before Rosh Hashana, 5569

The moment had finally come.

How many tears of longing had been shed to reach this point? How much danger had to be overcome, how many miracles produced? Who can fathom the spiritual and physical strength Rebbe Nachman exerted to accomplish what so many other tzaddikim had never achieved in their lifetimes – to travel the world and step into the holy embrace of Eretz Yisroel?

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The ship was situated at the foot of Har HaCarmel, where the cave of Eliyahu Hanavi is located. Rebbe Nachman and the rest of the crew disembarked and set foot on the blessed soil of Eretz Yisroel.

The Rebbe trembled with awe and excitement. He took four steps and all that he had dreamed to accomplish came to fruition at once. What he needed to complete for his own soul, for the soul of the entire world, was fulfilled.

The Rebbe’s journey of love, the voyage to fulfill the will of Hakadosh Baruch Hu at all costs, was finally over. Nothing in the world could stand in Rebbe Nachman’s way, not storms, sickness, adversaries, or the French Navy. As he himself taught many times, when one begins to do something good, to come closer to Hashem, obstacles will immediately stand in his way. But a person is not to be discouraged. Hashem is to be found everywhere, even inside of the obstacle itself. If one perseveres, Hashem will ensure that all will be fixed in the end.

“You are so fortunate to be here with me!” Rebbe Nachman told his attendant, beaming with incredible joy. “Now, bring the notes all of my chassidim gave me with their names and their parents’ names written on them, so I can daven for them in this holiest of holy places.”

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They spent Rosh Hashana in Eretz Yisroel. Immediately afterward, Rebbe Nachman turned to his attendant and said something astonishing.

“I’m ready to leave.”

“Rebbe, we’ve just arrived!”

“Even so, I have already accomplished everything I needed to. I want to return.”

“But what about Tzfas? What about Tiberias? There are so many holy places still we need to visit, kevarim of the greatest tzaddikim we still need to daven at!” The attendant was dumbfounded. “We risked our lives over and over again to be here! How can we leave so soon, without visiting every inch of this land?”