“An old man does not mean a lame man. The next time the physician comes from Damascus, see him”

“Hurrem Sultan told me she would find me a match. And I want to know if you would look in the stars and see if that will come to pass”

This was simply meant to be a formality. A small requirement. A modest ceremony. Instead, they are watched by hundreds of pairs of eyes

“A parchment that has been inked heavily brings its own message. There is a level of force. I do not appreciate people being forceful with me”

“They have sworn loyalty, yes. But at the end of the day, everyone is only loyal to his own interests, would you not say?”

It wasn’t long before, instead of just asking her about their dead ones, they began asking her about the final Redemption

“Prayer helped me,” Katrina says finally. “And G-d’s messengers helped me, too.” She pauses. “Is this true for you, that you only helped yourself?”

She looked around. If anyone passed by, she was safe, for Papa would not hit her too hard in front of others

Mashiach — the anointed one — he must be here, somewhere, born and walking the earth, waiting to pick up all the fragments of their nation, to bring peace

She relaxes. Surely, it is a beit medrash of sorts. Perhaps they learn here the Zohar, the esoteric subjects, a soul’s journey in this world