The young paramour had not finished describing the overflow of emotions that rushed though his soul when the door opened and a man carrying bundles entered.

“Eliezer! What are you doing here? How did you get here? When did you leave the capital? Why is your face filled with dread? What happened…? Speak…!”

The young doctor circled the man who was supposed to be looking after his household in Constantinople, questioning him.

“Please calm down, sir,” Eliezer replied. He saw that his sudden arrival had surprised his master. “I do not come bearing good news, that is true, but if we hurry, you can alleviate the suffering of you brothers, who are in peril.”

“But why do you speak in riddles?” – the young doctor lost his patience – “Explain yourself so that I will know. How severe is the danger?”

“I was sent to you by our chief rabbi and the leaders of our community, to ask that you hurry back immediately to help our imperiled brothers with the terrible new edict of the Sultan, who decreed that all Jews are to be banished from the land!”

“The new Sultan? And Sultan Murad, what became of him?”

“Sultan Murad is dead. His son, Muhammad the second, returned from exile and ascended the throne.”

“Is that it?” – called out the doctor, feeling the weight of dread lifted. “You see? I was right. Things are not as bleak as I imagined or as our rabbi believes. I just need to fawn over the Mother (walida), Sofia, and I will eradicate this ‘decree’ as we eradicate hametz for Pesach.”

“Please listen to me, dear sir, and hear me out” – Eliezer called our, sighing – “you say you will fawn over the Sultan’s mother and bring the affair to an end, but I doubt that you can succeed this time, because the ire of the Sultan against our brethren is so immense that Sofia’s efforts will be futile.”

“Is the charge against us so terrible? In my confusion, I did not ask you what the cause was.”

“I will tell you everything,” said Eliezer and sat down. “When Sultan Murad died, the Grand Vizier Sifan Pasha, who was sympathetic to the Jews and beloved by them, was dismissed. The man who took his place is the tyrannical Ferhad Pasha. His tyranny and capricious leadership aroused the wrath of the armies and they conspired against the government and the Sultan. The rebels chose a reckless and vain leader, someone named Abdallah whose father abandoned Judaism and converted, bringing his entire family down with him. This Abdallah believed himself to be the reincarnation of Mustafah, brother of Mohamad, and that he should inherit the kingdom. He fought, heroically and ferociously, against the Sultan’s troupes, doing wonders with his armies. Ferhad Pasha finally managed to defeat the enemy, and Abdallah was killed in one of the battles against the Sultan’s men. The Sultan knew that the man who fought against him and conspired to take his throne is of Jewish descent, and his ire burned forcefully with the wish of revenge. He exacted his vengeance on our miserable brothers, dictating that they should be expelled from the land.”

“It is truly awful!” exclaimed the doctor, his face radiating sorrow and despair. “Now I see how gloomy the situation is, yes, terrible! I have the responsibility to rush to the aid of my brothers immediately. Yes, I will do everything in my power, I will go to Sofia, the Sultan’s mother, beg her for help, and explain the predicament of our persecuted people. God Almighty does not abandon His people, He will help me and undo the harsh judgment.”

The young doctor said these things with the heat of devotion and unrelenting dedication. He hastily put on his coat and said to Eliezer: “Wait for me here, I will go see my fiancée Esther and tell her that I am leaving for the salvation of my people. She will not deny me this, I am certain, because hers is a precious, divine soul!”