Soon everyone in Salonika recognizes Jacob, and Reb Mordke and Isohar decide they should release him from the obligations of trade. And that they, too, ought to dedicate themselves exclusively to study. “Take care of whatever you have to, but don’t try and make any new contacts,” says Reb Mordke to a shocked Nahman. “What do you mean?” asks Nahman. “How will we live? How will we eat?” “Alms,” answers Reb Mordke matter-of-factly. “But work has never been an impediment to studying before,” says Nahman. “Now it is.”
