A few minutes later they were all squeezing through a narrow opening through tightly growing trees or brush. None could tell if they were entering the woods again, only that the way was very tight. In truth, as the light of day would have made dear, they were squeezing through a tall, thick hedge.

Still following Jakob, they crossed over a small wooden bridge, then continued walking up a steady incline. It was some time before any of the others realized he was now following a narrow path along the inside perimeter next to the same hedge they had squeezed through.

Even by the thin light of the rising moon, they could tell they were no longer in the woods. This was certainly no wild place. What appeared to be a sizeable and well-cared-for garden shone shadowy to their left.

The pathway left the hedge, bore into the garden area, then ended abruptly in an arbor bordered on all three remaining sides with thick shrubbery and more hedges. There appeared no way through it.

Jakob stopped.

Looking all about and probing the scratchy, leafy, solid wall of hedge with his hand, somewhere in its midst he felt a rope. He pulled it, but heard nothing.

A moment later, exactly to the left of where he stood, a portion of the wall of hedge swung aside on silent, invisible hinges.

A figure appeared in a recessed tunnel before them, holding a dim lantern, saying nothing.

Jakob motioned the rabbi forward.

“Do you have any roses?” asked the rabbi of the figure shrouded in the darkness of the tunnel.

There was but a moment’s hesitation.

“No, this is not the season for blooms.”

“Yes,” answered the rabbi, “but for those who love, even the petals have fragrance.”

“I see you understand the Father’s way,” said the voice. “How many blossoms do you need?”

“Eight,” replied the rabbi.

“Then come, I believe we shall find some for you.”

Without further words, they were admitted through a door into an earthen tunnel some fifteen or twenty meters in length. No light shone other than the small lantern carried by the large figure who now went before them.

They had crossed over the River Jordan and into the Promised Land!

They arrived at another door, then walked through it into an enclosed chamber with stone floor and walls. A stairway was visible, but they did not take it. Their guide opened another narrow door, through which a pale light shone. Immediately he extinguished his own lantern, then spoke.

“Go through this passage,” he said. “It is straight but goes for some distance. At the end you will find a small room. Wait there. You will be summoned.”

Jakob, in the lead again, did as he was instructed. When all eight of the wet and weary sojourners had passed through the door into the damp, narrow corridor, the door dosed behind them.