When the great Torah and Talmud commentator came to Eretz Yisrael in the year 5027 (1267), he found a desolate land and prayed for its restoration. This is what he wrote to his family:

What can I tell you about the land other than it is barren and desolate? In general that which is most sacred is most desolate Yerushalayim is most desolate of all there are virtually no Jews in it, only two brothers who are dyers who are joined by other Jews in the vicinity for a minyan on Shabbat.

Despite this gloomy report Ramban concludes with the prayer that He Who gave me the privilege of seeing Yerushalayim in its desolation will give me the privilege of seeing it in its restoration when the Divine Presence returns to it.

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