In Chapter Fifteen, we find the eleven-year old Zolf alone in the strange city of Brisk, suffering constantly from homesickness. The endless hours of Talmudic study, with its intricate laws and statutes, only make his longing more intense. His only escape from the drudgery of learning was through his fantasy world. Here he could conjure up scenes and memories from home, which were often mixed together with themes from the Talmud: