An Amazing Story: The Sudden Joy of the Great Posek During Matzah Baking / A Story About the Secrets of Matzah Baking Revealed by Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a / A Story About Seeing Hashem Tangibly: From Moharnat to Morinu HaRav

An avreich (Torah scholar) who participated in baking matzot with one of the leading poskim (halachic authorities) showed him a special prayer from Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. The posek's anxiety was immediately replaced with immense joy and peace of mind.

An Amazing Story: The Sudden Joy of the Great Posek During Matzah Baking

Last week, a wonderful story occurred that illustrates the immense power of the words of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a. A dear avreich from among the students of the tzaddik participated in a group baking matzot at one of the well-known matzah bakeries in the holy city of Jerusalem. Also participating in that group was one of the leading halachic authorities of the Edah HaChareidis. He is an outstanding Torah scholar and genius, a tzaddik and God-fearing man, whose doorstep is crowded with thousands of questioners every day.

The Surprising Encounter at the Matzah Bakery

During the holy work, the avreich quietly recited prayers composed by the Rav shlit"a for the holiday of Pesach. In addition, he held a special prayer composed by the Rav to be said before baking matzot. The halachic authority noticed the avreich, approached him, and asked: "What do you have in your hand?"

The avreich answered him with awe and respect that it was a page of prayers from the tzaddik. The posek was intrigued and asked who it was, and when he heard that it was Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, he became very enthusiastic. "Give it to me, I also want to say it!" the posek requested excitedly. He immediately read the prayer, returned the page to the avreich, and told him with a smile: "Yasher koach (more power to you)."

From Awe and Fear to Immense Joy and Peace of Mind

The continuation of the story is no less amazing. Those present noticed that after reading the prayer of the Rav shlit"a, the halachic authority was filled with immense joy. Usually, throughout the entire time of baking matzot, this posek is in a state of terrible awe and fear. Due to the intensity of his anxiety and caution in this holy work, out of fear that he might stumble in some detail, it is almost impossible to speak with him.

As is known, the holy Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, may his merit protect us and all of Israel, amen, warned us greatly against excessive stringencies. He taught that despite all the required caution, we are obligated to maintain our joy, as is brought down in Sichos HaRan. And indeed, suddenly, after reading the prayer of the tzaddik, a wonderful joy and peace of mind were seen upon the posek.

The continuation of the matzah baking work by that great Torah scholar was done with "mochin d'gadlus" (expanded consciousness) and deep inner calmness. From this, we can learn how impossible it is to fathom the immense impact of every single point of drawing closer to the tzaddik, which illuminates the soul and brings it to the true joy of performing a mitzvah.

A Story About the Secrets of Matzah Baking Revealed by Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a

One of the most uplifting moments approaching the holiday of Pesach is the time of baking matzot. This special story reveals to us a glimpse of the immense kavanos (spiritual intentions) and hidden secrets revealed by Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a surrounding this holy mitzvah. For the tzaddik, baking matzot is not merely a technical action, but a tremendous spiritual journey to the highest supernal worlds.

Face to Face with the Creator

On one occasion, a special and moving text composed by the Rav shlit"a was revealed, illustrating the magnitude of the hour. The tzaddik requests as follows: "Master of the Universe, the Almighty, grant me the merit through the baking of the matzot to be incorporated into Adam Kadmon of Adam Kadmon (the highest primordial spiritual realm)." This is a request to reach the highest and most exalted spiritual levels that exist in the supernal worlds.

The Rav continues and describes the spiritual aspiration during the action: "And may I merit during the time of baking the matzot and preparing the matzot to ascend to Adam Kadmon of Adam Kadmon. And may I only see Hashem face to face, and merit to see Hashem during the preparation of the matzot literally face to face." The goal is to reach absolute deveikus (cleaving to God), "to feel Hashem in every moment and second, in all of my nefesh, ruach, neshamah, chayah, and yechidah (the five levels of the soul), and may I always merit to be at the level of yechidah."

A Spiritual Journey to the Garden of Eden

Continuing his words, the Rav shlit"a explains the inner meaning of the stages of preparing the matzah and eating it. He reveals that "during the time of preparing the matzot and baking the matzot, we ascend to the Lower Garden of Eden." But the climax arrives on the night of the Seder itself, as he describes: "And at the time of serving the matzot and eating them, we ascend to the actual Upper Garden of Eden."

This spiritual ascent is not guaranteed automatically; rather, it depends on our preparation. As the Rav explains, the matter depends "according to the value of the holiness that we merit during the time of their preparation, and during the time of their kneading, and during the time of their baking, and during the time of their eating." Every moment in the process requires holiness, purity of thought, and deep concentration.

At the conclusion of his words, the Rav adds an interesting detail regarding the shape of the matzot: "And it is desirable that the matzot be round, as it is stated, 'and Your faithfulness surrounds You' (Psalms 89:9), for Emunah (faith) is the aspect of circles." These holy words teach us how to approach the mitzvos of the holiday out of awe, love, and complete faith in the Creator of the world.

A Story About Seeing Hashem Tangibly: From Moharnat to Morinu HaRav

During prayer, Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a often writes and requests: 'And may I merit to see Hashem.' This is a familiar expression heard from him constantly.

Anyone who has merited to be in the presence of the tzaddik sees tangibly that this is a person who sees Hashem at every single moment. For him, his strong and burning faith is much more tangible than ordinary physical sight.

The Group of Heretics in Uman

This brings to mind the well-known story that took place in the city of Uman, where a group of heretics lived. All the tzaddikim of that generation distanced themselves from them, as they were terrible non-believers with the brazenness of the 'forehead of the snake' (extreme arrogance).

Only the holy Rebbe, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zy"a, knew how to approach them and began to draw them close and bring them back in teshuvah (repentance). However, Rebbe Nachman forbade all his other students from speaking with them, out of fear that they might be influenced by their views.

The only one who received explicit permission from Rebbe Nachman to speak with them was his preeminent student, Reb Noson zy"a.

The Cry That Shook the Heart

One time, one of those heretics, a man named Hirsch Ber, approached Reb Noson and began to lay out all his questions and doubts in faith before him.

In response to his words of heresy, Reb Noson let out a mighty cry from the depths of his heart: "What are you talking about?! I see Hashem!"

The man was shaken to his core by the intensity of Reb Noson's tangible faith. He took the words to heart, abandoned his doubts, and began to believe in Hashem with pure and complete sincerity.

So too in our generation, when one observes the tangible faith of Morinu HaRav shlit"a, one understands the true meaning of seeing Hashem eye to eye.

From Issue 79 — Parshas Tazria

From the series "Tzaddik Moshel Yiras Elokim" — "Shapir Amar Nachmani" publications