Watch: A Class by Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a for the Residents of the South

Watch a clip from the shiur — the story of R' Hirsch Leib Lipel zt"l at the Kotel during Tikkun Chatzot in the snow, and the Yetzer Hara story:

**In a special class delivered by Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a to the residents of the South, the Rav opened with the topics of the weekly Torah portion — Korach and the Spies — and guided the listeners through the recent days of war, the secret of shidduchim (marriage matches), and wondrous stories of tzaddikim that we merited to hear from his holy mouth.** The Spies Who Wanted Moshe Rabbeinu to Live Rabbi Berland shlit"a explained that the spies fought with mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) so that Moshe Rabbeinu would continue to live. They refused to accept the prophecy that Moshe would pass away and Yehoshua would bring the Jewish people into the Land of Israel. However, on a deeper level, had they entered the Land at that moment, a Temple of fire would have descended, and the resurrection of the dead would have occurred immediately. They did not understand the prophecy and cried on the night of Tisha B'Av for nothing, thereby causing the destruction for all generations. The Days of War — and the Revealed Miracles Rabbi Berland shlit"a spoke about the missile that fell on the Seventh Day of Pesach near the Rebbetzin's window — a missile aimed at the Temple Mount (in order to blame Israel) — which exploded without causing any harm. Jokingly, the Rav mentioned that people thought it was a fireworks display or a revelation of the light of the Shechinah (Divine Presence). "Thank Hashem, the war is over, they have run out of missiles," the Rav said. The Secret of Shidduchim — "The Matter Emanated from Hashem" Rabbi Berland shlit"a elaborated and said: Rebbe Nachman is the "matchmaker" until the end of generations, and every couple that unites brings about a tikkun (rectification) of the upper worlds and brings the Geulah (Redemption) closer. According to the holy Arizal, a true shidduch (marriage match) is one where the parents and grandparents are unknown (meaning there is no need to investigate the family lineage) — just as Moshe Rabbeinu went to Midian. Furthermore, forty days beforehand, a heavenly voice declares, "The daughter of so-and-so to so-and-so." The Story We Merited to Hear from the Rav — Rabbi Hirsch Leib Lipel Reciting Chatzos at the Western Wall in the Snow From the topic of shidduchim, Rabbi Berland shlit"a transitioned to the figure of the hidden tzaddik, Rabbi Hirsch Leib Lipel zt"l, and revealed: *"I was his attendant for twenty years. We went to the Western Wall every day. Every midnight it would snow — everyone else would go into the tunnel, but he remained alone in the snow. The snow would fall on him until he was completely white. He would say, 'Do not despise' (A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise) — repeating it several times, crying terribly for an entire hour. I stood next to him, and I also turned white — but I could not say it like he did. It is a pity you did not see these elders."* "What Do We Do with the Evil Inclination?" Rabbi Berland shlit"a brought the story of those who traveled to Meron on Purim and asked Rabbi Shmuel Horowitz zt"l how to get rid of the evil inclination. His answer was brief: "What is the evil inclination? Don't invite him, don't give him cholent and bourekas, don't pity him — when he arrives, just blow 'poof' on him, so he flies away from here." Conclusion of the Class — The Story of Shmita In conclusion, Rabbi Berland shlit"a told a story about a Jew who observed Shmita (the Sabbatical year) and was left with nothing but a field of sharp nettles. His wife rebuked him, asking, "Who will buy this?" — but he had planted his entire field with emunah (faith). Suddenly, a drought broke out in Spain, and buyers of nettles paid him ten and twenty times the usual price. In this way, the Rav said, the people of the "Chafetz Chaim" community who observed Shmita earned ten times more than all the surrounding settlements — because observing Shmita brings a tenfold blessing. Photo Gallery from the Class