A Lesson in the Home of The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a

Last night, on Monday night, the eve of the 30th of Shevat—Rosh Chodesh Adar—before the Maariv prayer, a lesson was held for a group of representatives from across the country, delivered by The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, in his holy residence.

The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, opened the lesson with words from the Zohar on Vayikra, which teaches that the songs of Chana and Devorah are higher than all the songs in the world. He mentioned that in Chana’s song she prophesied about “Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread”—referring to Haman’s seventy sons—while “the hungry have ceased”—referring to Mordechai and Esther. He strengthened everyone in the idea that a person must prepare for Purim, and understand that it is not only “ad d’lo yada”—getting drunk and not learning. Breslov is learning Gemara!! Later in the lesson he spoke about “Who renews in His goodness each day the work of Creation”—that Creation is renewed every second and every moment, and that there is a Creator of the world, not as the researchers claim, that the world came into being from an explosion, G-d forbid.

After that he spoke about matters of Purim from the secret of “a tree fifty cubits high”—these are the fifty gates of impurity, and corresponding to them, fifty gates in holiness. He also spoke about what is written regarding “Bigsan and Seresh”: that it appears as “Bigsan or Seresh,” and in this way they would take revenge on Mordechai—who, as it were, certainly killed an innocent guard for no reason. He then continued with the story of Daniel, and how Daniel knew the secret of prayer, and he brought Likutey Halachos on this, in Hilchos Milah 5, where it is discussed at length. After that he spoke about the greatness of dancing—how through dancing one can sweeten all harsh judgments. He also related, from the Talmud Yerushalmi, the story of the demon who carried Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi and his companion all the way to the king, as brought there in Trumos.

At the conclusion of the lesson, The Rav shlit"a spoke about Chananyah, Mishael, and Azaryah, who jumped into the fire even though they did not know that miracles would be done for them—because a person’s purpose is to jump into the fire! Meaning, to give over one’s life for Kiddush Hashem, for the sanctification of His blessed Name!