"A Person Must Think, 'Perhaps They Were Killed Because of Me'" • Summary of the

Presented before you is a summary of topics from the lesson as delivered by our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), during the fourth meal of Melaveh Malkah (the meal accompanying the departing Queen Sabbath) on the conclusion of the holy Sabbath, Parshat Vayakhel 5785:

The Rebbe said that we see there is suffering in the world, such as now when there are fifty-nine hostages; every person needs to think, "Perhaps it is because of me; perhaps because of my transgressions this is happening." This is like a king's son who caused his father great distress. The king appointed a minister to prevent the son from entering, and the king was in pain while the son was filled with longing and sorrow. The minister said, "I am to blame for everything," until he went and appeased the minister. All suffering stems from the Sin of the Golden Calf, as it is written, "And on the day I visit, I will visit [their sin upon them]" (Exodus 32:34)—every generation receives one twenty-fourth of the punishment. Therefore, there was the Holocaust, and on Simchat Torah (referring to the October 7th attacks), there was also a Holocaust. Today, everyone already knows that all the commanders are to blame for everything, as they wanted to topple the government. On the Sabbath of Purim, the Or HaGanuz (the Hidden Light) is revealed, which is the secret of the "cleft of the rock" (Exodus 33:22), where it is impossible to enter except for one who fasts for forty days and forty nights. He mentions "The King's Hand," saying that it is not enough to fast; one also needs forty days and forty nights of total focus, for it is forbidden to divert one's mind from Hashem, may He be blessed, for even a second. "I have set Hashem before me always" (Psalms 16:8). In another three weeks, it will be the Seder night. In another three hours, it will be Chatzos (midnight); all the girls should recite Tehillim (Psalms) until 12:30 AM for the sake of the hostages, and they should recite the Five Megillos (Scrolls) and Tikkun Chatzos (Midnight Lamentation) and then go to sleep—though in truth, one doesn't need to sleep at all, as it is only an illusion. The boys should study nine pages in Tractate Chagigah and be careful regarding page 13, where it tells of two children who were electrocuted (spiritually consumed by Divine secrets). Everyone should study with his wife the laws of "Chazakat Metaltelin" (Presumptive Ownership of Movable Property), part 5, regarding all the secrets of Purim. Next week, the day will be lengthened by an hour (due to the clock change), so everyone should finish the Rambam (Maimonides' Mishneh Torah); every girl should learn one chapter of Rambam daily, and the young men five chapters. In thirty days, that is one hundred and fifty chapters; they will finish Sefer HaMada (The Book of Knowledge), Sefer Ahava (The Book of Love), and Sefer Zmanim (The Book of Seasons).