A Prayer and Article in Honor of the Gathering of the Avreichim of our Holy Community Shuvu Banim, May They Live

In the book Peulas HaTzaddik, it is brought down that once Reb Naftali was with Rebbe Nachman zt"l, and Rebbe Nachman spoke with him about the concept of emunah (faith). He explained how we must strengthen ourselves immensely in faith, and how the entire world will be caught up in heresy and atheism. He said, "I will reveal a secret to you: there will be great heresy in the world, because from Above, heresy will descend upon the world as a test. I know that my people will truly strengthen themselves in faith even without this and will remain steadfast in their belief. However, I am revealing this to you so that they will be strengthened even more when they see that this was spoken about beforehand." Rebbe Nachman zt"l sighed deeply and said, "Oy! How will a few people be able to stand against the whole world?" He added that there will come a time when a simple Jew who washes his hands for a meal will be a great novelty, like the holy Baal Shem Tov.

It seems from his holy words, spoken with Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Inspiration), that when the holy Rebbe sighed and said, "Oy! How will a few people be able to stand against the whole world?" his intention was directed toward the members of our holy community, "Shuvu Banim." We are persecuted by the entire world, and such a flood of heresy has descended, bringing about slander, informing, and persecution to uproot and eradicate us from the Jewish people, Heaven forbid. "And all this people shall come to their place in peace," as they wrote in their ruling, while we are now the few against the many.

Continuing that same meeting between the holy Rebbe and Reb Naftali, it is written that Rebbe Nachman zt"l continued to speak with him at great length about faith. In the midst of this, Rebbe Nachman zt"l began to reveal to him the second part of Megillas Sesarim (The Scroll of Secrets). (As is known, there were two parts to this revelation regarding the coming of Mashiach, called Megillas Sesarim. The first part was spoken in the carriage, where only Reb Noson and Reb Naftali merited to hear it, and not the other passengers. The second part was revealed exclusively to Reb Naftali and not to Reb Noson, because Reb Noson was on a mission from Rebbe Nachman to his brother-in-law, Reb Tzvi of Berdichev, to collect a debt owed to the Rebbe. Therefore, this second part of Megillas Sesarim was revealed only to Reb Naftali. Now, hear what Rebbe Nachman said here):

"At first, there will be a great dispute over Mashiach, and they will say, 'Is this Mashiach?' They will say it in these words: 'Mashiach in a mitzele?' (meaning, 'Mashiach walks with such a hat or such clothing?'). The main point is that even though nearly two thousand years of exile have passed, and we anticipate his arrival every day, nevertheless, 'Though he may tarry, wait for him; he will surely come, he will not delay.' Even though all the calculated ends have passed, he will certainly come, and he will be very beautiful and handsome. Fortunate is the one who merits this, who will hold fast with perfect faith then, because there will be great tests." Thus ends the second part of Megillas Sesarim.

Now, I turn to you, people of the tzaddik, people of Shuvu Banim, children of the tzaddik, Morinu HaRav Rabbi Berland shlit"a. You are currently going through a terrible upheaval amidst a flood that has descended in our generation against the true tzaddik of our generation who lives with us. He is the vessel and conduit of the holy and awesome Rebbe Nachman, drawing down all the teachings of Rebbe Nachman to our generation, the generation of Mashiach. Are all the heresy and difficult tests of faith not directed against Morinu HaRav Rabbi Berland shlit"a? And the Rav himself, who is undergoing endless humiliation from the entire world, quite literally—is this not Rebbe Nachman's intention when he wrote, "because there will be great tests"? Did he not intend the difficult tests of faith regarding Morinu HaRav shlit"a, after the entire world has fallen and been trapped in the snare of great dispute and hatred toward the Rav shlit"a?

If so, gentlemen, dear people of Shuvu Banim, it is simple that when Rebbe Nachman sighed earlier and said, "Oy! How will a few people be able to stand against the whole world?"—was Rebbe Nachman's intention not directed at us? We are a few people, ostracized and excommunicated (even if not explicitly stated) by all the various Breslov communities, not to mention most segments of the Charedi public.

Gentlemen, do we not see with our own eyes the fulfillment of the awesome prophecy spoken to Reb Noson and Reb Naftali?

Do we not see now that Megillas Sesarim has emerged from concealment into revelation?

And who can decipher it now if not the people of Shuvu Banim? Even though the whole world may laugh at us, to us it is simple that Rebbe Nachman intended us when he said "a few people" who merit to withstand the "great tests" of faith in the true tzaddik of the generation, Morinu HaRav Rabbi Berland shlit"a. We are the ones overcoming all the heresy that has now descended to the world regarding the true tzaddik of the generation. Therefore, be strong and let your hearts be courageous, people of Shuvu Banim, for you have merited to be among those few people about whom the holy Rebbe prophesied two hundred and fifty years ago or more. Rebbe Nachman intended you in his holy words. May it be His will that we merit the revelation of Mashiach soon, and may He who said "Enough" to His world say "Enough" to our troubles, and redeem us with mercy.

From me, with great love, Shlomo Elmalich.

I read a story about an avreich (Torah scholar) who had a child sick with muscular dystrophy, Heaven spare us. After trying all the doctors and segulos (spiritual remedies), his friends told him, "Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai is worthy to rely upon in a time of distress." Immediately that evening, they organized a van and traveled to the holy site of Meron. They recited Tehillim (Psalms), and at night they returned home, but the child's condition remained the same. The next day, the situation worsened, and they urgently needed to call an ambulance. The father hurried, taking his son in his arms, and went down the stairs. The child slipped from his hands and received a blow to his head on every single step. They expected the absolute worst, but the doctor who examined him declared: The child is completely healed! The blows he received to his head released all the dormant cells in his brain, and now his entire body is strengthening like a normal person.

By Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, there is always salvation. We may not see the salvation immediately, but the salvation will arrive. This is especially true for such a large congregation, bli ayin hara (without the evil eye), traveling to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, all of us with one goal: to pray for Morinu HaRav Rabbi Eliezer ben Etya shlit"a, for his complete health and his general salvation—for his salvation is our salvation. Through this journey, we demonstrate our love for Morinu shlit"a and strengthen ourselves in dibbuk chaverim (attachment of friends). As is known from Reb Aharon the Great of Karlin, who said that wherever two Jews sit together and converse in yiras Shamayim (fear of Heaven), great and awesome things are accomplished in Heaven, and an abundance of all good is drawn down to the earth. This is especially true for such a large congregation arriving at Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, and particularly for the holy Shabbos. Let us strengthen ourselves in friendly conversations with yiras Shamayim and ahavas chaverim (love of friends)—such as praying for one another for whatever is lacking, both spiritually and materially. May we merit, with God's help, to see the salvation of Morinu shlit"a and his swift and perfect release. With blessings for a peaceful and blessed Shabbos.

E. Z. R.

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together."