A Shaking Story: The Police Pogrom on the Night of Shabbat Shirah in Johannesburg and 4 More Stories

A chilling story about the mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) of Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a in the Johannesburg exile, when police raided the community compound on the night of Shabbat Shirah and struck terror into hundreds of celebrants.

A Shaking Story: The Police Pogrom on the Night of Shabbat Shirah in Johannesburg

Reams of parchment would not suffice to describe the mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) of the tzaddik of the generation, Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a. At every single moment, the Rav sacrifices his soul for the honor of His blessed Name and for the sake of the Jewish people. His constant goal is that there should be only good for Israel, to sweeten harsh judgments and to draw down mercy and loving-kindness, as is known and explained in the holy books.

The Johannesburg Exile and Shabbat Shirah

If we were to begin recounting everything the tzaddik endured in the Johannesburg exile alone, it would be an endless sea of suffering. One event among many, which is deeply engraved in the public's memory, occurred on the holy Shabbat of Parashat Shirah. On that special Shabbat, about five hundred Jews—men, women, and children—gathered to spend Shabbat in the shadow of the tzaddik. The atmosphere was elevated, and the large crowd anticipated a Shabbat of spiritual ascent and drawing closer to Hashem.

The Police Raid in the Dead of Night

But suddenly, in the midst of the holy Friday night, the quiet was shattered all at once. Large police forces suddenly surrounded the neighborhood where Rabbi Berland shlit"a was staying along with the large crowd that had come to celebrate the Shabbat. The police raided the compound and literally carried out a real pogrom before the astonished eyes of the celebrants. They broke in violently, entered all the rooms, and overturned their contents in a frantic search for Rabbi Berland shlit"a.

The commotion at the scene was immense, and the young children burst into bitter tears from the tremendous fear instilled in them by the armed police. The forces went from house to house and from room to room, searching again and again for a long hour. This chilling event is just a small testimony to the saga of suffering and terrible persecutions that the tzaddik endured in his exile, accepting everything with love and in silence for the sake of sweetening the judgments from upon the entire Jewish people.

A Wondrous Story: The Police Passed by the Tzaddik and Were Struck with Blindness

One of the close followers recounted a moment of immense tension that turned into an open, supernatural miracle. The police forces conducted extensive searches until they reached the very building where the apartment of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a was located. Danger hovered in the air, and it seemed that the fateful moment had arrived.

The Supernatural Serenity of the Tzaddik

While the tension outside continued to mount, a wondrous scene took place inside the apartment, testifying to the holiness of the Rav. All that time, the tzaddik sat and learned, completely immersed in the holy books, as if nothing was happening in the outside world. The noises of the searches and the commotion all around failed to disconnect him from his tremendous deveikus (cleaving) to the Torah.

By Heavenly Decree: Struck with Blindness

The police had already entered the building itself. They approached with rapid steps, scanned the area, and passed right by the apartment of Rabbi Berland shlit"a. Anyone standing on the side was certain that this was the moment they would notice him, as they were within touching distance.

But then an open miracle occurred. By Heavenly decree, the men were struck with blindness and did not see him at all. They passed by the place without noticing the tzaddik who was immersed in his learning. The wondrous event left those present in awe of the Divine Providence that accompanies Rabbi Berland shlit"a, and of the tremendous power of the Torah that protects those who study it.

The Wondrous Story of Rescue from the Pursuers

Divine Providence accompanies the tzaddikim at every single step, as can be seen in the following story which illustrates how Hashem, may He be blessed, guards those who love Him. One of the close followers tells of a moment of danger, where the loving-kindness of Heaven was revealed for all to see and protected the tzaddik.

The Exact Moment of Rescue

In those days, there were various elements seeking to harm Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a. In one instance, danger literally hovered in the air, and the pursuers approached the place where the Rav was staying in an attempt to harm him.

However, Divine Providence guided matters in a wondrous way. And immediately when they departed from the area, Morinu HaRav shlit"a left the place swiftly.

In the merit of this precise timing, which occurred in the blink of an eye, the Rav was saved from the malicious hands of his pursuers. This event remains a living testimony that Hashem's eye is upon those who fear Him, and He always prepares a way of escape and salvation for His tzaddikim.

A Wondrous Story: The Escape from Interpol and the Arrest in Johannesburg

Wondrous miracles were seen during those years of persecution. According to all human intellect and logic, the pursuers of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a should have succeeded in catching him easily. However, time after time, in a truly miraculous way, the tzaddik slipped through their hands and left them astounded.

The Interpol Raid at the Chuppah (Wedding Canopy)

One of those wondrous stories occurred during a wedding where the Rav shlit"a was honored with officiating the kiddushin (marriage ceremony). Suddenly, in the midst of the celebration, Interpol forces raided the location, armed with firearms. A great panic gripped the crowd of attendees, and the police rushed toward the Rav and had already grabbed him by his hands.

At that tense moment, an open miracle occurred. In a wondrous way, someone managed to move the hand of the policeman who was holding the Rav, and place it on another person standing nearby – the mechutan (in-law) of the Rav shlit"a. The police, who were certain they had caught the tzaddik, took the mechutan into custody. Only after some time did they realize their embarrassing mistake and release him, but in the meantime, the Rav shlit"a had already left the place safely.

The Arrest in Johannesburg and the Sweetening of Judgments

Despite all the miracles of salvation, finally, before the holiday of Pesach, Morinu HaRav shlit"a was arrested by the authorities in Johannesburg. However, anyone who was close and knew the sequence of events saw clearly that everything happened intentionally and with the full consent of the Rav shlit"a. It was clear to all that the tzaddik had decided himself when the time had come to be arrested.

This matter is reminiscent of what we have seen with several true tzaddikim throughout the generations. So it was with the holy Baal HaTanya zy"a, with the holy tzaddik of Ruzhin zy"a (may their merit protect us all, Amen), and with almost all the tzaddikim of Chabad. These are supernal matters, elevated beyond our understanding; the tzaddikim choose to suffer afflictions themselves in order to sweeten judgments from upon the people of Israel, and they bear the yoke with love for the sake of the holy Shechinah (Divine Presence).

A Story: The Tzaddik's Seder Night in Seclusion with the Creator of the World

The days approached the holiday of Pesach with giant strides, and the tension among the students of the tzaddik continued to grow. They did not stop begging, crying out, and tearing the gates of Heaven so that Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a would be released from his imprisonment and celebrate the Seder night with them. The hope was great, and the anticipation to see their teacher and Rav conducting the table at the head of the community burned in everyone's heart.

The Will of Divine Providence

But despite everything, the Seder night arrived and Divine Providence wanted otherwise. It was decreed that this year, the Tzaddik Yesod Olam would be completely alone, only with Hashem, without any other creature around him. Amazingly, anyone who was close to the Rav saw clearly that this was exactly the inner will of the tzaddik himself, who accepted the situation with love and absolute submission.

The Secret of Infinite Devekut (Attachment to God)

The explanation for this lies in words that the Rav shlit"a had already said many years ago. He taught that in order to reach the level of infinite devekut (attachment to God) to Hashem, and to merit that 'great awe' which is the revelation of the Shechinah (Divine Presence) on such a holy and awesome night, it is possible only in one way. "It is impossible to reach this except in actual seclusion with the Creator of the world alone, as it is written: 'I and not an angel, I and not a seraph,'" the Rav explained then.

Who can truly grasp even a fraction of the exalted mind of the tzaddikim? This is a comprehension that is above all human intellect and thought. These are the servants of Hashem, who live every single moment only for His honor, and nullify themselves in absolute submission to His guidance, in every situation and in every place where they are found.

From Issue 79 — Parashas Matos

From the series "A Tzaddik Rules in the Fear of God" — "Shapir Amar Nachmani" publications