A Story About the Holy Work of the Rav in Bnei Brak from Five in the Morning Until Three in the Afternoon / A Wondrous Story

An amazing testimony from a Breslov Chassid about the daily schedule of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a during his days in Bnei Brak, starting from the early morning hours until the late afternoon.

A Story About the Holy Work of the Rav in Bnei Brak from Five in the Morning Until Three in the Afternoon

A Jew from among the Breslov Chassidim shares wondrous memories from days past, a period when Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a was learning in the Breslov Yeshiva in the city of Bnei Brak. Through this testimony, we merit a rare glimpse into the incomprehensible daily schedule of the Rav, dedicated entirely to the service of the Creator with immense mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice).

Hours of Dveikus and Enthusiasm

That same Chassid relates that he remembers well the regular daily schedule of Morinu HaRav shlit"a in those days. The Rav would begin his prayer at five o'clock in the morning. The prayer was conducted with wondrous deliberation, immense enthusiasm, and a sweetness that simply cannot be imagined.

During those hours, one could hear the Rav crying out to Hashem with awesome, heart-trembling shouts. This prayer, which began in the early morning, would only conclude at eleven o'clock before noon. These were six consecutive hours of absolute dveikus (attachment) to the Creator of the World, without any interruption.

The Path to the Field and the Heart-Captivating Melodies

After finishing at eleven o'clock, the Rav did not go to rest from his toil. Instead, he would immediately go out to the field for hisbodedus (secluded prayer) and to pour out his heart. That same avreich (Torah student) who related these events sometimes merited to accompany the Rav on his way to the field and witness moving scenes.

He describes how, along the way, the Rav would recite verses such as "Hope to Hashem, be strong..." and the liturgical poem "Ein K'Elokeinu" (There is none like our God). The words were spoken with extraordinary sweetness and pleasantness, and with a heart-captivating melody that penetrated the depths of the soul. The journey to the field took an entire hour of walking and yearning.

Afterward, the Rav shlit"a would seclude himself in deep hisbodedus for two full hours. At the end of the hisbodedus, he made the journey back for another hour, and thus arrived at his home only at three o'clock in the afternoon. The most amazing thing of all is that this was not a one-time event, but rather the regular daily schedule of the Rav, day after day, with unparalleled devotion.

A Wondrous Story: The Holy Cries on the Roof in Bnei Brak and the Absolute Silence

The Chassidic Rav, Rabbi Yitzchak Weitzhandler n"y (may his light shine), shares a wondrous memory from the days of the yeshiva in the city of Bnei Brak. He describes the holy work of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, an awesome and powerful service that is completely impossible to fathom or understand with human intellect.

Roars of Holiness on the Roof

In those days, the Rav shlit"a would go up to do hisbodedus and serve his Creator on the roof of the yeshiva. The reason for this was his immense consideration for others, as he did not want to disturb the public with his loud cries and roars. Every single word that left his mouth was accompanied by awesome and extraordinary cries and roars, stemming from immense dveikus to the Creator of the World.

The Rav would take long pauses between each word. He would cry out: "Tzur... Yisrael... Kuma..." (Rock of Israel, arise...), and anyone who heard this would feel how every word was spoken literally to the point of exhaustion. The mesirus nefesh and superhuman effort were evident in every utterance, and thus the holy work continued for hours upon hours.

The Absolute Silence

The climax of that spiritual work arrived when the Rav shlit"a would approach the Shemoneh Esrei (the silent standing prayer). At that exact moment, an amazing transformation occurred in the air. "Then there was absolute silence, exactly as if a roaring generator had been turned off," describes Rabbi Yitzchak.

The sharp transition from the mighty roars to the absolute silence illustrated more than anything the self-control and deep connection of the Rav to the upper worlds. This memory was etched into the hearts of everyone who merited to be there, testifying to the service of Hashem of a true tzaddik, which is beyond all intellect and comprehension.

An Amazing Story: Eight Hours of Continuous Standing Until Fainting

One of the veteran students of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a shares a wondrous memory from the days of the yeshiva in the Old City of Jerusalem. This testimony sheds light on the immense mesirus nefesh and the service of Hashem that is above the bounds of nature, which has always characterized the Rav.

Mesirus Nefesh Above Nature

It was on one of the days when the Rav shlit"a was standing for the Shemoneh Esrei prayer in the sanctuary of the yeshiva in the Old City. The student relates that he remembers well that trembling sight, where the Rav stood in immense dveikus for about eight consecutive hours. He did not move from his place, entirely immersed in the upper worlds, until his physical strength was completely depleted and he fell and fainted.

As soon as they noticed this, those present hurriedly lifted the Rav in alarm. They carefully laid him down on one of the benches in the yeshiva sanctuary, waiting with great concern until he would regain consciousness and recover his strength.

Overcoming Like a Lion

The great wonder occurred shortly thereafter. The moment the Rav shlit"a regained his strength and returned to consciousness, he did not go to rest or stop his spiritual work. He overcame like a lion, rose from his place, and immediately continued his holy work with immense renewal and revitalized strength.

This story illustrates more than anything the immense spiritual power of the tzaddik, whose physical body is completely nullified before the fierce desire to serve his Creator. Even when the body collapses under the strain, the soul continues to burn with a fire of holiness and dveikus.

From Issue 79 — Parashas Shmini

From the series "Tzaddik Moshel Yiras Elokim" (A Tzaddik Rules Through the Fear of God) — "Shapir Amar Nachmani" Publications