A Story About the Power of a Shiur: The Avreichim Who Were Strengthened in Hisbodedus Abroad / An Amazing Story

Two avreichim (Torah scholars) who were staying abroad heard the fiery voice of Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a speaking about the virtue of Hisbodedus (personal prayer), and they took this practice upon themselves for a long period.

A Story About the Power of a Shiur: The Avreichim Who Were Strengthened in Hisbodedus Abroad

Two avreichim traveled abroad with the goal of collecting charity for Torah institutions. One night, after a long and exhausting day of knocking on doors, they sought a little spiritual strengthening before going to sleep. They decided to call the Breslov information line to hear words of Torah and inspiration.

The Voice Piercing Through from Afar

As they listened to the line, they merited to hear the shiur (Torah class) of our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. The Rav spoke with tremendous enthusiasm about the virtue of Hisbodedus, quoting the holy words of Rabbi Avraham, the son of the Rambam. "And the most precious of all is Hisbodedus," the Rav cried out in his fiery voice, explaining how every Jew must go out to the field every day to seclude himself in prayer between him and his Creator.

The Fire of Hisbodedus Ignited in the Hearts

The words of the Rav shlit"a, spoken with holy fire and a voice that pierces the deepest recesses of the heart, entered deeply into the hearts of the two avreichim. Even though they were far from the Land of Israel and exhausted from the day's burdens, they felt a tremendous awakening. They understood the immense importance of personal conversation with the Creator of the Universe, specifically from within the darkness of the night.

From that night onward, the two avreichim took upon themselves a new and holy practice. They began going out regularly to do Hisbodedus in the late hours of the night, and they continued doing so for a very long period. This story illustrates how a single utterance of a tzaddik, spoken out of holiness and purity, can cross continents and ignite the soul of a Jew wherever he may be.

An Amazing Story: When the Rav Turned the House Upside Down to Collect Thousands of Dollars for Charity

During a special Thursday night gathering, which takes place every week at the "Nachalei Netzach" Yeshiva in Mea Shearim, the Chassid Rabbi Michael Gol shlit"a, Rosh Yeshiva of "Maginei Eretz," shared a moving personal testimony. He told a wondrous story that testifies to the immense self-sacrifice of our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, and his incomprehensible willingness to help and support every Jew. His words aroused great emotion among all who heard them.

A Family in Distress

On one occasion, Rabbi Michael entered the inner sanctum, the room of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a. The purpose of his visit was an urgent matter of charity for a family that was in severe financial distress. He described the family's painful situation to the Rav, expecting to see how the tzaddik could assist them.

Immediately upon hearing about the family's situation, the Rav shlit"a stood up from his place and left the room without saying a word. Rabbi Michael remained waiting in the room, wondering about the reason for the Rav's sudden departure. About ten tense minutes of waiting passed until the Rav returned to the room.

Turning the House Upside Down for Charity

To Rabbi Michael's astonishment, the Rav shlit"a returned holding a massive sum of several thousand dollars in cash. "The Rav handed me this entire large sum for that needy family, without hesitating for a moment," Rabbi Michael related with emotion. The amount was far beyond anything he had expected to receive, and he left the room astounded.

Only later, when he spoke with the Rav's gabbaim (attendants), did the full, amazing picture become clear to him. The gabbaim recounted that during those ten minutes when the Rav was absent from the room, he simply turned the entire house upside down. The Rav searched in every possible place, opened closets and drawers, and gathered with his own hands every bill and coin in his possession, just so he could give it all to that family.

This story, the full details of which could also be heard on the Breslov information line, illustrates more than anything the immense Ahavas Yisrael (love for a fellow Jew) of the tzaddik. For our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, the mitzvah of charity and helping others knows no bounds. This is living testimony that he is willing to sacrifice his soul and his money down to the last penny for the sake of every Jew.

A Story of Self-Sacrifice: The Rav Collected a Huge Sum from All the Gemachs in the City

In the book "Lehavos Esh" (Flames of Fire), a wondrous story is brought from the youth of our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. In those days, the Rav was diligently immersed in his studies as a young avreich in the "Volozhin" Kollel in the city of Bnei Brak. One day, a destitute Jew appeared at the kollel, collecting charity for the mitzvah of Hachnasas Kallah (helping a needy bride get married).

The avreichim in the kollel welcomed him warmly, and each one donated according to his ability and what was customary to give in those days. When that Jew reached our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, he shared his deep distress with him. He painfully told the Rav that he was very needy and required urgent assistance to marry off his daughter.

A Huge Sum of Loving-Kindness

The Rav shlit"a listened to the Jew's words with great attention, empathy, and a radiant countenance. After hearing his distress to the end, the Rav said to him: "Come back here tomorrow." The Jew, hoping for salvation, indeed arrived at the kollel the next day as requested.

To his great astonishment, the Rav shlit"a gave him a huge sum of money, far beyond what he had expected or dreamed of receiving. Afterward, the meaning of this became clear, revealing the Rav's immense greatness. It turns out that since their meeting, the Rav shlit"a had run around, going from gemach to gemach (free-loan funds) all over the city of Bnei Brak, just to collect and borrow this massive sum for that Jew.

This deed aroused great awe among all who heard about it. It is simply awe-inspiring, as one almost never hears of such an example of serving Hashem, blessed be He, and performing pure loving-kindness. The Rav shlit"a acted with true self-sacrifice, to the point of exhausting his soul, just to set a needy Jew on his feet and bring him joy in his difficult hour.

From Issue 79 — Parashas Pekudei

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