A Story for Yom Kippur: Twenty-Four Hours of Motionless Dveikus / Yom Kippur in Meron

A professor who met Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a in Tzfat was astonished to discover how the Rav stood in the exact same spot throughout the entire Yom Kippur without moving at all.

A Story for Yom Kippur: Twenty-Four Hours of Motionless Dveikus (Spiritual Attachment)

No human intellect can grasp even a fraction of the awesome spiritual level of the tzaddikim. Their dveikus (spiritual attachment) to the Ein Sof (Infinite) Blessed be He is beyond all logic and comprehension. A small glimpse into this incomprehensible greatness can be seen in an amazing story recently recounted by a well-known professor and doctor.

Divine Providence in the City of Kabbalists

This professor drew close to Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a about thirty years ago. Divine Providence orchestrated that he would happen to be in the holy city of Tzfat at the exact same time that Morinu HaRav shlit"a was staying there as well. This encounter changed his life, but the climax of that period occurred on Yom Kippur.

On the holy day, Morinu HaRav shlit"a prayed in the same synagogue where this doctor was present. The Rav stood in one of the corners and began to serve his Creator with a tremendous awakening and dveikus that is difficult to describe in words.

An Entire Twenty-Four Hours in the Same Spot

After the conclusion of the Maariv (evening) prayer, when everyone had finished the day's schedule and went home to rest for the following day, the tzaddik remained in his place. He stood completely immersed in serving Hashem, entirely disconnected from his surroundings.

In the morning, when the congregants returned to the synagogue, a shocking surprise awaited them. They found Morinu HaRav shlit"a standing in the exact same spot where they had left him the night before.

And so, in the same posture and with the same dveikus, the Rav stood until after the Ne'ilah (closing) and Maariv prayers. Throughout the entire twenty-four-hour cycle of the holy day, continuously, the tzaddik did not move from his spot for even a single moment. This fact testifies like a thousand witnesses to the awesome level of the tzaddikim and their infinite attachment to the Creator of the world.

Yom Kippur in Meron: A Story of Rabbi Berland's Tremendous Dveikus

One of the chassidim related a wondrous event that took place in Meron on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year. That year, a minyan (quorum) of Breslov chassidim was staying there, and together with them was Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a. Throughout the entire day and night, the Rav shlit"a stood on his feet in awesome dveikus, without resting for a moment.

The Conclusion of Yom Kippur and the Journey to Jerusalem

At the conclusion of the holy day, after everyone had already made Havdalah and broken the fast, those present began preparing to return to the holy city of Jerusalem. However, the tzaddik was still deeply immersed in serving his Maker. One of the attendees turned to Rabbi Moshe Binenstock, who was then the meshamesh bakodesh (personal attendant), and asked with concern what would happen, since everyone already wanted to return. In those days, public transportation was not as readily available as it is today, and they were dependent on the organized transport.

Rabbi Moshe instructed them to prepare all the necessary equipment, promising that when everyone was ready, he would approach the Rav shlit"a and inform him that they wanted to leave. And so it was. The moment he approached the Rav and whispered in his ear that the public was waiting, the Rav shlit"a immediately took three steps back, and swiftly boarded the bus. They immediately handed him a cup for Havdalah and something light to taste after the prolonged fast.

The passengers on the bus turned to him and said, "Well, perhaps the Rav will strengthen us a little after the holy day?" They passed him the microphone, and the Rav shlit"a began to deliver a fiery, passionate shiur (Torah class). He spoke with tremendous enthusiasm along the entire route from Meron to the holy city of Jerusalem, for several continuous hours without any interruption.

Renewed Strength in the Dead of Night

But the amazing story did not end there. Late at night, when they arrived in Jerusalem, everyone was completely tired and exhausted after Yom Kippur and the difficult fast. Suddenly, the tzaddik announced in a loud voice: "My dear brothers and friends! After such a holy day and such a holy place, who can go to sleep? Let us go out to the field to cry out to Hashem Yisbarach (the Exalted)!"

Even though most of the people were completely drained of energy, there were a few chassidim who agreed to accompany him. They went out to the field for Hisbodedus (personal prayer), and returned from there only towards morning, heading straight to the Shacharis (morning) prayer at the Great Synagogue (the 'Shul') in the Mea Shearim neighborhood.

Morinu HaRav shlit"a began the Shacharis prayer with renewal, deliberation, and length, as if he had just woken up from his sleep. With wondrous, renewed strength, he stood on his feet until close to noon. Only then, after an entire twenty-four hours of continuous service of Hashem, was the Yom Kippur schedule of Morinu HaRav shlit"a completed.

The Ten Days of Repentance: A Story of the Awesome Sight and the Testimony of Rabbi Shmuel Shapiro

During the days of mercy and Selichos (penitential prayers), throughout the Ten Days of Repentance and approaching Yom Kippur, the holy service of our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, always evoked awe and amazement among all who beheld it. Breslov Chassidim, our people, merited more than once to witness wondrous sights of mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) and immense attachment to the Creator of the Universe.

An Awesome Sight of Holiness

On one occasion, a group of our people merited to witness wondrous conduct and an awesome sight in the Divine service of the Rav shlit"a. Out of immense enthusiasm and tremendous excitement from that revelation of holiness, they felt the need to share this with the elders and Torah giants of the generation.

The Chassidim immediately approached the holy tzaddik, Rabbi Shmuel Shapiro, may his merit protect us and protect everyone, Amen. They told him with great enthusiasm and in detail about the awesome sight they had just seen, describing to him the blazing fire of Rabbi Berland shlit"a.

This is No Ordinary Human Being

Rabbi Shmuel Shapiro zy"a listened to their words with great attention and holy reverence. After hearing the description of these wondrous things, he immediately responded and said a short but chilling sentence: "Leis din bar nash!" (This is no ordinary human being).

This rare testimony from one of the greatest and eldest Breslov Chassidim was deeply engraved in the hearts of the listeners. It illustrates more than anything the magnitude of the spiritual attainment and holiness of the Rav shlit"a, whose spiritual service transcends the concepts of ordinary human beings, akin to an angel of the Lord of Hosts.

From Issue 79 — Parashas Tetzaveh

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