A Story of Mesirus Nefesh (Self-Sacrifice): The Precious Address and the Massive Debts / An Amazing Story

A wondrous story about the mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) of Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a for the sake of the public, becoming an address for the needy to the point of entering into massive debts on their behalf.

A Story of Mesirus Nefesh (Self-Sacrifice): The Precious Address and the Massive Debts

When the acts of loving-kindness and the wonders of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a began to become known, multitudes of Jews found their way to him. This phenomenon spread rapidly, and many people from all corners of the Land of Israel began arriving, seeking a cure for their distress. Word of mouth spread that there was a "very precious address" here for anyone in need of a salvation, advice, or financial support.

Bearing the Burden for the Sake of the Jewish People

Out of his immense Ahavas Yisrael (love for a fellow Jew), the Rav did not turn away empty-handed a single person who knocked on his door. Following this endless giving and helping anyone who asked, the Rav shlit"a entered into massive debts without thinking of himself at all. The burden of caring for the entirety of the Jewish people tipped the scales materially, and the sums swelled to incomprehensible proportions.

The Community Mobilizes

This situation continued until several community activists from among our people realized the gravity of the hour and the heavy burden resting upon the shoulders of the tzaddik. They stepped into the thick of it and mobilized with all their strength to extricate the Rav from the heavy debts he had taken upon himself for the sake of the public. This story illustrates more than anything the immense mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) of the tzaddik, who sacrifices his entire being and possessions for the sake of every single Jew.

An Amazing Story: Rabbi Berland's Exactness in Repaying Massive Debts to Gemachs (Free-Loan Funds)

It is well-known and famous that Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a has always taken upon himself a heavy burden of charity and loving-kindness. As part of his holy activities for the sake of the Jewish people, the tzaddik managed enormous sums, literally hundreds of thousands of dollars. All these funds were intended solely to help Jews in distress and to save families from financial collapse.

Massive Sums for Charity and Loving-Kindness

Despite the tremendous sums and the incomprehensible burden resting on the Rav's shoulders, the managers of the Gemachs (free-loan funds) relate an amazing fact. The Rav shlit"a would pay every debt at its exact time, in a wondrous and awe-inspiring manner. It never happened that the Rav took a loan for his acts of loving-kindness and failed to meet the pre-arranged repayment deadline.

Wondrous Exactness in Repaying Debts

For example, the manager of a famous Gemach, the Neuwirth family, may their light shine, from the city of Bnei Brak, relates this. He testifies that the Rav shlit"a borrowed massive sums from him over the years, all with the goal of helping Jews and supporting the needy. "There was never a situation where the Rav was late even once in paying a debt," he notes with great amazement.

This story clearly illustrates not only the magnitude of the tzaddik's mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) for every single Jew, but also his extraordinary caution regarding monetary laws. The immense strictness in returning loans on time, even when dealing with massive sums, serves as an exemplar and a role model for us all.

An Amazing Story: Thirty Source References on a Complex Topic in the Laws of Niddah (Family Purity)

A kollel student who studied in an important Kollel (Torah study institute) shared a wonderful story that testifies to the immense humility and lowliness of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a. It is known that the entire spiritual work of the tzaddik is to conceal his high spiritual levels, both in matters of Torah and in the service of Hashem. The Rosh Kollel (head of the institute) of that student had heard much about the Rav shlit"a being a tremendous genius who is fluent in all the hidden treasures of the Torah, and he decided he wanted to see this for himself.

A Surprise Test at the Chuppah (Wedding Canopy)

The opportunity arrived when the Rosh Kollel attended a wedding in which Morinu HaRav shlit"a was also participating. He waited for an opportune moment, and immediately after the Chuppah, as the Rav was entering his car, the Rosh Kollel approached him. He turned to the Rav and told him that he had a complex question regarding the laws of Niddah.

To his astonishment, the Rav shlit"a answered him with a seemingly innocent question: "In which section of the Shulchan Aruch are the laws of Niddah found? Is it in Orach Chaim or in Choshen Mishpat?" The Rosh Kollel was very confused by the response. For a moment, it seemed to him that the Rav did not even know something so simple and basic, since the laws of Niddah are actually found in the 'Yoreh Deah' section.

Thirty Sources in the Blink of an Eye

Despite the confusion and the doubt gnawing at him, the Rosh Kollel decided to ask his question anyway. The moment he finished presenting the topic, a wonder occurred. The Rav shlit"a answered him on the spot, with tremendous speed, and cited no less than thirty exact source references related to the question.

The surprised Rosh Kollel hurried to go and check the sources the Rav had pointed out to him. When he opened the books, his eyes literally lit up. He saw how such a complex topic, which he had struggled with greatly, became completely clear to him in the merit of the Rav's answer.

From that day onward, the Rosh Kollel was filled with immense awe and respect for the tzaddik. He tangibly understood how all the hidden treasures of the Torah are revealed and clear before him, and yet, he brilliantly manages to conceal himself and lower himself to the dust.

From Issue 79 — Parashas Pekudei
From the series "A Tzaddik Rules in the Fear of God" — "Shapir Amar Nachmani" publications