A Tzaddik is Rescued from Trouble

Modi'in Illit is one of the cities home to many Jews who have merited to draw close to Morinu HaRav (Rabbi Berland) in recent years, specifically during the concealment within the concealment, during periods of exile and the sweetening of severe judgments. Modi'in Illit is a city of avreichim (full-time Torah students), whose parnassah (livelihood) is generally not abundant. When someone actually owns a car, they usually repair it when necessary in the nearby Arab villages. Many Arab villages surround Modi'in Illit, from which hundreds of workers arrive every morning. At the same time, dozens of Jews enter their villages to buy products at low prices and to repair their cars. Of course, whenever possible, there is a preference to support a Jew's livelihood rather than an Arab's, but when there is a significant price difference, some halachic authorities permit it.

Reb David Ben Naim and Reb Nachman Tzubeli agreed to travel to the Arab village to repair Reb Nachman's jeep. Reb David Ben Naim's son heard about this and asked to join. Even though he knew they were going to an Arab village and there were good reasons to be afraid, he still asked to come along just to "merit" a ride in the jeep...

They drove to a village slightly further away, located in the heart of Area A, where entry is forbidden by law, and made their way toward the garage. Although a sense of camaraderie and coexistence prevails within the garage itself between the local Arabs and the Jews arriving with their cars, the journey there is accompanied by an oppressive sense of fear. Sometimes stones are thrown at the cars, and there are usually shouts and curses from the village youth, intended to intimidate and assert dominance.

They were driving along the dirt paths on the way to the garage when suddenly, after pressing the gas pedal too hard, the belt tore. It was impossible to move forward, and the few minutes of driving that separated their current location from the garage were filled with potential terrorists and haters of Israel. The Arabs began to shout curses and cheer. Several of them started running toward them. The atmosphere in the area began to heat up, and the fear for their lives was incredibly tangible. In their minds' eye, the three had enough time to imagine the worst. They tried to call for help, but there was absolutely no cellular reception in the area; the phone was as good as dead, and the Arabs were rapidly approaching.

In those fateful seconds, Reb David Ben Naim remembered the power of the tzaddik and cried out, "Please Hashem, save us in the merit of Rabbi Eliezer ben Etia Berland shlit"a!"

Suddenly, a large jeep passed nearby. It stopped, and the driver asked them what happened. Reb David watched as his friend Reb Nachman Tzubeli spoke with the Arab driver in a friendly manner, trying to figure out how he knew him. "This is the Druze man who works at the gas station in Moshav Matityahu," Reb Nachman replied. The driver said he would try to help, but they explained that to rescue a heavy jeep like theirs, a special towing rope was needed.

The Druze driver said in his own words, "Wow, what a coincidence! Just yesterday I took this exact rope from my house and put it in the car." The three Jews in the vehicle knew this was no "coincidence," but rather a special revelation of Divine Providence through open miracles, in the merit and power of the tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer ben Etia shlit"a.

The Druze driver towed them to the local garage, where the danger had finally passed. At the end of the day, they returned home with a repaired car, safe and sound, and with an emunas chachamim (faith in the Sages) that was stronger and more tangible than ever.

From the book "Pele Elyon, Part 3"