A Wondrous Story: The Address for Every Request of the Yeshiva Students in the Dead of Night / A Moving Story from Seudah Shlishit

The Chassid, Rabbi Yehoshua Dov Rubinstein shlit"a, tells of the immense dedication of Rabbi Berland shlit"a to the yeshiva students, when he would return from the field and immediately go out again at their request in the dead of night.

A Wondrous Story: The Address for Every Request of the Yeshiva Students in the Dead of Night

The Chassid, Rabbi Yehoshua Dov Rubinstein shlit"a, tells a wondrous story that testifies to the immense dedication and exalted character traits of our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, toward his students. The story illustrates just how much the Rav would completely nullify himself for the sake of every single student, at any hour and in any situation.

Again and Again to the Field

In those days, the custom of the Rav shlit"a was to go out for Hisbodedus (secluded prayer) in the fields in the dead of night. When the Rav shlit"a would return from the field, after hours of serving Hashem, one of the yeshiva students would sometimes approach him. The student would ask innocently, "Rebbe Leizer, do you want to go to the field?"

Even though he had just returned from there, the Rav shlit"a never refused. Immediately, he would answer in the affirmative, turn around, and walk back to the field together with the student who sought his closeness. After they returned, another student would sometimes arrive and ask the exact same thing, and again the Rav would joyfully agree and go out with him. This would repeat itself several times in a single night.

The Address for Every Matter

It was not only in spiritual matters and going to the field that the Rav shlit"a was dedicated to his students. For whatever a student needed, the Rav was the exclusive and loving address for him. He spared no effort to help and assist each and every one.

For example, if any of the students needed to go to the army recruitment office and required accompaniment and support, the Rav shlit"a would drop his own affairs and go together with him. This self-sacrifice, simplicity, and infinite love for every Jew are deeply engraved in the heart of anyone who merited to know the Rav up close.

A Moving Story from Seudah Shlishit: When Rabbi Berland Read the Avreich's Thoughts

A prominent avreich (married Torah scholar) shared a wondrous spiritual experience he had in the presence of our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. This occurred during Ra'ava D'Ra'avin (the Time of Ultimate Will), during Seudah Shlishit (the third Shabbat meal), when the entire congregation was immersed in spiritual elevation. Suddenly, without any prior warning, a foreign thought penetrated the avreich's mind, confusing him completely.

The intrusive thought caused him great sorrow and anguish. As is known, the Baal Davar (the Evil Inclination) tries with all its might to inject confusion and doubts into a person's mind, may Hashem protect us, specifically during moments of holiness and closeness to Hashem, the Exalted. The avreich tried to battle the thoughts, but felt helpless against the internal storm raging in his mind.

The Precise Hint from Afar

While immersed in his sorrow and internal battle, the avreich lifted his eyes. "And behold, I see that our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, is looking directly at me," he described with emotion. Despite the distance between them and the large crowd present, the holy eyes of the Rav were fixed exactly upon him, as if reading the hidden depths of his heart and the struggle he was undergoing in those very moments.

In that wondrous moment, Rabbi Berland shlit"a raised his holy hand and pointed to his forehead. With a gentle and precise motion, the Rav hinted to the avreich that he must "lock" his mind, and not allow the confusions of the Evil Inclination to penetrate inside. The precise hint took immediate effect, and the avreich felt the intrusive thoughts dissipate and vanish as if they had never been.

This story once again illustrates the immense power of the tzaddik, who sees from afar and feels the distress of every Jew. Even without words, with a single glance and a slight hint, the tzaddik is able to guide, strengthen, and save a person from the nets of the Evil Inclination, restoring his mind to its firm state.

An Amazing Story: The Glance of the Rav That Caused a Student to Cry for Three Hours

A student learning in one of the Chassidic yeshivas in the holy city of Jerusalem shared this week how he merited to draw close to our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. It all began when one of his classmates in the yeshiva experienced a spiritual crisis and deteriorated to a very severe state. Another friend, seeing the student's difficult situation, decided not to give up on him. He spoke with him at length and managed to influence him to come to the Beit Midrash of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a.

The Glance That Shattered the Husks of the Heart

When that student entered the Beit Midrash, a chilling and unforgettable moment occurred. The moment he walked in, the tzaddik turned his eyes and looked at him with a piercing and pure gaze. Through that look of the tzaddik, the student's heart was instantly transformed and shattered within him in an unimaginable way.

He was overcome with immense emotion and began to weep bitterly from the depths of his soul. Tears streamed from his eyes like water, and he simply could not stop crying for three consecutive hours. The glance of the tzaddik penetrated straight into his soul, cleansing it of all blemishes.

Awakening and Drawing Close to the Tzaddik

This wondrous event made waves in the yeshiva and left a profound impression on everyone who heard about it. The moving story also reached the ears of the student narrating the tale, who saw the immense transformation that had taken place in his friend. Following that event, he too was awakened and decided to personally draw close to the light of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a.

It should be noted that although this story has been published in the past, this week it received a renewed and moving verification from a first-hand source. This testifies once again to the immense power of the tzaddik, who, with just a holy glance of his eyes, is capable of awakening Jewish souls and returning them to their Father in Heaven.

From Issue 82 — Parashat Vayakhel

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