A Wondrous Story: The Enormous Phone Bill That Was Mysteriously Erased

A wondrous story about an enormous phone bill that was erased as if it never existed, revealing the immense care of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a regarding the money of others and the concealment of his deeds.

A Wondrous Story: The Enormous Phone Bill That Was Mysteriously Erased

One of the chassidim zt"l told a wonderful story from a period when Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a stayed in his home. That chassid hosted the Rav with an exceptionally good eye and generous spirit. Among other things, he placed his home telephone at the Rav's disposal, offering him to call as much as he wanted without any limitation.

Long Conversations to the Holy Land

In those days, Morinu HaRav shlit"a needed to speak frequently with Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Rotenberg shlit"a, who lived in the Holy Land. Every day, the two would conduct long and deep conversations. As one would expect, following these frequent international calls, a particularly large phone bill accumulated.

The host, who had promised the Rav he could use the phone as much as he desired, did not complain and was ready to bear the expense with joy. However, when the time for payment arrived and he went to settle the bill, a complete surprise awaited him. The clerks informed him that the debt was completely erased and he had no remaining balance to pay.

The Erased Debt and the Revealed Secret

Until his last day, that chassid never knew how the debt was paid. He used to tell this story with immense amazement, certain that it was a wondrous miracle of Morinu HaRav shlit"a. But anyone who knows the Rav's conduct understands that it is highly probable a completely different kind of wonder occurred here.

It is almost certain that Morinu HaRav shlit"a went discreetly and paid the enormous debt out of his own pocket, without the host knowing about it at all. In this way, the Rav both paid his debt and "earned" bizyonos (embarrassment and shame), since outwardly it appeared as though he was using his host's phone without any limitation or consideration.

It is known to all that Morinu HaRav shlit"a is extremely meticulous regarding the money of others. An example of this can be seen from another period, when the Rav used the telephone of the yeshiva in the city of Bnei Brak. Even there, the Rav was careful to record in a notebook every single call he made, to ensure that he would not, Heaven forbid, benefit from public funds without paying. This story illustrates not only his extraordinary caution with money, but also his humility and the concealment of his deeds.

A Wondrous Story: The Walk to the River in Vinnitsa and the Touching Care for a Student

The chassidic Rav, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Brenner shlit"a, tells of a moving and special experience he merited to have in the presence of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a. It was when he traveled with him for the first time to the tziyun (gravesite) of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov in the city of Uman. During that trip, they spent Shabbos Kodesh in the city of Vinnitsa in Ukraine.

Shabbos in Vinnitsa and the Fear of Walking Alone

On that morning of Shabbos Kodesh, the members of the group prayed Shacharis in the hotel where they were staying. Everyone woke up early for the Vatikin prayer (at sunrise), and afterward, they walked together with the Rav shlit"a to the local river to immerse. Rabbi Yisrael Meir relates: "I woke up a bit late and missed the group walk. I really wanted to go immerse in the river in honor of Shabbos, but I had no one to go with."

The thought of walking alone through the streets of the foreign city aroused heavy fear within him. "I was afraid to walk alone to the river among the local non-Jews," he recalls. In his distress, he decided to approach the Rav shlit"a and share his difficulty, hoping to find a solution or receive advice.

The Devotion of a True Leader

The reaction of the Rav shlit"a was both surprising and moving, testifying to his immense humility. Instead of sending someone else or dismissing him with words, the Rav got up and walked with him to the river himself. It was not a short walk—twenty minutes in each direction—but the Rav did it with joy and a radiant face.

When they reached the river, the Rav's devotion did not cease. "The Rav waited patiently until I finished immersing, and even guarded my clothes for me on the riverbank," Rabbi Yisrael Meir relates with emotion. While they were there, the Rav utilized the moments to teach him several important halachos (Jewish laws) related to immersing on Shabbos. Among other things, he guided him on how to be careful not to enter the public domain (reshus harabim) with water on his body, along with other halachos pertaining to Shabbos observance.

This story illustrates more than anything the greatness of the tzaddik, who, alongside his genius and holiness, finds the time and care to look after every Jew personally, truly like a father caring for his son with endless love and devotion.

From Issue 82 — Parshas Vayakhel
From the series "Tzaddik Moshel Yiras Elokim" — Issues of "Shapir Amar Nachmani"