A Wondrous Story: The Immersion in the Sea of Ashdod That Stopped the Missiles

An amazing story about a group of Chassidim who traveled to immerse in the sea of Ashdod under missile fire by the directive of Rabbi Berland shlit"a, and how this act of mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) completely stopped the war.

A Wondrous Story: The Immersion in the Sea of Ashdod That Stopped the Missiles

The holy words of the holy tzaddik Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin zy"a are well known: when a person roots in his heart the emunah (faith) that "there is none besides Him," then no force in the world can harm him. This pure faith in the power of Hashem, may He be blessed, and in the power of His tzaddikim, is beautifully expressed in the following wondrous story, which took place several years ago.

Fleeing the South and the Tzaddik's Directive

During that tense period, many missiles fell in the southern region, and many people fled the city of Ashdod and its surroundings out of fear of the war. On one of those days, several young men from the Gur Yeshiva in Ashdod came to our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, during the Maariv (evening) prayer. They were worried and asked the Rav shlit"a how they should act and whether they should leave the city.

The Rav shlit"a immediately calmed them and said that they had nothing to fear, and they could safely return to their city. Afterward, our teacher the Rav shlit"a announced a wondrous and unusual directive. "Travel to the city of Ashdod and immerse there in the sea, and through this, the war will be stopped," the Rav instructed those listening to his words.

Mesirus Nefesh (Self-Sacrifice) in the Face of Missiles

The loyal followers of the tzaddik did not hesitate and hurried to fulfill the directive with mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice). A convoy of about ten vehicles set out and arrived in Ashdod, exactly at the time when all the residents were driving in the opposite direction to escape the bombarded area. Despite the danger, they entered the water and immersed in the sea exactly as the tzaddik commanded.

The participants of that journey related that at the exact moments they immersed, a terrifying missile passed over their heads. However, wondrous miracles occurred immediately afterward. Right after they fulfilled the words of the tzaddik with devotion—the missiles stopped completely! It turned out that the missile they saw passing over them at those moments was the last missile fired in that campaign.

There is no doubt that our entire spiritual work in this world is to root in our hearts pure faith in Hashem, may He be blessed, and in His holy tzaddikim. We must always remember that all the laws of nature and thoughts of "my power and the might of my hand" are nothing but a false illusion. Through this pure faith in the words of the tzaddik, all harsh judgments are sweetened, and tremendous mercy and protection are drawn down for the entire Jewish people.

A Wondrous Story: Why Did Rabbi Berland Sing Motzei Shabbos Zemiros in the Middle of the Week?

One day, an important rabbi came to visit our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. The visit took place in the middle of the week, on an ordinary weekday. But to the guest's great surprise, as soon as he entered the room, the tzaddik began to sing the zemiros (songs) of Motzei Shabbos Kodesh (the departure of the holy Sabbath).

The Rav began to sing the piyut (liturgical poem) "B'Motzei Yom Menuchah" with great enthusiasm, and continued to sing the entire order of zemiros for a full hour. This was very puzzling to those present in the room. Everyone asked themselves: What is the point of singing Motzei Shabbos zemiros in the middle of the week? And even more so, why do this when such an important guest is waiting and listening?

A Spiritual Awakening Without Words

The mystery was solved shortly afterward when that important rabbi shared his feelings with those around him. He admitted and related that he had never been accustomed to singing zemiros on Motzei Shabbos Kodesh. "Because the tzaddik just sang the zemiros, I have been awakened from now on to adopt this practice and to be meticulous about singing on Motzei Shabbos," the visiting rabbi testified with emotion.

It became clear that Rabbi Berland shlit"a, with his ruach hakodesh (divine inspiration), sensed exactly what was lacking in that rabbi. Instead of rebuking him, he conveyed the deep message to him through song, enthusiasm, and personal example.

A Tremendous Segulah for Educating Children

As is known, Rebbe Nachman zy"a strongly cautioned to sing all the zemiros on Shabbos Kodesh and on Motzei Shabbos, without skipping even a single song. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a constantly awakens people to this in his classes. He always emphasizes that this is a great and tremendous foundation in the education of children.

The promise that accompanies this holy custom is that whoever practices it will merit that his children will grow up in the path of Torah and fear of Heaven. This story beautifully illustrates how the tzaddik operates in hidden ways. Through simple song, he succeeds in bringing every Jew closer to fulfilling halachah and customs in their entirety.

An Amazing Story: The Hidden Action That Canceled the Decree Against the Synagogue in Dimona

The pious Rav, Rabbi Shlomo Elmalich shlit"a, shared a wondrous testimony about the power of our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, to bring about salvations above the laws of nature. The story took place in the city of Dimona, during a time when the local residents were working hard on building a new synagogue.

The Stop-Work Order and the Journey to the Tzaddik

In the midst of the construction, harsh news landed upon the community. Suddenly, a stop-work order arrived from the municipality, instructing them to immediately halt all work on the establishment of the synagogue. The sorrow among the residents and congregants was very great, as it seemed that all their hard work was going down the drain.

At this point, Rabbi Shlomo Elmalich turned to them and offered them counsel of emunah (faith). He told them decisively that they must travel immediately to our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, and promised them that in the merit of the tzaddik, a great salvation would sprout for them.

The Hidden Action and the Commotion in the Municipality

The community representatives listened to his advice and hurried to travel to the tzaddik. They arrived at the Rav shlit"a exactly during the Mincha and Maariv prayers, and unfolded before him the grim situation and the great fear for the future of the synagogue.

The Rav's reaction was wondrous and unexpected. The tzaddik took a piece of paper, burned it before their eyes, and performed his hidden actions in holiness.

The results were not late in coming. Immediately afterward, in a completely miraculous manner, a great commotion broke out in the corridors of the Dimona municipality. Following the storm that took place there, key people began to be fired from their positions, and through this, the decree was canceled as if it had never been.

The stop-work order was completely removed, and the community continued building the synagogue without interruption. Baruch Hashem (Thank God), the synagogue stands on its foundation and exists to this very day, a living testimony to the power of the tzaddik and his hidden actions on behalf of the Jewish people.

From Issue 81 — Parashat Bamidbar

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