A Wondrous Story: The Midnight Call of "Be Strong!" That Revived the Avreich

An avreich (Torah scholar) who was going through a difficult period called the Breslov line in the dead of night to find comfort. At that exact moment, he heard the voice of Rabbi Berland shlit"a calling out to him personally to be strong.

A Wondrous Story: The Midnight Call of "Be Strong!" That Revived the Avreich

A dear avreich, one of the students of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, recently shared a moving story of wondrous Divine Providence. At that time, the avreich was going through severe tribulations and facing many difficulties. One of his children was not feeling well, and the worry for his well-being weighed heavily on his heart. He desperately needed a little encouragement, a good word that would illuminate the darkness for him and give him the strength to continue.

Searching for Comfort in the Dead of Night

Out of a sense of deep distress, the avreich decided to call the Breslov telephone line. He hoped that perhaps he would hear words of Torah or some message that would strengthen his broken spirit. At those very moments, a live broadcast of a class by Morinu HaRav shlit"a was being transmitted on the line. As is well known, the Rav acts with mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice), traveling every night from city to city to strengthen the Jewish people.

These classes, which are like hewing flames of fire, are often broadcast live even in the wee hours of the night. It is not uncommon for it to be two or three in the morning, yet the voice of the tzaddik continues to echo and awaken hearts. The avreich pressed the receiver to his ear, expecting to hear the words of Torah and find comfort in them.

The Exact Message from Heaven

He connected to the line at the exact moment that the Rav shlit"a finished the class. After the class, the Rav customarily recites Kaddish in his well-known melody, which is filled with tremendous vitality and pure joy. The avreich waited to hear the beginning of the Kaddish, but then a resounding surprise awaited him that shook the very strings of his soul.

Immediately, he heard the voice of the tzaddik, who cried out with tremendous enthusiasm and without any prior preparation the words: "Be strong! Be strong! Be strong! Yisgadal v'yiskadash shmei raba (May His great name be exalted and sanctified)..." These words, spoken at the exact second the avreich dialed, pierced straight into his aching heart.

The avreich felt as if the tzaddik was addressing him personally, calling out to him not to break in the face of his tests. He received immense joy and renewed vitality from these words. This precise Divine Providence granted him the strength to face his difficulties with complete emunah (faith) and trust in Hashem.

A Wondrous Story: Words from the Past That Revive the Soul in the Present

Many Jews tell of a wondrous and moving phenomenon that repeats itself time and time again. It often happens that a person listens to a class from an old cassette of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, a class delivered many years ago, and suddenly experiences something amazing. He discovers that the words spoken back then are directed exactly to the spiritual and emotional state he is in right now.

Divine Providence Through the Cassette Tape

This is a tremendous wonder that illustrates how Hashem prepares the cure before the blow, sending us the exact guidance at the right time. People testify how they needed specific strengthening or an answer to a burning question, and found them specifically in that old class that rolled into their hands through Divine Providence.

This tangibly demonstrates how Hashem has sent us a true leader and tzaddik in our lowly generation. In a generation where we need so much strengthening every single day—a situation unprecedented in history—these words are like cold water upon a weary soul.

Inconceivable Vitality

Multitudes of thirsty souls yearn today to draw closer to Hashem, searching for the path and the light. Through these recorded classes, even if they were delivered many years ago, these souls receive an inconceivable spiritual vitality.

Even from a single word of the tzaddik, a person can receive new strength and illuminate his soul with a precious light. This is the power of the true tzaddik, whose words live and endure forever, continuing to revive and strengthen the souls of Israel at all times and in every hour.

A Story of Providence: The Voice from the Tape That Declared, "The Tzaddik Does Not Leave You"

One Jew told of a period when he was very broken and his soul was bitter. Following difficulties and tests he had undergone, he found himself on a road outside the city, waiting for a hitchhike to take him home.

Thoughts of Distance and Despair

As he stood on the side of the road waiting, harsh thoughts began to overwhelm him. He felt very distant, struggling with a heavy feeling as if the tzaddik had forgotten him and abandoned him to his sighs. Despair began to seep into his heart, and he felt entirely alone in the battle.

Suddenly, a car stopped next to him. The driver asked him where he needed to go, and Baruch Hashem (thank God), happily agreed to let him into the car and drive him home.

The Surprising Message from the Tape

During the ride, the driver turned on a cassette tape with a class by Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a. As he sat in the car, sunk in his gloomy thoughts, he suddenly heard the Rav's voice bursting from the speakers.

The Rav shlit"a cried out in a strong, echoing voice: "The tzaddik does not leave you! The tzaddik does not leave you!"

The Jew was truly startled by the intensity of the revelation and the wondrous Divine Providence. He immediately understood how the tzaddik was strengthening him at the exact moment of crisis, with the words he most needed to hear at that time. The words the Rav had spoken in a class long before were directed from Heaven precisely for that moment of brokenness, proving to him beyond any doubt—the tzaddik never forgets and never leaves.

From Issue 79 — Parashas Pekudei

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