Amazing Rescue Story: The Avreich Who Was Stabbed 17 Times at the Damascus Gate and Was Saved / An Amazing Story

An avreich (Torah scholar) from the Old City was critically stabbed by a terrorist. After giving a Pidyon Nefesh (redemption of the soul) to Rabbi Berland shlit"a, his condition miraculously improved and he was out of danger.

Amazing Rescue Story: The Avreich Who Was Stabbed 17 Times at the Damascus Gate and Was Saved

One of the prominent avreichim (Torah scholars) from the holy yeshiva in the Old City of Jerusalem passed through the Damascus Gate this week. Suddenly, a terrorist, may his name be erased, attacked him and stabbed him cruelly and very severely. The avreich suffered no less than seventeen stab wounds to his body. Rescue forces who arrived at the scene evacuated him to the hospital, and immediately announced that his condition was defined as critical. A critical condition means the most severe state possible, and naturally speaking, there is almost no chance of survival.

The Pidyon Nefesh and the Open Miracle

The worried family members and close associates hurried to The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, to awaken Heavenly mercy. The Rav shlit"a heard the severity of the situation and immediately said to bring a Pidyon Nefesh (redemption of the soul) for the sum of twenty thousand shekels. From the moment the Pidyon Nefesh was given, Hashem helped with miraculous wonders, and immediately the condition of the avreich began to miraculously improve.

After only a few hours, the doctors announced in amazement that the avreich was out of danger. Baruch Hashem (Thank God), later that same day he woke up and already began speaking with those around him. This is a story of the wonders of Hashem, which is a mitzvah to publicize throughout the entire world, to make known and to realize that there is a Creator and Guide to the world who does and will do all deeds, and there is none besides Him.

The Power of a Tzaddik

Hashem performs miracles and wonders through His faithful servants, who serve Him with mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice). As it is written: 'A tzaddik rules through the fear of God.' Our Sages, of blessed memory, said (Moed Katan 16b): 'Who rules over Me? A tzaddik! For I decree a decree, and he nullifies it.' Fortunate are we that we merited to draw close to our holy Rebbe Nachman and his faithful students, through whom harsh decrees are nullified from upon the Jewish people.

An Amazing Story: The Mesiras Nefesh of Rabbi Berland for the Exacting Details of Shabbos

By the tzaddik, The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, there are no compromises. There is no such concept of taking lightly even a single stroke of the laws of the holy Shulchan Aruch, and this is done with mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) to the point of literal exhaustion. Everyone saw this wondrous conduct tangibly on one of the holy Shabbosos, when the Rav demonstrated with his own body what true Shabbos observance is.

Seudah Shlishis Amidst Suffering

On that holy Shabbos, The Rav shlit"a entered Seudah Shlishis (the third Shabbos meal) suffering from immense weakness. His physical condition was so poor that he could barely speak at all. Despite this, those present merited to hear from him, with great difficulty, a few words of Torah, which he voiced at his pure table. Everyone present saw how the tzaddik was immersed in terrible suffering, yet continued to participate in the Shabbos schedule with supreme mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice).

Waiting for Rabbeinu Tam's Time

Due to his concerning medical condition and the shortness of breath he suffered from throughout the entire Shabbos, the gabbaim (attendants) pleaded with him to hurry and immediately evacuate to the hospital. However, The Rav shlit"a adamantly refused. He did not agree to leave for the hospital until ninety minutes had passed after sunset, which is the later time for the conclusion of Shabbos according to the opinion of Rabbeinu Tam, as the Rav is accustomed to being stringent.

The Rav did not look at all at his weakness and his terrible, unimaginable suffering. Only after the exact time had passed did they recite Birkas HaMazon (Grace After Meals). Immediately afterward, even before the Maariv prayer, they traveled to the hospital while the Rav was entirely tormented and afflicted. Who can estimate and who can describe the magnitude of the tzaddik's service of Hashem, who serves his Creator in ultimate perfection and without any compromises.

A Story of Mesiras Nefesh: Two Hours of Singing Avinu Malkeinu After Hospitalization

By the grace of Hashem and in His abundant mercy, after a multitude of cries and supplications from thousands of students of The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, all across the Holy Land, Hashem showed miracles and wonders. Rivers of tears were poured out like water from broken hearts, until the tzaddik was released from the hospital on Sunday. Immediately upon his return, the Rav shlit"a entered the synagogue to spend time with the congregation.

The Gabbai's Concern and the Great Surprise

Before the start of the minyan (prayer quorum), one of the gabbaim (attendants) turned to the crowd with a special request. He explained that since the Rav shlit"a was still very weak after the hospitalization, they should avoid burdening him with handing over notes and requests for blessings. Everyone was certain that today the Rav shlit"a would shorten the Mincha and Maariv prayers, so that he could return to his home and rest. But reality proved completely otherwise—not in the least.

A Song of Angels for Two Hours

Immediately following the Chazzan's repetition of the Shemoneh Esrei prayer, the Rav shlit"a began to sing the song "Avinu Malkeinu Petach Shaarei Shamayim" (Our Father, Our King, open the gates of Heaven). As is customary on days when Tachanun (supplication prayer) is said, the Rav repeated the song over and over. The entire holy congregation joined him with tremendous enthusiasm and immense joy. The uplifting singing lasted for nearly two continuous hours! The face of the Rav shlit"a shone with a tremendous light and wondrous deveikus (cleaving to Hashem), as if he did not feel his physical weakness at all.

Thus, the entire gathering lasted for almost three full hours. It became clear that this was the "rest" the tzaddik chose to grant himself, specifically after a week of terrible weakness in the hospital. May Hashem, blessed be He, send His word and grant him a complete healing with robust health, and may he merit to lead the Jewish people and welcome our righteous Mashiach very soon, Amen.

From Issue 79 — Parashas Nasso

From the series "Tzaddik Moshel Yiras Elokim" (A Tzaddik Rules Through the Fear of God) — "Shapir Amar Nachmani" (Nachmani Spoke Well) publications.