An Amazing Story from Holland: One Hundred Thousand Dollars Transferred Immediately to a Rosh Kollel, and 3 More Stories

A wondrous story about an enormous Pidyon Nefesh of one hundred thousand dollars that Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a received from a wealthy Jew, and transferred on the spot to a Rosh Kollel who was in distress.

An Amazing Story from Holland: One Hundred Thousand Dollars Transferred Immediately to the Rosh Kollel

A person close to the Rav tells an amazing story about the trait of charity and the complete detachment from money of our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. This wondrous event took place during the period when the Rav shlit"a was staying in Holland, and it illustrates how the tzaddik serves as a pure channel for transmitting abundance into the world.

A Pidyon Nefesh of One Hundred Thousand Dollars

One day, a very wealthy Jew arrived at the residence of the Rav shlit"a in Holland. This person wanted to give the tzaddik a Pidyon Nefesh, and he placed a massive, inconceivable sum of one hundred thousand dollars on the table. The enormous amount was given to the Rav in its entirety, as a pure Pidyon Nefesh for that Jew.

Immediately afterward, while the donor was still present, another Jew entered the room of the Rav shlit"a. This person was a Rosh Kollel of impoverished Torah scholars, and he approached the Rav with a broken heart. He shared with the tzaddik that his institution was in severe financial distress, and he did not know how to continue supporting the scholars and paying their stipends.

Transferring the Money to the Rosh Kollel

Without hesitating for even a single moment, and immediately after hearing the distress of the Rosh Kollel, the Rav performed a wondrous act. The tzaddik took all the money he had received just a few moments prior from the wealthy Jew, and before the astonished eyes of the donor, handed the entire one hundred thousand dollars into the hands of the Rosh Kollel.

This story illustrates more than anything the immense distribution of charity by the Rav shlit"a, in an unprecedented manner. For the tzaddik, money is nothing but a means to sustain the souls of impoverished Torah scholars and to do kindness in the world, without any attachment or desire to keep anything for himself.

A Story of Tears of Teshuvah: The Spiritual Reward of the Wealthy Man

A certain Jew, a wealthy businessman, experienced a difficult test. In one of his meetings with our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a in Holland, he donated a massive sum of money to the tzaddik. However, immediately afterward, he saw how the Rav transferred all the money he had given him into the hands of another person.

Naturally, despite the strong emunah (faith) that this Jew had in the tzaddik, it was still very difficult for him to accept such a thing. To see how all his substantial wealth was immediately passed on to someone else is a test that requires tremendous inner strength. Yet, he remained silent and continued to cling to his faith.

The Meeting in Johannesburg and the Special Invitation

After a period of time, when the Rav shlit"a was staying in Johannesburg, South Africa, that same wealthy Jew came to visit the Rav again. This time, a truly unique surprise awaited him.

The Rav shlit"a, wanting to grant him a spiritual payment and reward for that incident in Holland and for withstanding his test, approached him with a rare offer. The Rav told him to enter his private room to stand beside him during the Minchah prayer. The moved Jew entered the room, and the tzaddik stood up to pray, with the man standing right next to him.

The Gates of Heaven Open

That Jew later recounted what transpired in his soul during those moments. Suddenly, without any prior preparation, he was filled with thoughts of teshuvah (repentance) and a tremendous spiritual awakening. He testified that he had never felt such an awakening in his life, not even during the High Holy Days, on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur.

He stood there and poured out tears like water before Hashem for a long hour. His heart opened completely, and he experienced a tangible and moving closeness to God.

At the conclusion of that overwhelming spiritual experience, the Jew reached a clear conclusion. He understood and felt palpably that it was worthwhile and valuable for him to give that massive sum to charity, just to merit those sublime moments of an open heart and tears of teshuvah.

A Wondrous Story: How Did Rabbi Berland Know About the Young Man's Toothache?

A young man from one of the Chassidic yeshivas, who frequently attends prayers in the presence of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, shares a wondrous story that testifies to the tzaddik's revealed Ruach HaKodesh (Divine inspiration).

The Surprising Mission

One week, when this young man entered the tzaddik's Beis Midrash (study hall), something unusual occurred. Suddenly, the Rav shlit"a called him to come closer. To his great surprise, the Rav handed him a paper containing a special spiritual remedy for healing a toothache.

The Rav explicitly instructed him to deliver the paper to a specific young man who studies with him in the yeshiva. The young messenger took the writing in his hands and immediately headed back to the yeshiva to fulfill the tzaddik's words completely.

Astonishment in the Yeshiva

When the messenger arrived at the yeshiva, he immediately approached the young man whose name the Rav had specified, and told him that the Rav shlit"a had sent him something personal. The young man looked at the writing and was completely overwhelmed with astonishment. "I never told the Rav shlit"a who I am, so how does he know my name?" he asked in wonder.

That young man's only acquaintance with the Rav shlit"a amounted to one single occasion. He had come for prayers, approached the Rav, and the Rav held his hand for a short while. Since that day, he had not returned, and he had no direct connection with the tzaddik.

Above the Way of Nature

The great wonder became clear immediately afterward. In recent days, this young man had been suffering from severe toothaches, but he kept it a secret and told absolutely no one except his mother. Suddenly, without him telling anyone, a letter arrives from the tzaddik intended exactly for the toothache from which he was suffering!

A Torah scholar who is close to the tzaddik investigated the story deeply, spoke with the young man, and verified all the details. It became clear beyond any doubt that the young man had not told anyone besides his mother, and there was no natural way the information could have reached the Rav shlit"a.

Indeed, the young man read the holy words that the Rav had sent him, and the toothaches vanished and disappeared as if they had never existed, by the grace of Hashem, may He be blessed. This story illustrates once again how the eyes of the tzaddik see from afar, and how he cares for every Jew wherever they may be.

A Special Story: Why Did the Kabbalist Rabbi Yehuda Sheinfeld Come to Rabbi Berland on Shabbos Parah?

On the holy Shabbos night, immediately after the conclusion of the prayers, the congregation began to sing the Shabbos zemiros (hymns) together with Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a. It is customary to sing the piyutim (liturgical poems) "Shalom Aleichem," "Ribon Kol HaOlamim," "Eishes Chayil," and "Kah Echsof" with tremendous spiritual awakening and a special sweetness. Anyone who merits to participate in this gathering knows that these are uplifting and moving moments. This is truly an occasion of genuine Oneg Shabbos (Shabbos delight), a taste of the World to Come.

A Sudden Guest in the Sanctuary

In the midst of the uplifting singing, something unexpected occurred. Suddenly, the tzaddik and Kabbalist Rabbi Yehuda Sheinfeld shlit"a entered the sanctuary. He gently pushed his way through the large and crowded congregation until he managed to reach the exact spot of Morinu HaRav shlit"a. The two met warmly and began to discuss some deep words of Torah between themselves. The surrounding crowd stood in awe at the special meeting between the two tzaddikim, which occurred suddenly in the middle of the Shabbos zemiros.

The Kabbalist's Instruction for Shabbos Parah

The young man who accompanied the Kabbalist Rabbi Yehuda Sheinfeld shed light on the reason for the surprising arrival. He turned to the people standing around him and told them the background of the visit. According to him, the tzaddik and Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Morgenstern shlit"a had given Rabbi Yehuda Sheinfeld a special instruction.

"On Shabbos Parah, one must go to the tzaddik," the Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Morgenstern instructed him. Following these words, Rabbi Yehuda Sheinfeld went out of his way specifically, and came in the middle of Shabbos to the tzaddik of the generation. This act left a profound impression on all those present, who understood the magnitude of the moment and the immense spiritual stature of Morinu HaRav shlit"a.

From Issue 79 — Parashas Tazria

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