An Amazing Story: How Did the Matzah Baking of the Great Posek Change? / A Wondrous Story About Secrets

An avreich (Torah scholar) who participated in baking matzahs with one of the greatest Poskim (Halachic authorities) showed him a prayer composed by Rabbi Berland shlit"a. The surprising reaction and the immense joy that replaced the anxiety.

An Amazing Story: How Did the Matzah Baking of the Great Posek Change?

An avreich (Torah scholar) from among the students of Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a related a wondrous event that occurred recently. The avreich participated in a group baking matzahs in one of the matzah bakeries in the holy city of Jerusalem. Also participating in that group was one of the greatest Halachic authorities of the Edah HaChareidis. This is an outstanding Torah scholar and genius, a tzaddik and God-fearing man, whose doorstep is crowded with thousands of questioners every day.

The Surprising Request of the Halachic Authority

During the work, the avreich recited prayers composed by Rabbi Berland shlit"a for the holiday of Pesach. In addition, he held a special prayer composed by the Rav shlit"a, intended to be recited before baking the matzahs. The Halachic authority noticed this and asked him, "What do you have in your hand?" The avreich replied that these were prayers of the tzaddik.

When the Halachic authority asked who composed the prayers, the avreich answered him, "Rabbi Eliezer Berland." Upon hearing the name, the Posek became very enthusiastic and requested, "Give it to me, I also want to say it!" He took the pages, immediately recited the prayer, returned it to the avreich, and said to him warmly, "Yasher koach (more power to you)."

From the Joy of a Mitzvah to Expanded Consciousness

The continuation of the story was no less amazing. Those present saw an immense joy upon the Halachic authority afterward. Usually, during the entire time of baking matzahs, he is immersed in a state of tremendous awe and fear. It is almost impossible to speak with him due to the intensity of the anxiety and caution required in this holy work, out of fear that he might stumble in some detail.

As is known, the holy Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zy"a warned us in Sichos HaRan against excessive stringencies, and taught that despite all the caution, it is an absolute obligation to maintain one's joy. And suddenly, after he recited the prayer of the tzaddik, they saw upon the Posek a wondrous joy and presence of mind. The rest of the work was done with expanded consciousness (mochin d'gadlus) and calmness.

It is impossible to fathom the immense impact of every point of drawing close to the tzaddik. Even a short prayer composed by Rabbi Berland shlit"a is capable of transforming fear and anxiety into the joy of a mitzvah and true devotion (deveikus) to Hashem, may He be blessed.

A Wondrous Story About the Secrets of the Tzaddik's Matzah Baking

One of the students relates the sublime moments and the tremendous Kabbalistic intentions (kavanos) of Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a while fulfilling the mitzvah of baking matzahs. Through the holy words of the Rav, we merit a rare glimpse into the supernal worlds to which he ascends while preparing the matzahs for the holiday of Pesach.

Face to Face with the Creator

The Rav shlit"a begs and pleads before the Creator of the world for the immense privilege hidden within this mitzvah. In his words, he says: "Master of the Universe, the Almighty, grant me the merit through the baking of the matzahs to be included in Adam Kadmon of Adam Kadmon (the highest primordial spiritual realm)." The Rav explains that during the baking and arranging of the matzahs, one can merit to ascend to the highest spiritual levels.

The aspiration is to reach a state of absolute devotion, as the Rav describes: "And I will only see Hashem face to face, and I will merit to see Hashem at the time of arranging the matzahs literally face to face." The ultimate goal is to feel the presence of the Creator in every moment and second, in all parts of the soul—in Nefesh, Ruach, Neshamah, Chayah, and Yechidah—and to merit to always be on the exalted level of "Yechidah" (the highest, most unified level of the soul).

The Levels of the Garden of Eden and the Secret of Faith

Continuing his words, the Rav reveals the secrets hidden in the various stages of preparing and eating the matzah. He teaches that during the arranging and baking of the matzahs, we merit to ascend spiritually to the Lower Garden of Eden. In contrast, when serving the matzahs to the table and eating them at the Seder night, the elevation is even more immense—"we ascend to the Upper Garden of Eden literally."

This elevation depends on the value of the holiness that we merit to infuse into each and every stage: during the arranging, the kneading, the baking, and the eating. Concluding his words, the Rav adds an important Halachic and Kabbalistic detail regarding the shape of the matzah. He explains that it is highly desirable for the matzahs to be specifically round. The reason for this is based on the verse, "And Your faithfulness surrounds You" (Psalms 89:9), which teaches us that complete faith is like circles that encompass a person.

These holy words of Rabbi Berland shlit"a grant us a new and profound perspective on the mitzvah of baking matzahs, transforming every moment of the preparations for the holiday of Pesach into a spiritual journey of devotion and faith.

A Story of Tangible Faith: The Scream That Brought the Heretic Back in Repentance

"And I will merit to see Hashem" - this is the expression heard regularly from Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, and this is also how he writes many times. Anyone who merits to be in the proximity of the tzaddik sees tangibly that this is a person who sees Hashem, may He be blessed, before his eyes at every single moment. His strong emunah (faith) in the Creator of the world is on the level of actual sight, and even much more than regular physical sight.

The Heretics of Uman

This level of tangible emunah brings to mind the well-known story that took place in the city of Uman during the days of the holy Rebbe, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zy"a. At that time, there was a group of heretics in the city whom all the tzaddikim of that generation distanced themselves from. These people were very far removed and denied the fundamental principles of faith, and therefore no one wanted to come into contact with them.

The only one who drew them close was the holy Rebbe, who worked with self-sacrifice to bring them back in teshuvah (repentance). However, the Rebbe forbade all of his students from speaking with them, out of fear that they would be influenced by their views. The only student whom the Rebbe permitted to converse with them and draw them close was his foremost disciple, Reb Noson zy"a.

The Cry That Illuminated the Soul

One time, one of these individuals, whose name was Hirsch Ber, came to Reb Noson. He began to lecture Reb Noson with all of his questions and doubts in faith, attempting to undermine the foundations of Judaism. In response, Reb Noson let out a great cry from the depths of his heart: "What are you talking about? 'And I see Hashem'!"

That holy cry, which stemmed from the tangible and clear emunah of a tzaddik who sees the Creator before his eyes, had its effect. Hirsch Ber was shaken by the intensity of the faith that burst forth from Reb Noson and accepted the words deep into his heart. From that moment, all of his doubts were shattered, and he began to believe in Hashem, may He be blessed, with a complete and pure faith. So too, we merit to see in our generation the power of the burning emunah of Morinu HaRav shlit"a, which illuminates the souls of the Jewish people and draws them close to their Father in Heaven.

From Issue 79 — Parashas Tazria

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