An Amazing Story of Love for Hashem: Two Hours of Counting the Omer and 3 More Stories

One of the students of Rabbi Berland shlit"a relates the immense devekut (spiritual attachment) he witnessed when he saw the Rav counting Sefiras HaOmer (the Counting of the Omer) for two entire hours, out of pure love for Hashem and deep yearning.

An Amazing Story of Love for Hashem: Two Hours of Counting the Omer

King Solomon, peace be upon him, says in Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs): "Many waters cannot quench the love, nor can the rivers flood it; if a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, they would utterly despise him."

The holy tzaddik, who is entirely refined and pure, who has never tasted the flavor of sin in his life and has absolutely no connection to even the scent of materialism, burns with a fire of love for Hashem. His soul bursts forth with infinite yearning for his Maker and Creator. There are many stories told about Rabbi Berland shlit"a that show us just a tiny glimpse of his supreme devekut to the Creator of the world and His mitzvos.

Hours of Devekut in the Breslov Yeshiva

One of the prominent students of the Rav shlit"a shares a wondrous memory from his youth. He remembers well the period when he studied at the Breslov Yeshiva in the city of Bnei Brak. In those days, he merited to hear the holy Divine service of Rabbi Berland shlit"a, which lasted for hours upon hours.

On one occasion, the Rav shlit"a stood to fulfill the mitzvah of Sefiras HaOmer. He began by reciting the preliminary text: "Master of the Universe, You have commanded us through Moshe Your servant to count Sefiras HaOmer." Suddenly, the Rav became profoundly attached to these holy words and could not part from them.

Tears of Joy and Delight

The Rav repeated over and over with immense emotion: "Master of the Universe, You have commanded us... and again, You have commanded us..." Is there any greater joy and delight than this realization, that the Creator in all His glory personally commanded us?

Tears flowed like water from the holy eyes of the Rav, and he continued to cry out in longing: "You have commanded us through Moshe Your servant..." This trembling, awe-inspiring scene continued for two entire hours!

Praiseworthy are the tzaddikim who merit to feel such a sweet taste in fulfilling the will of Hashem, and praiseworthy are those who attach themselves to them, who merit to see and learn from their great light.

An Amazing Story: "It is Revealed and Known Before Your Glorious Throne" for Three Hours

A Chassid from Williamsburg shared a deeply moving spiritual experience that he merited to see with his own eyes. One day, he entered the Breslov synagogue in the neighborhood of Boro Park in the United States. When he opened the door, a scene of awesome majesty was revealed before him, leaving him completely speechless.

A Scene of Awesome Majesty in the Empty Synagogue

The synagogue was completely empty of people, aside from the presence of Rabbi Berland shlit"a. The Rav was pacing back and forth across the length of the synagogue, completely detached from his surroundings. He was immersed in reciting the "Asher Yatzar" blessing (the blessing of thanksgiving recited after using the restroom) with an immense devekut that is difficult to describe in words.

The Rav repeated the words over and over: "It is revealed and known before Your Glorious Throne." He repeated this phrase countless times, out of fiery enthusiasm and an outpouring of the soul, as if the physical world did not exist at all.

Vanity of Vanities Against Supreme Delight

In those moments, the feeling in the air was that the entire mighty empire of America, a country of wealth and materialism, was simply vanity of vanities. Everything seemed like absolute nothingness compared to the supreme delight of the blessings and praises offered to the Creator of heaven and earth.

And so, out of that supreme devekut, the Rav remained attached to these holy words for three entire hours. This story illustrates just how much every single word of blessing and gratitude to Hashem can become an entire universe of genuine Divine service.

A Story of an Awe-Inspiring Scene in the Presence of the Tzaddik That Cannot Be Described in Words

Following the wondrous testimonies about the power of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, a short but awe-inspiring description is brought that illustrates the magnitude of holiness surrounding the tzaddik. Sometimes, words are simply too small to contain the intensity of the spiritual experience.

The Request to Hear the Details of the Event

One chassid, who heard rumors of a wondrous and extraordinary occurrence, approached another Jew who was an eyewitness to that event. He asked him to recount all the details of the occurrence, so that he could closely understand the magnitude of the miracle and the conduct of the Rav shlit"a.

Beyond Words

That chassid who was present at the scene gave him a profound answer that testifies more than anything to the greatness of the tzaddik. He told him: "I can indeed tell you the sequence of events and the dry facts of the story, but the awesome and holy atmosphere that was there – I cannot describe to you in any way."

This answer perfectly illustrates how the presence of Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a and the spiritual revelations in his proximity are beyond human comprehension. Whoever merits to be present in these moments experiences an awe of the Divine majesty that no language can convey to listeners.

A Story of Awakening: The Sweetness of Souls in the Beis Midrash of Rabbi Berland shlit"a

One of the students excitedly recounts the special, spiritual atmosphere that can be experienced in the presence of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a. Whoever wants to feel the truth of the holy words is invited to come to the Rav's Beis Midrash even just once. This experience is especially felt when arriving in the early morning, about an hour and a half before sunrise. In those early hours, they begin to sing the morning hymns with an unimaginable sweetness, opening with the piyyut (liturgical poem) "Odeh La'El Levav Choker, Beron Yachad Kochvei Boker" (I will thank God who searches the heart, when the morning stars sing together).

The Song of Creation in the Early Morning

In those moments, it seems as if all the morning stars and all of creation are pleading and singing to the Creator of heaven and earth. After all, Hashem created everything for His glory, for His holy Torah, and for Israel and the tzaddikim. "The entire world was created only for the one who fears Heaven in ultimate perfection," as our Sages of blessed memory said: "The end of the matter, all having been heard: fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole man."

Afterwards, the congregation continues to sing together the piyyutim "Yah Ribbon Olam V'Almaya, Ant Malka Melech Malchaya," "Yedid Nefesh Av HaRachaman," "Ma Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov," and "Adon Olam." All the spiritual work is done with tremendous vitality, with melodies, singing, and chanting by everyone together as one man.

The Pleasant Voice of the Tzaddik

The great awakening continues into the evening hours as well. Sometimes the congregation merits that the tzaddik participates with them via telephone, and then they hear his pleasant and sweet voice with joy and vitality, word by word. Afterwards, they proceed to Count the Omer with devotion and sweetness, with the regular melodies of "Lamenatzeach Binginot," "Ana B'Koach," and "Ribbono Shel Olam Atah Tzivitanu."

The Spiritual Resurrection of the Dead in Our Generation

This is a wondrous story unparalleled in such a generation, where there is a terrible war waged by the forces of evil to conceal and cause the name of Hashem and the holy Torah to be forgotten, may Hashem protect us. For the tzaddik, who is the foundation of the world (Tzaddik Yesod Olam) and the root of the souls of Israel, breathes a literal spirit of life into the souls. This is an aspect of the resurrection of the dead in the literal sense, reviving the dry bones with revealed miracles and wonders.

May Hashem illuminate this new light for all of the Jewish people, wherever they may be. If only everyone, as one man with one heart, would draw close to the true tzaddik. It is this drawing close that will hasten our Geulah (Redemption) and the redemption of our souls, with the building of our Holy Temple and our glory, speedily in our days, Amen.

From Issue 80 — Parashat Emor

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