An Unforgettable Mandatory Lesson

The words of His Holy Eminence, the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, from the 18th of Elul 5775 (2015), regarding the greatness of the Kibbutz (gathering) on Rosh Hashanah with Rebbe Nachman of Breslov.

"Two weeks before Rosh Hashanah, Hashem created the world with the letter 'Heh' of the Name Y-K-V-K, the Name Sag (a Kabbalistic name of G-d with the numerical value of 63), because everyone was born with partners, for the Name Sag connects with the Name Ban (a Kabbalistic name of G-d with the numerical value of 52), and in Ban itself there are 9 letters. In Sag there are ten letters in its 'milui' (full spelling) and the final 'Heh' remains without a 'milui'."

"It is written, 'And Moshe assembled' (Vayakhel Moshe), that the final 'Heh' cried to the Holy One, Blessed be He—'I have no partner,' because the Name Ban was emanated on the 17th of Elul. Today is the 18th of Elul, the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov, whose soul is drawn from the Keter (Crown) of Ban. The Baal HaTanya was also born today, because his soul is drawn from the Chochmah (Wisdom) of Ban, the Chabad (Chochmah, Binah, Da’as) of Ban; therefore, he established the Chabad movement because it is the Chabad of Ban. Eliyahu HaNavi (Elijah the Prophet) is the Name Ban, as the Name Ban descends from the Name Sag. In the future to come, there will only be Av (72) and Sag (63) because the Name Ban will be included in Av. Therefore, Sichon the King of the Amorites and Og the King of Bashan represent seventy-two thousand, the secret of Aleph. This is found in 'The Healer of the sick of His people Israel' and 'In Israel He performs valor,' which was said regarding the war of Sichon and Og."

"It is written in Midrash Tanchuma and Rabbah that Sichon is Elul, and Og is after the Hakafos Shnios (second rounds of dancing with the Torah). Sichon nursed from the heel of the left foot and Og from the heel of the right. Regarding this it is said, 'Do not fear him,' because now on Rosh Hashanah, the heels of Leah enter the Keter (Crown) of Rachel. And about this it is said, 'Upon Edom I shall cast my shoe,' for the Keter of Rachel becomes the shoe of Leah. 'And His feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives' (Har HaZeisim)—the Mount of Olives is the Keter of Rachel, and the feet are the feet of Leah that connect with the Keter of Rachel—then the Geulah (Redemption) will occur."

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"When Balak saw that the heels of Leah were connecting with the Keter of Rachel, he said, 'The end of the world has arrived.' Just as Cham saw what the dove brought. The dove comes from the 'Ken Tzippor' (Bird’s Nest); 'Tzippor' (bird) refers to the 370 (Sh'ah) myriad lights that were taken from Chava (Eve). From Chava, 370 myriad lights were taken, and from Adam, 150 (Kan) myriad were taken; therefore, there are 150 chapters of Tehillim (Psalms) in order to return the 150 myriad lights that were taken from Adam HaRishon (the first man). The lights taken from Chava are 370, 'Ken Tzippor,' through the Metzora (leper) offering two birds."

"'Tzippor' (bird) without the letter 'Vav' is 370 myriad; Tzipporah merited the 370 myriad lights taken from Chava. All of this is written in Sha'ar HaKavanos (The Gate of Intentions), Chapter 5, in the explanations on Parshas Metzora. The Metzora (leper) represents 'Seliku DeNehora Ila'ah' (the withdrawal of the Supernal Light), and therefore his skin becomes leprous, because the skin stops shining. 'Or' (skin) with the letter 'Ayin' receives 'Or' (light) with the letter 'Aleph,' and we are constantly receiving lights."

"On Rosh Hashanah, Rebbe Nachman performs the 'Nesirah' (the mystical separation/sawing) of Leah; only Rebbe Nachman is the Tzaddik who knows how to perform the Nesirah of Leah. For he said, 'I received Rosh Hashanah as a gift,' meaning that Hashem revealed to Rebbe Nachman how to perform the Nesirah of Leah and Zeir Anpin (the 'Small Face' or emotive attributes of the Divine), and how to connect the heels of Leah with the Keter of Rachel."

"Balak saw what Israel did to the Amorites, 'as the ox licks up the grass of the field.' 'The firstborn of his ox is his glory'—this refers to the coffin of Yosef (Joseph) which went before the camp of Israel. Because Yosef never stumbled in any blemish in the world; when a person does not stumble in any blemish in the world, nothing can harm him—he can enter a lions' den like Daniel."

"Daniel ruled over the lion in the Merkavah (Divine Chariot), for all the lions in the world are drawn from the lion in the Merkavah; therefore, the lion is the attribute of Chesed (Kindness). For a lion does not prey on a human being; one can get out of the car and pet a lion and return to the car—nothing happens as long as you don't truly provoke him; he won't touch a person."

"The Rebbe says that a person who knows the secret of the animals, then no animal will harm him. Even if a person goes to do Hisbodedus (secluded prayer) in the jungle and sees a lion, he only needs to stand quietly—'The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth.' As it is written in the chapter 'HaMafkid' (in the Talmud), even lions and leopards are afraid of a human being; a human has the 'Tzelem Elokim' (Divine Image)—if he guards the 'Bris Kodesh' (the holy covenant/purity), then no animal can rule over him."

"For every person has angels surrounding him—'Argaman' (purple) stands for Uriel, Nuriel, Raphael, Gabriel, and Michael; each of them is surrounded by five angels. And 'upon my head is the Shechinah (Divine Presence) of G-d'—this is the light of Peni-el. And this is merited on Rosh Hashanah when coming to the True Tzaddik, who knows how to perform the Nesirah of Leah from Zeir Anpin. For the secret of the Nesirah is the greatest secret in the world, as Reb Noson brings in Likutey Halachos in the Laws of Rosh Hashanah, the Laws of Tefillin, and the Laws of Rosh Chodesh—that the secret of the Nesirah is revealed only to one Tzaddik in the world."

"At the moment the Or HaChayim passed away in Israel, it was on Motzaei Shabbos (the conclusion of the Sabbath) on the 15th of the month. The Baal Shem Tov was exactly washing his hands, and then he received the secret of washing hands, which is the secret of the Nesirah of Leah—this is revealed only to the 'Chad BeDara' (the unique leader of the generation). However, after Rebbe Nachman, the secret of the Nesirah was no longer revealed to anyone—how to perform the Nesirah of Leah from Zeir Anpin, which is the entire secret of Rosh Hashanah. As soon as Rebbe Nachman walked the first four cubits in the Land of Israel opposite the cave of Eliyahu HaNavi, he received this secret."

"For Eliyahu HaNavi is himself the Name Ban, and therefore the dogs laugh, because 'Kelev' (dog) is also the Name Ban. It is written in Bava Kamma 60b that the dogs laugh and dance with joy when Eliyahu HaNavi arrives, because in dogs there are the souls of types of wicked people; for the dog is the only animal that barks all day—a lion roars only when it is hungry, but the dog barks without ceasing."

"The 'price of a dog' is forbidden to be brought (as an offering); if a person exchanges a dog for a sheep or for money he received for the dog, he cannot bring it to the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple), but he can buy something else with it. In any case, the dog is considered the most impure animal, about which the Torah wrote a special verse, because it barks all the time—'the dogs did not know satiety'—and therefore Hashem delayed the food in its intestines for three days. But the dog also thanks Hashem: 'Come, let us prostrate ourselves and bow before Hashem.'"

"Through Eliyahu HaNavi, who knows how to rectify the souls, even those reincarnated in dogs—which are the most loathsome and worst souls in the world—'Therefore, kindness is withheld from his friend.' Cursed is one who raises dogs; a person who raises a dog has no Parnassah (livelihood), has nothing, everything goes backwards, he is in a state of being cursed. If there were 172,000 in Israel and one was missing, and a woman was about to give birth and the dog barked and she miscarried, then this dog caused the Shechinah (Divine Presence) to depart from Israel."

"The Rebbe brings everyone through on the night of 'Zachor Bris' (Remember the Covenant). The Rebbe already performs all the Tikkunim (rectifications) on the first night of the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the night of Zachor Bris, at which time the Rebbe already begins the Nesirah of Leah from Zeir Anpin. Balak saw this Nesirah 'as the ox licks up,' for 'the firstborn of his ox is his glory,' because everything is done through the coffin of Yosef HaTzaddik (Joseph the Righteous), who hinted to the brothers with the goblet. Yosef hinted to them, 'Say we are guilty,' just as Reuven said at the beginning—the moment they were put in prison, Reuven said, 'We are guilty.' After that, they already saw such miracles, such wonders."

"The brothers simply learned a lesson in Emunah (faith) from Yosef HaTzaddik, from the viceroy; he tells them, 'It is all Hashem, everything is G-dliness.' Do you think you just received a million dollars back in each of your sacks? This fell upon them from Heaven—a million dollars! Who merits such Emunah? I wish I could merit such Emunah. After a billion years, I wish we could understand one word of Rebbe Nachman; after ten thousand years."

"The Rebbe blessed Rabbi Aharon of Breslov that 'you should merit after ten thousand years to understand one mundane word of mine'—so may we merit to understand some word of Rebbe Nachman. If Rebbe Nachman said, 'No one shall be missing' (ish lo ye'ader), there is nothing greater than this; one must not play any tricks—one must be with the Holy Rebbe. If a person is truly 'onus' (prevented by circumstances beyond their control), then it is as if he were there, but until a person is truly 'onus,' Reb Noson said, 'I would even travel over knives.'"

"Rebbe Nachman received this awesome secret, for he is the only one in all the generations until Mashiach (the Messiah) comes, and Mashiach will also receive the secret through Rebbe Nachman, who revealed the secret of the Nesirah of Leah from Zeir Anpin. This is the greatest secret of all secrets. And when Balak saw what Israel did to the Amorites—that the heels of Leah enter the Keter of Rachel—he sent messengers to Bilaam. Bilaam, a man of 'Beliya'al' (wickedness/worthlessness), the numerical value of Beliya'al; he said, 'Bilaam, what do we do? It's over!' Just as Cham saw that the world was ending, and in his merit, the world continues for another 3,500 years. It is written in the Zohar, Shlach 165, that if the dove had brought the soul of Mashiach, then the world would have ended—it would be over, we would not have come into the world, we would have no Tikkun (rectification). Cham intended evil, but through this, existence was extended for the world."

"There were two Holy Temples; now the Third Temple is being built. Now, at the conclusion of Yom Kippur, everyone must see a Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple) of fire. If, G-d forbid, Mashiach does not come this year at the conclusion of the holiday, the conclusion of the first Yom Tov (festival day), then we will have to wait another 7 years—this is truly a disaster; we must pray with great strength. It is written in the Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 32) that there were two sick people: one got out of bed and one did not, because this one prayed with all his soul, with all his heart, with strength. It is written regarding Nineveh, 'And they cried out with strength'—they cried with strength. They were gentiles, for a gentile prays better than a Jew; if he prays, he screams with strength, he is not ashamed of anyone. We must pray with strength, and in this way, we perform the Nesirah of Leah from Zeir Anpin, for only through prayers can one perform the Nesirah of Leah."

"All the Gemara study that we do is so that we will have 'Mochin' (spiritual consciousness) to pray, and therefore they 'cried out with strength.' They had already done all the abominations in the world, but Hashem forgave them only after that. They saw that there was relief, like Pharaoh—he saw there was relief, so they immediately regretted it. They said, 'Why did we do Teshuvah (repentance)? It was for nothing; the city didn't turn over; the world follows its usual course; we were just fools to believe Yonah (Jonah).' Forty days after they regretted it, the city sank into the ground."

"All these 12 days that remain for us are to prepare for Rosh Hashanah, to prepare the Nesirah of Leah. For on the first night, we perform the Nesirah of Leah, and after that the Chochmah (Wisdom), the Keter (Crown) of Rachel. After that is Binah (Understanding), and Binah is already Tzom Gedaliah (the Fast of Gedaliah). Da'as (Knowledge) is the four 'Dalets,' and after that the fifth is Chesed (Kindness), the sixth is Gevurah (Strength), and the seventh is the Tiferes (Beauty) of Zeir. We perform the Nesirah of Tiferes, and the Malchus (Kingship) of Tiferes passes to Rachel."

"The Malchus of Netzach (Victory) is on the 8th; afterwards, on the eve of Yom Kippur, we perform the Nesirah of the Malchuyos (Kingships) of Hod (Splendor), Yesod (Foundation), and Malchus, and then the ascent of Rachel begins. Rachel begins to ascend—Rachel rises, rises, rises. During Kol Nidrei, she rises to the head of Tevunah (Comprehension), and after that, during the Maariv (evening) prayer, she is already in the Malchus of Binah; in Shacharis (morning prayer), she is in the Chagat (Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferes) of Binah, and during the repetition (Chazarah), she is already in the Da'as of Binah. In Musaf (additional prayer), she is already in the Chochmah-Binah of Binah, and at Keter, she already reaches the Keter of Binah."

"Whereas Zeir Anpin has no ascents; therefore, in the merit of the women, all sins are forgiven—all sins are forgiven in the merit of the dances and the 'macholos' (rounds) that the women perform. For every woman puts on her red scarf, and by morning it becomes white. The 'Shemen Sasson' (a commentary) asks why the men fast at all, since they have no ascent in prayer? Only the women elevate the prayers of the men; the 'Ezras Nashim' (women's section) is above because they elevate the prayers, for the women pray truthfully. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak related that in Uman, everyone would wake up from the prayers of the women; there were such cries from the Ezras Nashim and cries from the female converts. There were hundreds of female converts who began to convert because of the great holiness."

"In all of Uman, ten thousand people would stand around the Kloiz (the main Breslov synagogue) to hear the awesome prayers, the weeping—it is impossible to describe what Uman was like a hundred years ago. In the year 1938, which was 77 years ago, it is impossible to describe—all of Uman, ten thousand people; it was impossible to even reach the synagogue; whoever left the synagogue could no longer return. People did not leave the synagogue at all throughout Rosh Hashanah; they only wanted to hear the prayers, the weeping, the roars, and the melodies. All of Uman stood there, and all the surrounding villages converted because of the holiness, and they came to perform the conversion in Uman in the synagogue and the circumcision—men aged 60, 70, 80 would circumcise themselves."

"What takes place in Uman on Rosh Hashanah—no mind can understand it or contain it; these are things beyond logic and knowledge, which is the secret of the Nesirah of Leah. This is the entire 'Etz Chayim' (Tree of Life), the secret of the 'Luz' bone of the resurrection of the dead. For now, it is truly possible to revive the dead; after traveling to Uman, this is the secret of the Luz, for the Luz is the nape of the neck. One merits the Luz only on Motzaei Shabbos when singing the melodies of Eliyahu HaNavi, 'Ish Chassid Hayah' (There was a pious man)."

"We are now on the 18th (of Elul), the day the soul of the Baal Shem Tov descended, the soul of the Baal HaTanya descended. Today, there is no place in the world where there is not a Beis Chabad; in every place, there are Mikvaos (ritual baths); there is no corner of the world where people are not returning in Teshuvah (repentance). Today, people flee to Thailand, flee to all sorts of places—where are they? In the Beis Chabad, and there they do Teshuvah. They arrive in Nepal, at the Beis Chabad, and do Teshuvah."