The Chuppah Ceremony ○ The Joy of the Tzaddik's House ○ The Cossack Dance ○ The Seven Beggars ○ Resurrection of the Dead ○ And the Upright Will Rejoice

Sanctifying His People Israel

In the city of Torah and Chassidut, Beit Shemesh, the joyous wedding of the great-granddaughter of our teacher and master, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, was held with great success. Thousands of chassidim and our community members flocked from all over the country to the 'Kinor David' halls, filled with anticipation and excitement for the holy appearance of the tzaddik at the chuppah ceremony.

At 19:45, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, arrived directly from his residence in Jerusalem to the chuppah ceremony. Upon his appearance, a hush fell over the holy congregation, and the atmosphere was filled with awe and elevation. Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, was honored with arranging the chuppah and kiddushin and reading the ketubah, with his pleasant voice full of emotion and kedushah (holiness).

During the Sheva Brachot, uncles were invited one by one, and for the final blessing, our teacher and master shlit"a was honored. At that moment, the entire congregation stood in reverence and awe, with all eyes turned to the tzaddik who concluded the chuppah blessing "Sanctifying His People Israel through chuppah and kiddushin."

A Voice of Joy and Salvation in the Tents of the Tzaddikim

After the conclusion of the chuppah ceremony, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, went to a residence prepared in advance for him in Beit Shemesh so he could engage in his studies until the dancing at the joy of the tzaddik's house.

At 00:30, he appeared again in his holy splendor at the wedding celebration. Upon his entrance into the hall, a mighty song erupted – "A voice of joy and salvation in the tents of the tzaddikim" – and naturally, the masses danced in step with the song, looking towards the holy grandfather – our teacher and master shlit"a to draw from his pure countenance and cling to his great light.

At the moment Mohara"sh shlit"a entered the dance floor, he burst into a dance full of vigor, leaping and whirling with all his might, with the joy of five voices and immense devotion. The tzaddik took the groom by both hands, and for long minutes danced with him and the in-laws, his facial expressions and the holy fire emanating from him. The tzaddik's joy ignited the hearts of the masses and transformed the entire place into a palace of joy and kedushah (holiness).

Scenes of Glory at the Tzaddik's Joy

With our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, seated at the head of the pure table, alongside the groom, the in-laws, and the grandfathers shlit"a, the holy dances customary at the tzaddik's joyous occasions took place. First, the group of Cossacks entered with a vigorous and energetic dance, dancing before the holy presence with respectful bowing and great enthusiasm.

Then followed the dance of the seven beggars, as young men dressed in white kittel entered one by one, each portraying one of the beggars from the holy tales. The Rav shlit"a followed the dance with an illuminating gaze, and the audience felt how the words of our holy Rebbe came to life before their eyes.

Subsequently, the dance of the resurrection of the dead was also held, a holy custom that our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, often elaborated on in his talks. By his instruction, the holy shtreimel was placed on the head of the "deceased," who then rose to life and began to dance with great joy. The face of the tzaddik shone with a special light, and the entire audience was moved with excitement, with a tangible sense of the tzaddik reviving the dead during the wedding, where it is possible to revive the dead as our holy Rebbe said.

Words of the Living God

At the conclusion of the 'dance of the resurrection of the dead,' we were privileged to hear a holy discourse with fiery words from his pure mouth, deep words that a man of understanding could draw from. He imparted from his glory and wisdom to his flock, particularly addressing the groom and guiding him on the path he should follow "With wisdom, a house is built," the secret of peace in the home, which is a possession for life. He seasoned his wondrous words with all the treasures of the holy Torah. At the end, he stood to recite Kaddish andat 01:50, our esteemed Rebbe shlit"a left the hall, and the masses accompanied him with a mighty song – "Light is sown for the tzaddik and for the upright of heart, joy." The streets of Beit Shemesh were once again filled with our community members into the night, accompanying the holy chariot back to his holy residence in Jerusalem, leaving with uplifted spirits from the great privilege of rejoicing in the joy of the tzaddikim.

Our blessing is one to our crown and glory
Our esteemed teacher and master shlit"a
May he merit to rejoice many more times at the weddings of his great-grandchildren and descendants with good health and great light
and may he lead us in his kingdom, and may we merit to see the coming of Yinnon and our king at our head, Amen!

Photo gallery courtesy of the 'Tzaddik of the Generation' group: