This morning, Sunday, the 15th of Tammuz, the day of the hillula (anniversary of passing) of the holy Or HaChaim, Parshas Pinchas. A holy Bris (circumcision) was held for the great-grandson of our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, in his holy residence.

The Bris took place besha'ah tovah u'mutzlachas (in a good and auspicious hour) for the great-grandson of our teacher, Rabbi Berland shlit"a, the son of Rabbi Yisrael Shor, may his light shine, son of the Chassid Rabbi Moshe Shor shlit"a, one of the distinguished elders of our community (Anshei Shlomeinu). He is the grandson of the son-in-law of the leader, the Chassid Rabbi Natan Rubinstein shlit"a, and the great-grandson of the Mashpia (spiritual mentor) Rabbi Yehoshua Ber Rubinstein shlit"a. As mentioned, the Bris took place in the holy residence of the Rav shlit"a at 10:00 AM. The Rav shlit"a entered, and the father of the child recited the verses with great hitorerus (spiritual awakening), and the uncles and family members were honored with the cheika (the honor of holding the baby). Afterward, the Chassid Rabbi Shmuel Shimon Felberbaum shlit"a was honored with the Kiseh shel Eliyahu (the Chair of Elijah). From the chair, the Alter Zeide (great-grandfather), the Chassid Rabbi Yehoshua Ber Rubinstein shlit"a, was honored. The Rav shlit"a was honored with Sandakaus (the honor of being the Sandak, who holds the baby during the circumcision) and the Mohel (ritual circumciser) Rabbi Yosef Shor, may his light shine, the brother of the child's father, performed the work of the circumcision with skill. The Rav shlit"a recited the blessings of the Bris in his pure voice, and his name in Israel was called David son of Rabbi Yisrael Shor. May it be His will that just as he entered the covenant, so may he enter into Torah, the chuppah (wedding canopy), and ma'asim tovim (good deeds). After the Bris ceremony, all those present sat down, including the Rav shlit"a, the distinguished grandfathers, family members, and guests, for the seudas Bris (festive circumcision meal). Upon sitting on his holy chair, the Rav shlit"a began with words of Torah and Aggadah (homiletic teachings) for nearly an hour. During the lesson, the Rav shlit"a spoke several times about how the newborn child receives a new soul from the World of Atzilus (the highest of the four spiritual worlds, the World of Emanation). He connected the Bris to Parshas Pinchas, who was zealous for the covenant. In the lesson, he dealt with additional topics including: the greatness of the Bar Mitzvah day, the shidduch (marriage match) of Rebecca and Isaac, and the secret of Rebecca's pitcher. He spoke of gemilus chasadim (acts of kindness) and the matter of Joab who merited infinite blessings, more than Moses our Teacher, in the merit of the acts of kindness he performed for the people of Jerusalem. He also dealt with Gemara topics in depth (iyun), specifically the topic currently being studied in the Daf Yomi (the daily page of Talmud study) – mustard and bees in Tractate Bava Batra. After more than an hour of the lesson, the Rav shlit"a began singing "Yom L'Yabasha Nehepchu Metzolim" (The day the depths turned to dry land) for several minutes, repeating the awesome piyut (liturgical poem) again and again. Afterward, he honored the great-grandfather – the Chassid Rabbi Yehoshua Ber Rubinstein shlit"a – with the "HaRachaman" (The Merciful One) prayer said in the Birkat HaMazon (Grace After Meals) following a Bris, and he returned to his holy home at 11:30 AM, exactly an hour and a half after the start of the Bris.

Here is the place to send a blessing of Mazel Tov to our teacher, the Rav shlit"a. May it be His will that just as he merits to see the fourth and fifth generations, so may he merit to see more upright and blessed generations until the coming of our righteous Mashiach and our King at our head, amidst physical health and nehura ma'alya (superior spiritual light), Amen, may it be His will!