Chanukas HaBayis for the ‘Breslov Chochmah V’Daas’ Yeshivah ○ A fiery, flame-like shiur from The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, about learning Gemara and the importance of using time well ○ A breathtaking photo gallery

Photography: 'Machon Keren HaTzaddik'

At the beginning of the school year 5783 (תשפ"ג), the students of the ‘Breslov Chochmah V’Daas’ Yeshivah, under the leadership of The Rav, the gaon and tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, merited to move into a new building. This came about because, with the growth of the number of bochurim in our holy community, may it be protected, the Beis Midrash and the shiur rooms in the yeshivah’s previous location were simply too small to hold more than one hundred and fifty bochurim—who toil in their learning day and night, and make proper use of their youthful years, as they should, with the holy Gemara. As stated, with the opening of the Elul z’man, the bochurim moved to the yeshivah’s new home in the building of Yeshivas Kaminetz, on the Yechezkel–Ezra streets. The yeshivah is now expanded and magnificent, with a large main hall and spacious shiur rooms for every class. With the yeshivah’s move into its new home, The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, expressed his desire several times to come and inaugurate the place. But just as every matter of kedushah encounters obstacles, so too here: each time an opportunity arose for The Rav shlit"a to come, a different impediment appeared.

In His immense kindness and abundant mercy upon us, the mashgichim, rabbanim, and students of the yeshivah merited today the first visit of The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, who came to inaugurate the yeshivah and to take delight in the precious bochurim—the fruit of his labor. The Rav shlit"a arrived at the holy yeshivah at the conclusion of the shiur in Seder Beis, at 16:45, and entered the main hall to the singing of “Or Zarua” by one hundred and fifty precious bochurim of ‘Breslov Chochmah V’Daas.’ Immediately upon taking his seat, The Rav shlit"a began delivering a fiery, flame-like shiur for more than an hour. He spoke mainly about the importance of learning Gemara during the yeshivah’s sedarim, and about the importance of using time well even outside the sedarim—explaining that after Maariv with The Rav shlit"a, one should use the time to learn poskim, commentaries, and midrashim. This, he said, is the true preparation for marriage, bringing proof from the weekly parshiyos: Yaakov Avinu immersed himself in Shem and Ever for fourteen years. He also strengthened the bochurim regarding rising early for Shacharis, guarding one’s eyes and kedushah, and being quick to go to the mikveh—mentioning the Gemara in Chullin 24, that Rabbi Chanina was eighty years old and removed his shoe while standing on one foot in the bathhouse. He further expanded on the weekly parshiyos regarding the sale of Yosef and the burial of Rachel, as mentioned in the parshah.

After more than an hour of this fiery shiur, The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, distributed sefarim to the outstanding bochurim who merited to keep the times and to immerse themselves in the holy Torah during the special seder after Shacharis, as well as in the third seder within the framework of the ‘Netzor Torasi’ program, and also on Fridays. Each bochur merited to receive from The Rav shlit"a one of his sefarim—either Eish Moharan on the parshah, or Or HaBinah (on matters of Chanukah). The pure face of The Rav shlit"a clearly showed his great excitement over these precious bochurim who use their time to learn the holy Torah during the yeshivah’s sedarim and even beyond them. After the distribution of the sefarim to the outstanding bochurim, The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, left the hall of the ‘Breslov Chochmah V’Daas’ Yeshivah to the singing of “Or Zarua LaTzaddik U’Leyishrei Lev Simchah,” and returned to his holy home.

During the shiur in the yeshivah hall — photo: Machon Keren HaTzaddik

The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, distributing sefarim to the outstanding bochurim