Chilling Story: The Dream, the Reconciliation, and the Charity that Saved from Death, Plus 3 More Stories

An update to the chilling story about the dream in which Rabbi Berland instructed a man to reconcile with his relative before it was too late. In the merit of the reconciliation and charity, the relative was saved from death in a severe accident.

Chilling Story: The Dream, the Reconciliation, and the Charity that Saved from Death

Last week, a chilling and wondrous story was published about the power of our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. A Jew dreamed a terrible dream, in which the Rav shlit"a appeared to him and conveyed an urgent message.

The Rav instructed him that he must hurry and reconcile with his relative, who lives in another country. "Today at four o'clock, he will no longer be here in this world," the Rav warned in the dream, emphasizing the urgency of the matter.

The Reconciliation and the Shocking News

The Jew woke up in a panic and realized there was no time to lose. He hurried to contact that relative, and indeed, the two spoke at length and reconciled with a whole heart.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, shortly before the designated hour the Rav had spoken about, a terrifying phone call suddenly arrived. On the line, he was informed that his relative had been in a very severe car accident. The initial report that arrived was unbearable, stating that the relative had been killed in the accident, Rachmana litzlan (may the Merciful One save us).

The Power of Charity to Save from Death

However, after a thorough investigation of the details of the incident, it became clear that the sequence of events was slightly different, and a great miracle had occurred there. The family members had given a large sum to charity, and just as our Sages promised that "charity saves from death," that is exactly what happened.

In the merit of that great charity and in the merit of the swift reconciliation made following the dream, the relative was not killed in the accident. He was indeed injured and is still hospitalized, but his life was miraculously saved against all odds.

We hope and pray that Hashem, may He be blessed, will send him a refuah sheleimah (complete healing) speedily, and that he will recover from all his wounds. This story reminds us all of the immense power of yielding, reconciliation, and charity, and the far-reaching vision of the tzaddik.

Wondrous Story: Hashem Loves You Even at Four O'Clock

An avreich (Torah scholar) shared a wondrous and moving story this week about Divine Providence and a soul-connection with the tzaddik. One day, during the afternoon hours, a severe feeling of discouragement attacked him. He felt that he was failing to sanctify himself and draw close to his Creator as he desired. As is known, the spiritual battles experienced by those close to the tzaddik are difficult, and every small flaw can break their hearts.

Discouragement and the Battle of the Evil Inclination

The Baal Davar (the Evil Inclination) tried to exploit this moment to plunge the avreich into deep sadness. Despairing thoughts began to gnaw at his mind, whispering to him, "What is all your spiritual work worth?" With these heavy feelings, he arrived home around four o'clock in the afternoon. To find a little comfort, he decided to open the book Az Tatzliach.

This book, recently published by the author of the Esh Moharan book series, is full and overflowing with awesome and strengthening words from our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. The avreich had a daily set time to study from this book, and he opened it exactly where he had placed the bookmark the previous day.

A Precise Message from the Tzaddik

To his astonishment, exactly on the page he opened, a story was told about a man who went through many difficulties, and as a result, he only woke up in the afternoon hours. That man went in to see our teacher, Rabbi Berland shlit"a, at four o'clock, feeling completely depressed and broken. The Rav shlit"a received him with a radiant face and told him: "What do you think, that Hashem, may He be blessed, is angry with you? You woke up now? Start the morning songs of praise with joy!"

At the end of that story, the Rav shlit"a told that man a piercing sentence: "Do not be stressed, Hashem loves you even at four o'clock." The avreich read these words, lifted his eyes, and looked at the clock on the wall. The time was exactly a few minutes before four o'clock in the afternoon.

At that moment, the avreich felt how the tzaddik was speaking to him directly, strengthening him in his current state and breathing hope into him. He understood beyond any doubt that Hashem, may He be blessed, loves him exactly as he is, even at this hour, and the sadness was immediately replaced with immense joy.

Story: The Dangerous Fast of Rabbi Berland That Stopped a War Between the US and Iran

Only Hashem, may He be blessed, knows the extent of the infinite mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) of the tzaddik of the generation, Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a. The tzaddik is willing to take upon himself terrible suffering and literally abandons himself for the sake of the holy nation of Israel. His entire goal is to sweeten the harsh judgments from upon the collective and to bring the Geulah (Redemption) with mercy.

Life-Threatening Danger for the Sake of the Jewish People

One week, Morinu HaRav shlit"a took upon himself a continuous fast for the entire week. The prolonged fast brought the Rav to the point of actual life-threatening danger, since, as is known, he only has one kidney, after his second kidney had to be removed a few years ago, may Hashem protect us. The long fast caused severe dehydration, and his medical condition deteriorated into tangible danger.

All of this suffering was not in vain. The Rav shlit"a announced in advance that a severe war was about to break out between the United States and Iran. He warned that, Heaven forbid, millions of Jews could be harmed, God forbid, by that terrible campaign. Out of his immense love, the Rav took the suffering upon himself instead of letting it fall upon the Jewish people.

The Decree of War and the Sweetening

In order to nullify the evil decree, the Rav shlit"a said that "only through reciting many chapters of Tehillim (Psalms) will the judgments be sweetened." Immediately upon hearing this, the masses of students of the Rav shlit"a awakened to cry out and plead. Baruch Hashem, through the loving-kindness of Hashem, may He be blessed, the cries, the pleas, and the tears of the students literally pierced the heavens.

In a supernatural way, Hashem, may He be blessed, showed revealed miracles and wonders. The decree was sweetened, and slowly the tzaddik returned to his strength and recovered from the immense danger he was in. May it be the will of Hashem, may He be blessed, to send Morinu HaRav shlit"a a complete healing and length of days and years in goodness and pleasantness, Amen.

A Story About the Moving Gathering at the Western Wall for the Healing of the Rav

Ever since Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a was hospitalized, a moving and uplifting phenomenon began. Every night, a very large crowd gathered at the Western Wall, including men, women, and children. Everyone arrived with one clear goal: to awaken abundant Heavenly mercy for the tzaddik of the generation.

A Gathering of Holiness and Unity

During those nightly gatherings, the massive crowd recited The Tikkun HaKlali several times with great awakening. Afterwards, minyanim (prayer quorums) were held for Minchah and Maariv, which were carried by the special melodies and pleasantness, exactly in the familiar and beloved style of the tzaddik. "It is impossible to fathom the magnitude of this holy event," the participants described with emotion.

The pleasantness, the sweetness, and the wondrous unity that prevailed in the place were incomprehensible. One could see how the people of the tzaddik, coming from all different communities and circles, united with one heart. The immense love for the tzaddik of the generation, a love without end, burned in the hearts of all the students and was deeply felt in the air.

A Cry from the Depths of the Hearts

The love and devotion were clearly evident on the faces of the participants and in their voices. The cries of broken hearts pierced the heavens, as the masses cried out from the deepest depths of their souls for the healing and wholeness of the Rav shlit"a. Each and every person in the crowd tangibly felt that they have no vitality without the tzaddik.

These gatherings at the Western Wall proved more than anything the deep and eternal connection between the Rav and his students. This is a living testimony to the power of emunas chachamim (faith in the Sages), which unites the Jewish people and awakens mercy and salvations in times of distress.

From Issue 79 — Parshas Korach

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