The entire nation was shaken when the media cried out (The beginning of the article was edited from a report published at the time on Kikar HaShabbat): "A woman about 80 years old and a man about 30 years old were injured (Wednesday, the night of the 13th of Av 5778, July 25, 2018, at 3 AM on Sunday) in a severe to critical condition in a fire that broke out in an apartment on Yosef Mizrahi Street in the Beit Yisrael neighborhood of Jerusalem".

The reports continued and stated, "The two were rescued from the flames and evacuated to the hospital. Five firefighting and rescue teams operated in the fire, entered the burning apartment, and rescued the man and woman who were trapped between the flames".

MDA paramedics, Moti Glushtein and Dov Tzinort, said: "We were very close when we received the report about the fire, and as we approached the area, we saw burning fire and black smoke rising from the building. We know the area and knew it was narrow streets with access difficulties, and we made sure to keep open routes for the fire and ambulance vehicles."

"From previous calls to the building, we knew that an elderly woman lived on the ground floor and needed to be rescued. I brought the jack from my car, and with its help, we broke the bars of the apartment. Together with other responders who arrived at the apartment, we rescued to the intensive care unit at first a woman about 82 years old who was in serious condition, suffering from smoke inhalation. The paramedics provided her with medical treatment, performed resuscitation on her, and evacuated her in very serious condition to Shaare Zedek Hospital."

Documentation of the Apartment Fire in Beit Yisrael Where Yaakov David Teitelbaum Was Trapped

"The firefighters who arrived at the scene conducted a search in the apartment and after a few minutes located and rescued a man about 30 years old unconscious in critical condition. We performed advanced resuscitation operations on him in the field, and when the pulse returned, he was also evacuated to Shaare Zedek Hospital in critical condition."

From Shaare Zedek Hospital it was reported that "two of the fire victims in Jerusalem who were evacuated to Shaare Zedek were transferred in serious condition, intubated and sedated, to a hyperbaric chamber at Assaf Harofeh for further treatment".

Behind the Scenes of the Amazing Story

These were the dry facts as the general public became aware of them at the time of the event, but in reality, what happened behind the scenes was beyond any description and above all imagination. Early Wednesday morning, the young man Yaakov David Teitelbaum, who came from England and studies at the Mir Yeshiva, passed by the apartment of the elderly woman. He knows the woman from the yeshiva as she has been working as a cook there for many years. Teitelbaum saw the fire, didn't think twice, and jumped straight into the apartment. Both were trapped for two whole hours inside the burning apartment due to the intense heat that melted the door.

Yaakov David Teitelbaum is very connected to the holy Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, and when the Rav returned to his holy residence in Jerusalem, Yaakov David crowded with all the people at the welcoming event. Then, in a loud voice, so everyone could hear, he blessed 'Shehechiyanu V'kiyemanu' on the return of the tzaddik to Jerusalem.

On Wednesday morning, the avrech Y.B, a student of Rav Berland, who is in constant contact with him, tried to contact Yaakov David. However, as mentioned, Yaakov was hospitalized in critical condition, and it was his friend who answered him.

Haven't You Done a Redemption with Rav Berland Yet?!

Y.B asked the friend if they had done a redemption of the soul for his salvation, and he replied that they had done it with Rav Arush shlit"a. Immediately, Y.B turned to Rav Berland and told him what had happened with Yaakov David and the elderly cook from the Mir Yeshiva. In the recording, you can hear how they inform the Rav that Yaakov David's condition is serious and that he inhaled a lot of smoke, but surprisingly Rav Berland announces the redemption of the soul and says that through this the danger of infection and brain damage will pass. At that time, it was amazing, as all they wanted was for Yaakov David to stay alive, while Rav Berland was already talking about recovery from brain damage.

[caption id="attachment_14817" align="alignnone" width="482"] Yaakov David Teitelbaum in Intensive Care[/caption] [audio mp3="https://www.shuvubanimint.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/מפעל-הפורמטיםערוך-ברג-מספר.mp3"][/audio]

The Tzaddik Redeems the Neshamah in the Heavenly Court

On that day, Rav Berland conducted the redemption for Yaakov David, and immediately after the redemption, he went down to deliver his weekly lesson on 'Ketzot HaChoshen' in front of a large audience of students. In the middle of the lesson, Rav Berland's face took on the appearance of a fiery flame, and at the same time, he began shouting with the entire public - "For life and not for death". The Rav shlit"a repeated and reiterated the words four times while the public called after him - "For life and not for death". During the lesson, the Rav shlit"a told of a young man who entered the fire but was not burned because he is holy and pure. The Rav's words were strong and inspiring, especially for those who were familiar with the details of the story. Moreover, those who looked closely understood that the tzaddik was simply standing before the Heavenly Court and judging Yaakov David favorably, thereby acquitting him and redeeming his soul.

[audio mp3="https://www.shuvubanimint.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/הרב-ברלנד-מדבר-על-יעקב-דוד-בשיעור-קצות-החושן.mp3"][/audio]

The Rav decreed in the Heavenly Court that Teitelbaum should live, and at the end of the lesson, he shouted the Shema with the entire public. Y.B recounts that immediately after the lesson, he called Yaakov David's brother, who informed him that he was already out of life-threatening danger, but there was still concern for brain damage.

The Tzaddik Visits the Hospital for the First Time and...

Yaakov David Teitelbaum and the woman were connected to machines for two weeks in intensive care, sedated and ventilated without consciousness. Rav Berland came to visit him about two days after the hospitalization began, at a time when there was concern he would become a vegetable if the brain did not function. Y.B recounts that, exceptionally, he was allowed to enter the intensive care room with Rav Berland after telling the medical staff that a great Rav was coming to bless the patient. Rav Berland stood about two meters from the bed, and as soon as he began to recite the Psalms of the Tikkun HaKlali in a whisper, Teitelbaum, who until then had been lying unconscious, jumped and began to pull out the machines.

[caption id="attachment_14819" align="alignnone" width="510"] The Holy Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a Comes to Visit Yaakov David Teitelbaum[/caption]

The Astonished Doctors Take the Rav Also to the Woman's Bed

Teitelbaum pulled out the ventilation machines and tubes that were connected to him, while he rose with his eyes closed. The ventilator immediately began to beep, as the pulse was not felt. The doctors who arrived in panic immediately gave him an injection and sedated him. They, who were shocked by the incident, asked Rav Berland, 'Here, the Rav, the woman from the fire is also in the hospital.' Together with the doctors, the Rav went to the patient's bed and there recited three chapters of Tehillim.

[caption id="attachment_14818" align="alignnone" width="482"] The Holy Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a Comes Again to Visit Yaakov David Teitelbaum[/caption]

Y.B recounts that a week later he received a call from Teitelbaum's brother who urgently called him. Upon his arrival, he heard Yaakov David, still unconscious, shouting the name of Rav Berland, saying - "Rav Eliezer ben Atia save me, Rav Eliezer ben Atia save me". Afterwards, they heard him calling for Moshe Rabbeinu, King David, and other tzaddikim. Y.B recounts that he called the gabbai of Rav Berland who informed the Rav, and behold, immediately the situation with Teitelbaum calmed down.

Amazing Experiences from Clinical Death

After Yaakov David awoke from clinical death, he told his friend Y.B how he saw everything in the heavens. He said that in the heavens, Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a is a king, he receives honor from all the tzaddikim. He also said that Rav Berland is responsible for all matters in the Heavenly Court. After two weeks in intensive care, Yaakov David stayed another month for recovery, at the end of which he returned to recuperate with his family in England.

What Happens in the Cave of the Patriarchs When Rav Berland Arrives?

Yaakov David Teitelbaum has been in close contact with one of Rav Berland's veteran students for an extended period, a student who himself has already become known and famous. That student told him how he would drive Rav Berland to the Cave of the Patriarchs, and then the forefathers would come out to greet Rav Berland with royal honor and then speak to him secrets that no ear has heard. Y.B, who heard this, asked Rav Berland himself about the truth of the matter, and Rav Berland, with characteristic modesty, replied, "Yes, this happens to many people."

A Year of Life for the Sake of a Tzaddik

In a phone call from England, Yaakov David surprised a large audience by saying - "I donate a year of my life for the longevity of the holy Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a". Then Teitelbaum turned to the public and asked that each and every one donate a year of their own for the sake of the tzaddik's continued presence in the world.

Self-Sacrifice: Yaakov David Teitelbaum Gives a Year of His Life to Rav Berland in a Live Broadcast