“From the Womb, in Your Name

The Bris Ceremony ○ The Seudas Mitzvah with Song and Niggunim ○ A Fiery Shiur at the Bris Meal

On Friday, the 7th of Iyar, the Bris ceremony was held for the great-grandson of the gaon and tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a—the son of his grandson, R’ Nachman Rubinstein (may he live long), son of the distinguished son-in-law of the Nasi, Rabbi Natan Rubinstein shlit"a, son-in-law of the chassid R’ Avraham Baruch Goldberg shlit"a, and grandson of the mashpia, the chassid R’ Yehoshua Dov Rubinstein shlit"a.

The Bris took place in the home of the gaon and tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. At 9:50, The Rav shlit"a entered his home to the call of the kvatter, “Baruch Haba.” The great-grandfather, the chassid R’ Yehoshua Dov Rubinstein shlit"a, was honored with the “Chair of Eliyahu.” The grandfather, the chassid R’ Avraham Baruch Goldberg shlit"a, was honored with “from the chair.” The Rav shlit"a was honored as the sandak, and the Bris itself was performed by the mohel, the chassid R’ Meir Brandsdorfer shlit"a. The Rav shlit"a was also honored with the blessings, and the child was named in Israel: Shimon, son of R’ Nachman—“Just as he has entered the covenant, so may he enter Torah, the chuppah, and good deeds.”

After the Bris, all the family members and close friends sat down to the Bris meal, with The Rav shlit"a seated at the head of the table, having washed his hands for the Seudas Mitzvah. He immediately began singing the piyut, “Yam l’Yabashah Nehepch’u Metzulos…”—for thirty-five minutes! Afterward, in the spirit of the time and in honor of the newborn’s name, “Shimon,” they began singing the Lag BaOmer niggunim: “Bar Yochai,” “Va’amartem Koh LeChai…” for about twenty minutes.

After about an hour and ten minutes, The Rav shlit"a motioned with his hand and began delivering a fiery shiur about the greatness of the Bris. He spoke about how, through every Bris, it is possible to revive the dead, to remember barren women, and to bring shidduchim for everyone.

The Rav shlit"a spoke about Eliyahu, the Angel of the Bris—about how Hashem said to him, “What are you doing here, Eliyahu?” and how he desired the “mouth” of Moshe—“Mouth to mouth I speak with him, in a clear vision and not in riddles.” And Hashem told him: If you want to be like Moshe, go to all the Brisos—because to be like Moshe, one must be like a baby: “Like a weaned child with its mother… like a weaned child is my soul within me.” During the shiur, he also spoke about the greatness of Rashbi and the approaching hillula. Within his words, he addressed the matter of Parshas Acharei Mos, regarding the passing of Nadav and Avihu.

After a shiur of about twenty-five minutes—words of the Living G-d, in holy fire—The Rav shlit"a began Shir HaMa’alos. Afterward, the chassid R’ Yehoshua Dov Rubinstein shlit"a led the zimun over the cup, and The Rav shlit"a was honored with the piyut “Nodeh L’Shimcha.” After Birchas HaMazon, The Rav shlit"a blessed all the participants in the Bris and entered his room at 11:45 in the morning.

From here, the blessing of “Mazal Tov” is extended to The Rav shlit"a on the birth of his great-grandson. May it be Hashem’s will that he merit abundant nachas from all his descendants, with healthy bodies and radiant light, amen!

Below is a photo gallery from the joyous Bris celebration and the Seudas Mitzvah: