"He Opened the Way to Uman and Sacrificed Himself for All of Us" — Rabbi Arush shlit"a’s Painful Appeal on Behalf of Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a

We all know that Rabbi Berland shlit"a truly gave up his life for each and every one of us. The matter is grave, and it went as far as a long and agonizing imprisonment. Here is the heartfelt appeal and painful request of Rabbi Shalom Arush shlit"a—piercing words that must not be ignored. “Rabbi David Yitzchak Grossman shlit"a, the Rav of Migdal HaEmek, spoke with me and told me about the Pidyon Nefesh for the captives that he is leading,” Rabbi Arush shlit"a begins.

[audio mp3="https://www.shuvubanimint.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/מפעל-הפורמטיםהרב-ארוש-פדיון-שבויים-ערוך.mp3" autoplay="true"][/audio] “Even if this were about the simplest Jew in the world, the mitzvah of redeeming captives is tremendously, tremendously great. How much more so when it is about my master, my teacher, and my Rav—Rabbi Eliezer ben Atia shlit"a—because anyone who traveled, or will ever travel, to Uman, it will be in his merit. I am an unequivocal witness to this: he opened the way to Uman in a clear and obvious manner—literally with self-sacrifice. One day I will tell it; these are things I truly saw with my own eyes—mesirus nefesh. Therefore, we must help by donating toward the redemption of captives. We are speaking here about a great Tzaddik who took suffering upon himself for us. And there is also hakaras hatov—that we reached Uman because of him; he opened the way. And not only that: he opened up all the matters of Rebbe Nachman with mesirus nefesh. And whoever cannot donate a large sum should at least donate 99 shekels for each soul in his family. And as I spoke with Rabbi Grossman, whoever wants can send the donation through me; he can. The money goes 100% only for redeeming captives.” “I myself went and collected from my students in the yeshivah. And I ask each person personally to transfer the money for the redemption of captives on behalf of Rabbi Berland shlit"a. This is an enormous mitzvah, and we must not lose it. The expenses are truly great, and I ask everyone to take part in this great mitzvah.” The recording is courtesy of the information line: 02-8008800