Heavy Mourning, The Righteous Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach zt"l

Heavy mourning, the angels have defeated the mighty and the Holy Ark has been captured. The Rosh Yeshiva of 'Maalot HaTorah', the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach zt"l, has passed away after suffering a heart attack on Shabbat night at his yeshiva in the Shaarei Chesed neighborhood. After resuscitation efforts, the doctors were forced to declare his passing.

Rabbi Auerbach zt"l was 87 years old at the time of his passing. The great esteem held between him and our teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, is well known, as was the very close friendship that existed between the two for decades. Rabbi Yosef Chaim Asulin, a dayan in the Beit Din of Rabbi Nissim Karelitz, recounted: "The chavruta (study partner) of R' Shmuel Auerbach said that R' Shmuel told him that there is no Breslov chassid in this generation; the only 'Breslover' that exists is R' Leizer Berland. And it is known that R' Shmuel himself was Breslov for a period, so R' Shmuel knows what Breslov is. And when R' Shmuel says 'the only Breslover,' he is not saying it from opinion; he is saying it from knowledge." Thus ends the testimony of the dayan, Rabbi Asulin.

To strengthen these words, we bring before you the words of the chassidic Rabbi Aharon Boimel shlit"a, as we brought in the article: "The Gaon and Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach shlit"a: 'And you shall purge the evil from among you' — 'The Gaon and Tzaddik Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a is a complete tzaddik'." These are his words: "On Wednesday, 29 Cheshvan 5777 (11/30/2016), I merited to participate in the moving wedding held for a survivor of the chilling bus 402 accident and to gladden the bride and groom," relates Rabbi Aharon Boimel. "The wedding was held at the Binyanei HaUma with the participation of many important people, and from there we traveled to pray Maariv at Zichron Moshe. The time was already close to 1:30 AM. To our joy, we found at Zichron Moshe the Gaon and Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach shlit"a (these were his words then), Rosh Yeshiva of Maalot HaTorah and member of the Vaad HaYeshivot presidency. I waited nearly half an hour to speak with him."

"When Rabbi Auerbach shlit"a left the prayer house, I approached him and said with pain: 'Rabbi Auerbach, Rabbi Auerbach, what will be? They are slandering the tzaddik, Rav Berland. They are slandering him and his community; they do not stop slandering. Look, here is a pamphlet they published, full of lies and nonsense.'"

"Rabbi Shmuel shlit"a answered me in Yiddish: 'Nu... And you shall purge the evil from among you; the first thing you must do is purge this!!!' Rabbi Auerbach commanded me. I did not understand the Rabbi's intent, so I asked the Gaavad (Head of the Rabbinical Court) who was with him for the meaning of his words."

"The Gaavad answered me: 'Rabbi Auerbach shlit"a is telling you that you must perform the purging of evil from among you, so go ahead, tear up this pamphlet and fulfill the mitzvah!' I stood before him and tore it into pieces. Rabbi Shmuel was so pleased and said to me: 'Oh, and you shall purge the evil from among you.'"

Then the Gaon and Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach shlit"a said: 'The Gaon and Tzaddik Rav Eliezer Berland is a complete tzaddik.'

"All the Admorim and Rabbis say that it is forbidden to touch this filth. There is not even one rabbi who stands behind this and who permits distributing it and causing the masses to stumble. They pay fifty shekels an hour to people who are willing to defile their souls and lose both worlds for the sake of distributing these leaflets of nonsense and lies. It is a pity that he is defiling the public with these words of vanity." Thus ends the testimony of Rabbi Boimel there.

Amidst the heavy mourning that has suddenly fallen upon the entire nation of Israel, Rav Berland shlit"a postponed the Torah gathering that was supposed to take place in Kiryat Sefer to a date to be announced later.

Blessed is the True Judge.