On Shabbos, the 29th of Tishrei, falls the holy Yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) of Shimon HaTzaddik, who was the last of the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah (Men of the Great Assembly). He served as Kohen Gadol (High Priest) for forty years and as the leader of the people in the generation following Ezra. The Sages wrote of him in Avos: "Shimon HaTzaddik was from the remnants of the Great Assembly. He used to say: On three things the world stands: On the Torah, on the Service [of God], and on acts of loving-kindness."

Our Teacher, the Rebbe, the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, frequently mentioned the words of the Gemara (Yoma 39a): During the forty years that Shimon HaTzaddik served as Kohen Gadol, the lot for the goats on Yom Kippur always came up in the right hand, the strip of crimson wool would turn white, the western lamp of the Menorah remained lit continuously, and the fire on the arrangement [on the altar] would grow stronger.

Every year, tens of thousands arrive at the holy Tziyun (grave marker) of the holy Shimon in Jerusalem in honor of the day of the Hillula (celebration of the soul). However, this year, the closure prevented most people from arriving. The doors of the Tziyun were welded shut to prevent the masses from gathering together, and police officers waited on the roads. And it is impossible not to mention that our Teacher, Rabbi Berland shlit"a, is still currently held in detention, though no injustice is in his hand. We present here the sights and words we brought from the Tzaddik's moving arrival at the Tziyun of Shimon HaTzaddik [in the past]. These are the details:

Another historic and moving event was recorded this week, when on the night of the 29th of Tishrei, Thursday night, our Teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, ascended to the holy Tziyun of Shimon HaTzaddik in Sheikh Jarrah in the east of the city. It was the Hillula day of the Tanna Shimon HaTzaddik, of the remnants of the Great Assembly, and our Teacher, the Rav shlit"a, announced already at the end of the Maariv prayer that he would ascend to his Tziyun.

Tens of thousands waited in anticipation for the exit of our Teacher, Rabbi Berland shlit"a, while packing HaChoma HaShlishit Street and literally besieging the Rav's house. And so, immediately upon the exit of our Teacher, Rabbi Berland shlit"a, the masses accompanied him the entire way as is befitting a king; the Rav traveling [in a vehicle] and the public accompanying him on foot.

[caption id="attachment_47342" align="alignnone" width="907"] Rabbi Berland in the vehicle and police officers clearing the way[/caption]

The gathering created a great Kiddush Hashem (Sanctification of God's Name), while all the passersby wondered for whom was all this honor. Until finally, the Rav shlit"a passed through all the compressed and stormy crowd and entered the sanctuary of the holy Tziyun of Shimon HaTzaddik. There, on the stage of honor, stood our Teacher, Rabbi Berland, wrapped in a Tallis as is his custom, and immediately burst into the recitation of the ten psalms of the Tikkun HaKlali together with the vast and holy public that arrived with him.

[caption id="attachment_47343" align="alignnone" width="907"] Rabbi Berland passes through the crowd upon exiting Shimon[/caption] [caption id="attachment_47344" align="alignnone" width="907"] Rabbi Berland on the stage at the Tziyun of Shimon HaTzaddik with the crowd[/caption]

Our Teacher, Rabbi Berland shlit"a, repeated the recitation of the Tikkun HaKlali four times together with everyone, in the familiar and special melody of the Rav, and afterwards recited with the public the special prayer he composed for the Tziyun of Shimon HaTzaddik. The entire event was moving to tears, and all those present who merited to gather with Rabbi Berland shlit"a around the Tziyun of Shimon HaTzaddik testified to the spiritual elevation they experienced.

[caption id="attachment_47345" align="alignnone" width="907"] Rabbi Berland passes through the crowd upon exiting Shimon[/caption] [caption id="attachment_47346" align="alignnone" width="907"] Rabbi Berland with the sign of the prayer at the Tziyun of Shimon HaTzaddik[/caption]

And again, without waiting, immediately upon finishing the prayer, our Teacher, Rabbi Berland shlit"a, began to sing the song, 'Bar Yochai,' while the orchestra played in the background and the whole world danced in a holy flame, the flame of the light of the Tzaddik.