"I Have the Power to Make Peace with the Entire World"

The holy words of our teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live for many good years), spoken on Shabbos Va'eschanan 5779 (2019) and based on section 402 in the holy book, Chayei Moharan (The Life of our Teacher Rebbe Nachman)

(Chayei Moharan 402) "I heard from Anshei Shlomeinu (our people) something similar to this, though in a slightly different style. Once, Anshei Shlomeinu were complaining before him [Rebbe Nachman] that it was difficult for them to endure the matter of the machlokes (controversy/opposition) and the persecutions, etc. He answered and said to them: 'Believe me, I have the power to make peace with the entire world so that no one would oppose me. But what can I do? There are such madregos (spiritual levels) and heichalos (heavenly palaces) that it is impossible to reach except through machlokes.' And the proof is that Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses), peace be upon him, certainly had the magnetic power to draw all of Israel to him, as it is written: 'And Moshe gathered the entire congregation of the children of Israel' (Exodus 35:1), for he was the Da'as (divine consciousness) of the collective of Israel and had the power to gather and draw everyone to him. Nevertheless, what is written? 'And they looked after Moshe' (Exodus 33:8), and our Sages of blessed memory interpreted this as they did [referring to the people's critical or suspicious looks], and other similar things. All this is because there are things that can only be attained through the machlokes of those who oppose him, etc. And our Sages of blessed memory said: 'This strife is like a breach in water,' as it is said: 'The beginning of strife is like letting out water' (Proverbs 17:14), and it is written: 'For man is a tree of the field' (Deuteronomy 20:19). And just as a tree of the field grows more the more water is poured around it, so too [the Tzaddik grows through the 'water' of controversy]."

The words of our teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a: "Rebbe Nachman says there are levels that can only be reached through machlokes (controversy). There is a bit of egoism (self-interest) here; the Tzaddik is the greatest egoist in the world—he wants everyone to oppose him, the main thing is that he profits [spiritually] from the deal."

"Moshe Rabbeinu wanted the entire nation to oppose him; there was never such an 'egoist' since the creation of the world. He does everything he can so they will oppose him, because he wants more levels, and more levels, and more levels; he only worries about [his spiritual growth] all day. He said, 'Bring more controversy and more controversy' (A'frizber - bring it on), what can I do? There are such levels that without machlokes it is impossible to reach them. The machlokes creates a vessel (keli) for the Ohr Ein Sof (Infinite Light).

"The Rebbe says he can draw the whole world to him—the Berditchever (Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev), the Shpoler (The Zeide of Shpola), the Savraner. All of these I could draw to me in a single second."

"The machlokes against Moshe for 40 years—it's impossible to understand. They said about the Manna that it was only trouble, only trouble. Is it true it was only trouble? There was no taste that the Manna didn't change into for them, yet they called it 'miserable bread.' Ice creams and popsicles, whatever they wanted. They said to Moshe, 'Bring real ice cream, don't just bring me a "taste" of ice cream.' Moshe said, 'That is only in the Land of Israel, where every fruit will be the size of a house...'"