"I Used to Learn with the Steipler…" — from 'Megillas Esther – Breslov'

The Gaon and Tzaddik, Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, tells of his chavruta with Maran, the author of Kehillot Yaakov zt"l

The long-standing connection that our teacher, Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, had with Maran, the author of Kehillot Yaakov - the Steipler zt"l, is well known.

In a lesson given years ago in honor of the holiday of Purim, our teacher, Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, speaks about those days in the home of the Gadol HaDor.

"I used to study with the Steipler every day from one o'clock until three. During the break, I had nothing to do, so I would sit with him and study actual sugyot. I would ask him questions in Choshen Mishpat, in Halacha, and we would study from the beginning of the sugya until the Poskim, to reach the final halachic conclusion.

I bought his apartment on Rashbam Street, and he wanted me to move into the apartment on Rosh Chodesh Nisan so that I would have time to prepare for Pesach. Since his apartment was not yet ready, he went to live with his daughter, Barzan; she was a widow. I also used to study with Rabbi Barzan every Shabbat night.

During the bein hazmanim (break between yeshiva terms), one must study double what one studies during the zman. The entire bein hazmanim is for a person to study twice as much as during the zman, because in the yeshiva, there is a mashgiach. If a student was awake at night, he was still obligated to arrive at the yeshiva; he doesn't go to sleep, and therefore he is tired all day, and then he starts to fight with the mashgiach.

One does not say to a mashgiach: 'Who are you? You will not tell us what to do...'! That is chutzpah! And that is the worst thing! Everything that Ahasuerus did by killing Vashti was because she was insolent toward him, saying that he did not know how to drink.

One must study in-depth with Ketzot HaChoshen. On Purim, we rectify Haman. Through the study of Ketzot HaChoshen, we will yet open a Choshen Mishpat Kollel here where they will sit and study in-depth."

The lesson is taken from "Megillat Esther - Breslov," available at the book stand of R' Aharon Shushan outside the prayer hall at 14 Ido HaNavi Street, as well as at the Ein Yaakov bookstore.