Illuminating Shabbos — The Daily Strengthening from the Holy Tzaddik Rabbi

The Daily Chizuk from our teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a – "To feel the light of Shabbat through joy and dancing"

The beginning of our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a’s words revolves around the special story of the famous melody: "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the coming day" (Proverbs 31:25).

On the eve of her wedding, the daughter of one of the greatest students of Moharnat of Breslov, Rabbi Meir Leib Blecher, approached her father and asked him for money for a dress. Her father, who was poor and destitute but a great "baal menagen" (musician), told her: "I do not have money to give you, but I can give you a melody," and he composed this melody to the words (from the song "Eshet Chayil") "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the coming day."

Thursday, 5th of Nissan 5785 – "Illuminating the Shabbat and sweetening the judgments," these are his holy words:

Rabbi Meir Leib Blecher (the composer of the melody 'Oz V'Hadar') did not have a dress for his daughter for her wedding. On the final day, just a few hours before the chuppah, someone brought him a wedding dress.

The song that we sing, 'Oz V'Hadar', was composed by Rabbi Leib Blecher, and it is customary to sing it before Kiddush. To sing it for 5 minutes, 10 minutes with the children, to dance with them, to instill experiences in them - so that they will feel the light of Shabbat, the light of the melodies, of 'Eshet Chayil'.

The child waits for the father to sing with him, to dance with him - it is not enough that you keep Shabbat; Shabbat is terribly boring (for a child who does not feel the joy of singing and dancing).

(Without singing and melodies) it is the most boring thing on Shabbat; he is forbidden from using a phone, forbidden from iPhones, forbidden from the internet. Simply put, they crucified him, they put him in prison.

For a person (who does not feel the joy), Shabbat is a prison - he does not know that one dances and sings, that one prays Maariv for three hours. We begin Maariv at 6:30 and finish at 9:30, three hours.

After that is Sefirat HaOmer; Rebbe Nachman says that Sefirat HaOmer is greater each day than the day before.

Today there are decrees every moment; this is a government of the wicked, of Amalek, of Amalekites, this is the seed of Amalek, these are Nazis - and one must sweeten this.