"In Breslov a Fire Is Burning…" • Thousands at the Great Hillula of Rebbe Nosson

The Hillula of Rebbe Nosson of Breslov ○ A Thanksgiving Feast marking the anniversary of the miracle of release ○ A fiery, flame-like shiur on the greatness of our mighty genius, from the mouth of Rabbi Berland shlit"a ○ Singing and dancing ○ A breathtaking photo gallery ○ “My fire will burn!”

On the 179th anniversary of the passing of our mighty genius and our glory—our teacher Rebbe Nosson of Breslov zy"a, the faithful disciple of the Light of lights, the holy Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zy"a—this evening, the night of the Tenth of Teves, a massive hillula was held with the participation of thousands, together with Rabbi Berland shlit"a. It was combined with a Thanksgiving Feast marking the anniversary of the miracle of his release from imprisonment. Presented here is extensive coverage of the hillula gathering with the participation of The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:

Ma’ariv and the Hillula-night shiur:

On the night of the hillula, The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, went out—as he does every evening—for Ma’ariv to the balcony of his home, overlooking our Beis Midrash plaza on Ido HaNavi Street in Jerusalem. After Ma’ariv, he delivered a shiur on the weekly parashah, from Yaakov’s blessings to his sons. After the shiur, he began the post-prayer dancing to Rebbe Nachman’s songs, and after about forty minutes of prayer, he entered his home—his holy dwelling.

The hillula feast, combined with a Thanksgiving Feast for the anniversary of the miracle of his release from imprisonment, with the participation of thousands from across the country:

Almost a year ago, on Motzaei the Hillula of Rebbe Nosson, through open miracles, Rabbi Berland shlit"a was released from prison due to blood libels fabricated by opponents against him. In the mercy of Hashem, on the morning of the 11th of Teves, he was released to his home—his holy dwelling—after two years in prison, though he had done no wrong. Because the day of release falls close to the hillula of Rebbe Nosson, it was set that the day commemorating the miracle of release would be observed together with the hillula feast.

Thousands upon thousands—men, women, and children—arrived at the Pavilion halls. Despite being one of the largest venues in Jerusalem, it was far too small to contain the multitudes who came from all across the country, from every segment and background, for what was described as the greatest hillula throughout the world.

At 20:30 the gates opened and the crowds streamed inside. First, the chassidic Rav, Rabbi Meir Malka shlit"a, spoke about the greatness of the day and the stature of the one whose hillula it was. After that, the orchestra and musicians—who accompanied the entire event with professionalism—began songs of awakening and emotion: the singer R’ Avreimi Lunger; the musician R’ Moshe Mendelson; Nachman Zucker on clarinet; and R’ Dani Maman on guitar.

During the singing of “Un Breslov brent a feier…” at 22:15, Rabbi Berland shlit"a arrived at the Pavilion halls. After several more minutes of soulful melodies, such as the niggun “Yetzaveh Tzur…” and the niggun “Lecha Dodi…,” they began singing the “Song of Friendship” composed by R’ Yitzchak Breiter zt"l in honor of our holy Rebbe—Rebbe Nachman, the source of wisdom.

The central address • The shiur of Rabbi Berland shlit"a:

After the song ended at 22:55, The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, began the central address in honor of our mighty genius, Rebbe Nosson zy"a. At the beginning of his words, he spoke about the fast of the Tenth of Teves, which marks the beginning of calamity. He also spoke about the days of the 8th, 9th, and 10th of Teves—when the Torah was translated for the world into Greek and the world was turned into darkness.

After that, several times during the shiur he spoke about the greatness of Rebbe Nosson—that he is the soul of Adam HaRishon. He also spoke about the persecutions Rebbe Nosson endured.

The Rav noted that next year the Hillula of Rebbe Nosson will fall in Parashas Vayigash, which is the revelation of “I am Yosef.” At that point The Rav shlit"a began to cry out together with the thousands in the crowd: “I am Yosef! I am Yosef! I am Yosef!”—repeating it several times.

Afterward, The Rav shlit"a especially strengthened everyone regarding learning Gemara with depth and careful analysis. He lifted up the sefer Likkutei Halachos and showed everyone that it is written there that whoever wants to draw close to the Tzaddik must learn Gemara b’iyun. And true to the principle that “halachah leads to action,” he began—over many long minutes—to explain the sugya of mustard and bees together with all the commentators.

He also said that the main holiness of a person comes from Gemara learned b’iyun. He expanded on this, teaching that a child’s success depends on the parents’ holiness. He mentioned Shimshon’s mother, who asked the angel, “What shall be the rule for the boy, and what shall be done with him?”—and the angel told her to abstain from all wine and to guard herself from impurity, and through this he would become a tzaddik.

After that, he spoke about the episode of Shimshon burning the fields of the Philistines, and also about shalom bayis.

At the end of the shiur he spoke about the greatness of Rebbe Nachman and Rebbe Nosson, who merited the level of Yechidah of Moshe Rabbeinu. After fifty minutes, The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, concluded by saying that Rebbe Nosson is an entirely new soul—and by nullifying ourselves to that soul, we thereby bring the Geulah, and Moshiach ben David will come speedily in our days, amen!

The thousands in song and dance for more than half an hour:

After the central address—delivered as a blazing fire, words of the Living God that entered the hearts of the thousands—The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, began singing “You have brought us until here,” and all the thousands burst into circles of dance. The Rav signaled to repeat the song three times, as he revived the entire enormous crowd with his hand motions, signaling everyone to dance.

After three times, The Rav shlit"a signaled with his holy hand, and the singer R’ Avreimi Lunger began singing “B’cha Rabbeinu nagilah…” and all the thousands jumped and danced and rejoiced—such vitality, such enthusiasm; it is impossible to describe or measure the great joy that we merited: to be among the people of the Tzaddik at the hillula of the Tzaddik’s great disciple!

At 00:15, The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, rose from his seat, and to the sound of the thousands singing, he left and returned to his home—his holy dwelling.

“For he is the Rav and the disciple whom they looked at and gazed upon from the day the world was created…!”

Presented here is a breathtaking photo gallery:

[caption id="attachment_54180" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] The mashpia, the chassidic R’ Yaakov Moshe Salmanovitz shlit"a, at last night’s hillula of thousands[/caption]

For an additional photo gallery:

https://www.shuvubanimint.com/54137-2/