Mandatory: A Rare and Moving Meeting Between the Esteemed Rabbi Eliezer Berland

Following the rare photo gallery we presented from the Brit Milah held at the home of the Gaon HaTzaddik Rav Berland shlit"a, with the participation of the Gaon HaRav Reuven Elbaz shlit"a, we bring before you a rare meeting that took place between these holy seraphim. The meeting was held at the home of Rav Berland shlit"a, where one can learn of the love and appreciation that these two tzaddikim hold for one another. At the beginning of the proceedings, Rav Berland said to Rav Elbaz: "We have not met for 40 years, from the year 5738 (1978) until today, 5778 (2018)." Rav Elbaz shlit"a began his remarks.

"Today we are meeting in order to unite all the ends, all the factions; we will anchor everything and go out together to the people of Israel. The people of Israel will see the unity and will run; the moment the people of Israel see the unity, everyone will return in teshuvah (repentance), will keep Shabbat, and will put on tefillin. Every Jew wants to put on tefillin, every Jew wants to keep Shabbat—this is the essence (atzmut) of every Jew, just as we learned about the bones (atzmot) of Joseph in the Parsha. The essence of every Jew is only to serve Hashem. But there are all kinds of questions and confusions, and one must answer all the questions of every Jew, not leaving any question unanswered."

Rav Elbaz shlit"a replied: "The holy Zohar says that no one from the people of Israel descended into the impurities of Egypt; in this, the people of Israel were sworn to remain in holiness."

Rabbi Michael Gol, Rosh Yeshiva of Mageni Eretz, who was also present at the meeting, added to Rav Elbaz shlit"a: "The Rav (Elbaz) said that he does not leave his yeshiva (Ohr HaChaim), but when he heard that the Rav (Berland) would be the Sandak, he was happy to come."

Then Rav Elbaz blessed Rav Berland: "L'chaim, honorable Rav, may you merit a good and happy life."