May Her Memory Be for a Blessing

In every generation, they rise up against us to destroy us. Often, these are wicked people from the nations of the world who plot to destroy, kill, and annihilate the Jews, just like the wicked Haman in his time. However, sometimes, to our great sorrow, it involves our own Jewish brothers and flesh, who are enticed to follow their evil inclination and persecute religion and Judaism with whatever tools they have at their disposal.

It is no secret that in recent years, there has been a relentless campaign of persecution across all media outlets against rabbis from every stream, and particularly against the true tzaddik of the generation, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. While every media outlet has journalists who avoid delving into this topic, there are others who seem to have been completely possessed by the Samech-Mem (the prosecuting angel). They seize upon every minor detail that might satisfy the bloodthirsty desires of their readers, viewers, and listeners, inflating it to enormous proportions as if it were a matter of the utmost severity, in their well-known manner.

Of course, the tzaddik holds no grievance against them whatsoever. On the contrary, he prays for the well-being of those who oppose him and wishes them all the good in the world. As Rabbi Berland shlit"a regularly says, all humiliations are actually ships filled with gold and diamonds, and we must honor and praise those who hurt and humiliate us. Furthermore, there is a spiritual concept known as "publicizing the name of the tzaddik." The more the media speaks against the tzaddik, the more his name becomes known. Although currently, in the darkness of exile, this publicity comes in a negative form, this is merely a concealment stemming from the depths of the exile. Ultimately, the name of the tzaddik will be publicized solely through his praise.

Naturally, we have nothing against the journalists who are simply doing their jobs for their parnassah (livelihood). This is especially true since Rabbi Berland shlit"a has already declared regarding the entire Jewish nation that there are no wicked people among the people of Israel; they are all considered tinokos shenishbu (infants taken captive, who sin out of ignorance). Therefore, it is clear beyond any doubt that we hold no grievance whatsoever against those who have chosen to disgrace the name of the tzaddik.

Nevertheless, we must remind and strengthen ourselves from time to time that all the words of our holy Sages are absolute truth. The Sages taught that "anyone who disgraces Torah scholars has no cure for his wound," warning that "their bite is the bite of a fox, their sting is the sting of a scorpion, and all their words are fiery coals." Therefore, when we see that one of the tzaddik's persecutors who spoke against him publicly has met their punishment, alongside the tremendous mercy we feel for them and their soul, we are strengthened by the reality that Hashem "is slow to anger but ultimately collects His due" — He extends patience to the wicked, but in the end, He collects the debt.

At the beginning of the month of Adar II 5779, news broke in the press about the tragic passing of the journalist Niki Guttman z"l, at the young age of only 32. This reporter, who worked for the Israel Hayom newspaper, was the one who authored the articles condemning Rabbi Berland shlit"a and his students, as seen in the attached images.

It is our prayer that the deceased will merit a proper tikkun (rectification) through the immense mercy of Hashem. We declare that we hold no grievance against her, and the tzaddik himself forgives her wholeheartedly. As Rabbi Berland shlit"a has stated many times, he harbors no hatred, Heaven forbid, toward any Jew, even those who speak out against him. May her soul be bound in the bond of eternal life, Amen.

From the book *Pele Elyon*, Part 3