Personal Testimony: The Colon Illness Passed After a Pidyon Nefesh for Rav

After attorney Amit Hadad revealed that if they had proceeded with the trial of Rav Berland shlit"a, they would have achieved great success, but due to his difficult health condition and advanced age, they preferred to reach a plea bargain. It could have easily been proven just how great the effects of the Rav's pidyon nefesh are.

During a routine phone call that Adam Buzaglo made to an appliance merchant, the conversation naturally turned to the greatness of Rav Berland shlit"a and the virtue of his pidyon.

One testimony among thousands regarding the power of the pidyon nefesh of Rav Berland shlit"a

"What do you say about Rabbi Eliezer Berland?"

"I say: In 2008, I fell ill with the 'not-so-good' disease in my colon."

"Hashem should protect us."

"A malignant tumor, not benign, I am clarifying the matter. We tried doctors; finally, a friend from the Carmel Market who is very close to Rav Berland came to me. He told me that only one person could help me - Rav Berland! At that time, I had a lot of money; I had no problem with money at all."

"He told me to go to 6 Hachoma Hashlishit St. (The Rav lives at 14 Hachoma) in Jerusalem, do you know it?"

"Of course! That is where the home of Rav Berland is located."

"Great, he told me five thousand, ten thousand, five thousand dollars... I told him that I don't like these games, it's not a problem of money, but it's not acceptable to me; you say five, so it's five. I don't have... so you're saying the Rav told you a pidyon nefesh? Not the Rav."

"The Gabbai?"

"Yes, I told him, listen, you told me five, so let it be five. I don't like these games where I come all the way here and suddenly you tell me ten, it's not respectful. An argument ensued until I almost left."

"Suddenly he says to me, 'You know what? It's best that the Rav decides.' I said, 'No problem.' As soon as I entered, Rav Berland covered me with his tallit and told me, 'I know exactly what is happening with you,' but he told me I have nothing to worry about and everything will be fine."

"And he added: 'On Tuesday you will have the surgery; the surgery will last two and a quarter hours. On Tuesday at eight o'clock in the evening, the professor will inform you that you can go home. Everything will be good, and you will also receive positive results from the professor after the surgery.' That is what Rav Berland told me."

"And the Rav added, 'If you want, you can drive to me after the surgery to Jerusalem; you will be able to drive back from the hospital!'"

"All of this, Rabbi Eliezer Berland told you face to face?"

"Of course!"

"At eight o'clock I look at the clock; I already felt good and the pains from the surgery had passed. I said to myself, 'What, did the Rav just say that for nothing (that at eight the professor would tell me to go home)?'"

"I hadn't even finished saying it in my head, 'The Rav said it for nothing,' when suddenly the professor enters and says to me, 'I'm tired of you, come on, go home, get dressed.'"

"With my own eyes, I went down to the car and drove home."

"Since then, my son Tomer and I have become... it's forbidden to say it, but... I gave there during my good period when I had a lot of money, I gave there maybe a hundred."

"Hashem should protect you, you merited open miracles."

"This conversation is being recorded; do you allow me to publish it publicly in order to strengthen the People of Israel and our community?"

"Of course, what kind of question is that?"

"Great! Hashem should protect you. You see, it wasn't for nothing that we met, by the grace of Hashem."