Prayer Gatherings Tearing Through the Heavens in Eretz Yisrael and Worldwide for

Prayer gatherings at the holy Patriarchs and Matriarchs in Hebron, as well as throughout Israel and the world, took place last night, Monday, 15 Kislev 5781, with great awakening for the release of our teacher, the holy Gaon Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a.

We all know that our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a takes upon himself the burden of suffering in order to bring about the Geulah with great mercy, and thereby sweetens the decrees upon Israel. Nevertheless, as students, Chassidim, and supporters, it is our duty to rise and protest in prayer against the terrible acts of injustice that are taking place. A 84-year-old tzaddik, the eldest of the prisoners, who at his advanced age and in his difficult medical condition sits in prison while his trial has not even begun - there is no greater miscarriage of justice than this.

Everyone understands that the prosecution has nothing, not even half a thing, against our teacher Rav Berland, and that they know they have climbed a high tree and are now trying to pressure the Rav to reach a plea bargain. After all, against the nonsensical and false claims they are trying to pile up, there are dozens of testimonies of how Rav Berland shlit"a performs awe-inspiring salvations through pidyonot nefesh (redemptions of the soul), and that thousands have been saved by his blessings.

The members of the Public Struggle Committee, in coordination with the law enforcement agencies in Israel, acceded to the request and informed the vast public that in light of the situation, a mass gathering could not be held at the Cave of the Patriarchs. In light of this, several locations were published where the public would gather for the recitation of Psalms and to cry out for Rav Berland and the people of Israel. Indeed, moving prayer gatherings were held in Israel and around the world, but to our sorrow, the law enforcement agencies did not uphold the agreement. The large public that arrived at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, even though they arrived only from the Jerusalem area as agreed, were not allowed to enter the prayer area. The large public began to think aloud, "What are they afraid of? They know they are wrong and that the power of the 'worm of Jacob' is in its mouth!"

However, "Behold, G-d is mighty and does not despise," and the harassment by the enforcement agencies against the worshipers, despite having acted according to the rules and the agreement, only led to an intensification of prayer and an awakening of the public.

Prayer gatherings by the holy community of 'Shuvu Banim' were held simultaneously in Hebron at the Cave of the Patriarchs, as well as in other locations, including: in Uman at the holy gravesite of our Rebbe, Rebbe Nachman, and Rebbe Nathan of Breslov in Ukraine. In Meron at the holy gravesite of the Rashbi. In Tiberias at the holy gravesite of Rabbi Akiva. In Bethlehem at the holy gravesite of Rachel Imeinu. At the Baba Sali, Binyamin ben Yaakov in Kfar Saba, as well as in other locations.

Photo gallery from the prayer gathering at the Cave of the Patriarchs

(Photo credit: Avrimi Vitman)