Rabbi Baadani in a Historic Visit to Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a

Rabbi Kohli, the grandson of Rabbi Baadani, who merited to accompany the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Shimon Baadani shlit"a on a visit to our Teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, speaks about the moving visit. "I merited to join the meeting; Rabbi Berland shlit"a and Rabbi Baadani shlit"a discussed words of Torah between them, and it was very moving. When Rabbi Berland saw Rabbi Baadani, he recited the blessing of 'Shehecheyanu' and immediately began with words of Torah. Rabbi Baadani saw the book Ketzos HaChoshen on Rabbi Berland's table and said to him, 'Here is the Ketzos HaChoshen.' Rabbi Berland replied that he was just studying it with his daughter."

Rabbi Baadani's visit to Rabbi Berland joins the words of support and sympathy we have heard from Rabbi Baadani regarding our Teacher, Rabbi Berland shlit"a, recently, as well as the visit and class that Rabbi Baadani held at Yeshivat Shuvu Banim. Here is the continuation of Rabbi Uziel Kohli's words.

[caption id="attachment_7505" align="alignnone" width="900"] Rabbi Shimon Baadani shlit"a, member of the Council of Torah Sages, delivering a class at Yeshivat Shuvu Banim[/caption]

"Rabbi Berland and Rabbi Baadani shlit"a discussed a sugya (topic) in Tractate Gittin while opening more and more books together. All these years, Rabbi Baadani has spoken about how Rabbi Berland greatly encourages Torah study, and that is, after all, the main thing. There was true affection and pleasantness between them, as Rabbi Berland told Rabbi Baadani that he is the Head of the Children of Israel."

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"It happened to be the day of the Hillula (anniversary of passing) of Rabbi Alfandari; they spoke about him and lit a candle for the elevation of his soul. Afterward, Rabbi Baadani recited the blessing 'Matir Asurim' (Who releases the bound), and they continued to learn together, with the meeting lasting close to half an hour."

"Rabbi Berland is such a tzaddik whose entire essence is only to bring people closer to their Father in Heaven, and all one sees from him is only Torah and pleasantness." At this stage, Rabbi Kohli, who is married to Rabbi Baadani shlit"a's granddaughter, turns to tell about his own journey to Uman to the gravesite of Rebbe Nachman zy"a, adding, "For me, Breslov and Rabbi Berland are one; it is impossible to separate the two."

[caption id="attachment_7503" align="alignnone" width="900"] Rabbi Shimon Baadani descending the stairs of Yeshivat Shuvu Banim[/caption]

"The controversy surrounding Rabbi Berland pained me greatly, seeing that this is how people act and behave within Breslov. After all, Rebbe Nachman himself says that he judges everyone favorably except for the baalei machloket (those who create discord); quite literally, the Rebbe will not judge those who dispute favorably. Not only did I not get confused by everything they speak against Rabbi Berland, but it only brought me closer to him."

"'God seeks the pursued'—a person by nature cannot bear to see a Rabbi and such a community being persecuted; this is the nature of every Jew. But Rabbi Berland actually wants all these persecutions; as he says, they are like diamonds. How can one persecute such tzaddikim?" Rabbi Kohli repeats and wonders aloud. "How can one persecute baalei teshuvah (returnees to the faith)? After all, the entire Likutey Halachos speaks of the virtue of baalei teshuvah and says that Amalek pursues 'those of the tribe of Dan whom the cloud ejected.'"

"People remain silent; this is the power of Rabbi Berland shlit"a, who silences everyone from responding to the persecutors. But for me, observing from the side, it bothers me greatly to see this persecution."

"Rabbi Baadani knows that every Rosh Hashanah I travel to Uman. His outlook is that as long as you are immersed in Torah, it does not matter which stream you are close to. I myself returned with great spiritual lights from Uman for the first time, but when I heard Rabbi Berland say that the main thing is Torah study, it helped me greatly to remain close to Rebbe Nachman, yet not to get confused and to continue on the path of Torah."

Up to here are the words of Rabbi Uziel Kohli as delivered on the Breslov hotline 02-800-8-800, from the USA 1-845-640-0007, from Europe 4420-380-7-3333