During Monday night, Rosh Chodesh Menachem-Av, Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit”a, with military escort, entered the city of Shechem to visit the grave of Yosef HaTzaddik and to pray for Am Yisrael.

It has been about three years (since 1 Adar-Alef 5782) that Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit”a has not visited the tomb of Yosef HaTzaddik in Shechem.  On the morning of Monday, 1 Menachem-Av, Parashat Devarim-Chazon, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a, escorted by security forces, entered the city of Shechem after clashes with numerous terrorists.  At 1:48 AM, the guarded convoy reached the holy tomb of Yosef HaTzaddik located on the outskirts of Shechem, adjacent to the Balata refugee camp. Moreinu HaRav shlit”a said at the site four Tikkun HaKlali’s with niggunim.  It should be noted that the Rav shlit”a was in a phenomenal state of vitality that is impossible to describe.  After the Tikkun HaKlali’s, the soldiers and commanders requested the blessing of Moreinu HaRav shlit”a.  The Rav shlit”a, in his great love for every Jew and especially for the soldiers who risk their lives for Am Yisrael, bestowed his blessings upon them and blessed them with all good and abundant peace. Afterwards, for some twenty minutes, the Rav shlit”a danced around the tomb, singing “Bezchut Yosef HaTzaddik…In the merit of Yosef HaTzaddik, Ephraim and Menashe, may our wishes be fulfilled for good.”  It’s impossible to describe the tremendous joy which appeared on the face of Moreinu HaRav shlit”a, who speaks so much about the greatness of traveling to the tomb of Yosef HaTzaddik. It should be noted that the Rav’s close followers related that on the way back, due to repeated clashes, the Rav shlit”a was delayed in the IDF Panther armored personal carrier for over forty minutes, from the holy tomb until the Beit Furik exit.  However, the Rav, as is known, utilized every minute, and gave over a long and fascinating shiur about his journeys as a young Kollel student from Bnei Brak to Yosef’s tomb, and many other words of Torah.

Here is a photo gallery: