Rabbi Eliyahu Abisror's Sharp Message Against the Pursuers and Slanderers of the

This past week, Rabbi Eliyahu Abisror shlit"a, the Rabbi of the Neve Yaakov neighborhood in Jerusalem, issued a sharp message against those who persecute the tzaddik, Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a.

Rabbi Abisror's statement was preceded by a malicious episode orchestrated by those unrestrained persecutors. After Rav Berland arrived for a visit in the Neve Yaakov neighborhood, he met with Rabbi Abisror at his home. There, they spoke words of Torah, and it was evident on Rabbi Abisror's face that he was enjoying the words and the occasion.

The persecutors of Rav Berland, unable to tolerate that another Rabbi was in contact with Rav Berland, began to weave a dark plot. They approached Rabbi Abisror with lies and recorded him—naturally, they later edited the material and took it out of context.

After this became known to Rabbi Abisror, he was interviewed on the Global Breslov Line and announced in a sharp, unequivocal manner that he does not agree with those things, and that he has nothing against Rav Berland shlit"a.

These are his words:

"I did not speak or slander Rav Berland; I recognize him and have heard good things about him."

"I have heard about him that he is a righteous Jew (tzaddik) who prays and is meticulous in the mitzvot. I also cannot speak against him; he is a righteous Jew (tzaddik) and one must encourage and support him."

"Everything that is being said is lashon hara (evil speech) that does not depend on me; they mentioned my name, but it has nothing to do with me at all."

"I greatly appreciate Rav Berland and hold him in high regard; we sat in my home and he spoke words of Torah. His words were pleasant, and he continued afterward in the synagogue; everything was wonderful and good—Heaven forbid to speak against him."

"One must rebuke those who speak against him; it is forbidden to speak against Rav Berland."

"Rav Berland is invited to join us for another Motzaei Shabbat; let him come with a full bus and we will give him a place, the entire synagogue."