Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l on the Esteemed Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a

In honor of the Hillula of Rebbe Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l (23 Sivan 5657, June 23, 1897 - 22 Tammuz 5749, July 25, 1989), Rabbi Ozeri, a close associate of Rebbe Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l and a student of our teacher, the Gaon HaTzaddik Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, shares about the special connection between the two tzaddikim.

Rabbi Ozeri, a close associate of Rebbe Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l and a student of our teacher, the Gaon HaTzaddik Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, was interviewed by the 'Information Line' and spoke about his acquaintance with Rebbe Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l and the special regard Rebbe Bender had for our teacher, the Gaon HaTzaddik Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, in honor of the 25th Hillula of Rebbe Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l.

"My acquaintance with Rebbe Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l began when Rav Berland shlit"a would organize trips on Thursdays to the shiurim of Rav Bender zt"l. I would stand before him for several hours and understand nothing of his words because he spoke in Yiddish. The entire language was completely foreign to me. I approached Rav Berland shlit"a and asked what to do. Rav Berland shlit"a answered me: 'Stand before him and watch his movements.' And so, I would stay close to him and sit for entire hours, especially during Shacharit prayer, watching how he prayed. I would wait for him and take him to Shacharit, to the mikvah, and to the Western Wall. He insisted on not walking with a cane, and I would take him home; that was my first closeness to Rebbe Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l.

It is known that the Gaon HaTzaddik Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a purchased a burial plot, known as a segula for longevity, in the section of the great Breslov figures on the Mount of Olives, behind the plot that Rav Bender zt"l had purchased at the time. I once asked him if he was bothered by the fact that Rav Berland shlit"a had purchased a plot next to him. Rav Bender zt"l said to me: 'Heaven forbid. R' Leizer is a good neighbor.'

I once asked Rav Bender zt"l if it is correct to say the 'Sasson V'Simcha' prayers daily, and Rav Bender zt"l answered me that it is. I told Rav Berland shlit"a about this, and he was impressed by the answer and asked me to remind him to ask Rav Bender zt"l about the matter himself. Indeed, at the first opportunity when we left the Western Wall, I reminded Rav Berland shlit"a, who asked Rav Bender zt"l, as the 'Sasson V'Simcha' prayers are very precious, whether they should be said daily, and Rav Bender zt"l answered him in the affirmative.

Once, when we were at the Western Wall, I asked Rav Bender zt"l if it is permitted to perform hitbodedut with our Rebbe zia"a at the Wall? Rav Bender zt"l replied to me: 'I just spoke with him.'

Rav Berland shlit"a once told me that 'it is an irreparable loss for anyone who did not know him' (Rebbe Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l).

I once asked Rav Bender zt"l why his service is different from that of Rav Berland shlit"a, in that Rav Bender zt"l prays quietly, unlike Rav Berland shlit"a. Rebbe Levi Yitzchak zt"l replied to me: 'Every single tzaddik has his own way in his own path.'

Once, Rebbe Shmuel Chechik zt"l said to Rebbe Levi Yitzchak zt"l in a teasing manner: 'R' Leizer is taking all his opponents to Uman'... Rebbe Levi Yitzchak answered him: 'Our Rebbe holds him in great esteem for this.'

Once, when I was taking Rebbe Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l from the Western Wall, a recording of a shiur by the Rav shlit"a was playing in the car, and that is how we traveled on the way. When we arrived at his home, Rav Bender zt"l prepared himself to exit the car, and then he asked me: 'What is he (the Rav shlit"a) saying?' I answered him: 'The Rav shlit"a says that all the tzaddikim received from our holy Rebbe.' Rav Bender replied: 'I understand.'"