In honor of the yahrzeit of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l (23rd of Sivan 5657, June 23, 1897 - 22nd of Tammuz 5749, July 25, 1989), Rabbi Ozari, a close associate of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l and a student of our esteemed Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, shares about the special connection between these two righteous individuals.

Rabbi Ozari, a close associate of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l and a student of our esteemed Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, was interviewed by 'Information Line' and spoke about his acquaintance with Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l and Rabbi Bender's special regard for our esteemed Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a on the occasion of the 25th yahrzeit of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l.

"My acquaintance with Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l began when Rav Berland shlit"a organized trips on Thursdays to Rabbi Bender's zt"l lessons. I stood before him for several hours and understood 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 stayed close to him and sat for entire hours, especially during the Shacharit prayer, observing how he prayed. I would wait for him and take him to Shacharit prayer, to the mikvah, and to the Western Wall. He insisted on not walking with a cane, and I would take him home; thus began my initial closeness to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l.

It is known that our esteemed Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a purchased a burial plot, known as a segulah for long life, in the section of the great Breslov leaders on the Mount of Olives, behind the plot Rabbi Bender zt"l purchased in his time. Once I asked him if he minded that Rav Berland shlit"a purchased a plot near him. Rabbi Bender zt"l told me: 'Heaven forbid. R' Laizer is a good neighbor.'

Once I asked Rabbi Bender zt"l whether it is correct to say the prayers "Joy and Gladness" daily, and Rabbi Bender zt"l answered me affirmatively. I told Rav Berland shlit"a about this, and he was impressed by the answer and asked me to remind him to ask Rabbi Bender zt"l himself about the matter. Indeed, at the first opportunity when we left the Western Wall, I reminded Rav Berland shlit"a, who asked Rabbi Bender zt"l, since the prayers of "Joy and Gladness" are very precious, whether they should be said daily, and Rabbi Bender zt"l affirmed.

Once, when we were at the Western Wall, I asked Rabbi Bender zt"l if it is permissible to engage in hitbodedut with Rebbe Nachman zt"l at the Wall. Rabbi Bender zt"l replied to me: 'I just spoke with him.'

Once Rav Berland shlit"a told me that "a loss that cannot be recovered is for those who did not know him" (referring to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l).

Once I asked Rabbi Bender zt"l why his manner of service differs from that of Rav Berland shlit"a, as Rabbi Bender zt"l prays quietly in contrast to Rav Berland shlit"a. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak zt"l answered me: 'Each righteous person has their own path in their own way.'

Once Rabbi Shmuel Tzchik zt"l teasingly said to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak zt"l: 'R' Laizer takes all his opponents to Uman'... Rabbi Levi Yitzchak responded to him: 'Rebbe Nachman holds him in great esteem for this.'

Once, when I took Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l from the Western Wall, a tape of a lesson by Rav shlit"a was playing in the car, and so we traveled along the way. When we arrived at his home, Rabbi Bender zt"l prepared himself to get out of the car, and then he asked me: 'What is he (Rav shlit"a) saying?' I answered him: Rav shlit"a says that all the righteous received from our holy Rebbe. Rabbi Bender replied: 'I understand.'