Rabbi Ofer Erez shlit"a: What is Sabbateanism?

"The problem with Sabbatai Zevi was that he preached b'reish galei (publicly and openly) to commit sins. The Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a is the exact opposite of Sabbatai Zevi. The persecutors of Rabbi Berland do not possess even a modicum of Da'at (knowledge) to distinguish between truth and falsehood—famous concepts known to all."

Our main desire is to publicize the light of our Master and Teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, his Torah, his holiness, and his absolute bittul (self-nullification) to the light of Hashem, according to the path of the Light of Lights, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. However, to our sorrow, in light of the false campaign and the vile behavior being conducted against the Rav shlit"a and his community, we have recently been forced to add another dimension to the character of the articles we publish. And as we promised, since we are going to expose a few more of the lies being plastered upon the Rav shlit"a, the following article is essential for anyone who desires the truth.

These are some of the things shared by the Gaon, Rabbi Ofer Erez shlit"a, one of the select students of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, during the past week:

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"Not to be impressed or affected by all the humiliations and persecutions being conducted against Rabbi Berland shlit"a is almost beyond the realm of human capability," Rabbi Ofer opens his words. "Rabbi Berland shlit"a has already been in prison for almost a year, and despite this, he does not leave the holy books for a single moment, and prayer is always fluent in his mouth. Emunah (faith) is always on his face, along with connection to Hashem, and the Rav shlit"a strengthens—constantly strengthens—anyone who comes into contact with him. Are there questions about the Tzaddik? Fine, Rebbe Nachman already said that there must be difficult questions regarding the true Tzaddik, but we need to remember what our own eyes are seeing."

"I heard that they complimented us greatly and associated us with the sect of Sabbatai Zevi. Baruch Hashem, we thank them, only we wish to clarify matters. They (the persecutors) do not possess even a modicum of Da'at (knowledge) to distinguish between truth and falsehood—famous concepts known to all. For indeed, the entire problem with Sabbatai Zevi was that he preached b'reish galei (publicly and openly) to commit sins. Have we ever heard, even once, from the Rav shlit"a or from his students that it is permitted to commit sins??? Such a thing has never been heard."

"Sabbatai Zevi, a short time after the Torah leaders of Israel excommunicated him, went and converted to Islam. He could not suffer a single humiliation, so he went to become a Muslim. He abandoned the entire path, saying: 'Perhaps they will honor me in the mosque.' But, to distinguish by millions of degrees (lehavdil), with Rabbi Berland shlit"a we see that everything is the opposite. This is folly and stupidity; Rabbi Berland shlit"a is the exact opposite of Sabbatai Zevi. Not only has the Rav never said it is permitted to commit sins, but rather, everything that is personally difficult for me to hear from the Rav shlit"a is because, in his words, he is always rebuking us. I say in my heart: 'Rav, give in to me a little, be a little more moderate with me.'"

"We see throughout history that anyone who was Jewish and walked a path that was not good—they flew out of Judaism.

I do not know if there have ever been such humiliations and persecutions like the Rav shlit"a is undergoing, and through all of this, our eyes see only more strengthening in Emunah and Avodas Hashem (service of God) in Rabbi Berland shlit"a."

"Usually, we do not even pay attention to the confusion and nonsense that the persecutors of Rabbi Berland shlit"a speak, were it not for the vile and unrestrained moves they have begun recently. From morning until evening and from evening until morning, they only speak against him—foul language and Lashon Hara (evil speech). Rabbi Morgenstern shlit"a wrote a very Halachic and Torah-based response in which he said: 'Even according to your (mistaken) method, you are committing a thousand sins.' For them, the Chofetz Chaim's book on guarding one's speech has exited Judaism. There are no laws of Lashon Hara, no laws of Motzi Shem Ra (slander/defamation), no 'keep far from a false matter.' They speak bad things against many Torah scholars, to the point that those sages and rabbis wonder where they invented this from."

"Has one of Rabbi Berland shlit"a's students ever said that a Tzaddik is permitted to commit sins?! This statement was never spoken! Only the persecutors say this. Who even thought of this idea???"

"We hear no words of Torah from them, no words of strengthening—only 'anti,' and 'anti,' and 'anti.' Lashon Hara, slander, lies, and terrible deceits. Poor souls, we need to pray for them that Hashem will enlighten their eyes and they will return in teshuvah (repentance). We are on the eve of the Geulah (Redemption); is this what is left to do?"

"Several times we invited them to a Din Torah (Rabbinical Court judgment), not in order to fight with them, but to clarify their false claims—twice they have already rejected us. Once, I told them to take us to a Din Torah, and that specific persecutor said he agreed. Two days later, he published a complete article full of lies on [the news site] Kikar HaShabbat. I said: 'Apparently Kikar HaShabbat is the new Da'at Torah of our generation.'"

"We have nothing against them, and we do not want to fight with them at all. I have never spoken publicly about this matter, and I found no reason to leave the Torah, the strengthening, and the words of our holy Rebbe. However, sometimes one must deviate, especially since lately they are truly going crazy in their conduct. It is true that every lie of theirs only brings more and more people closer to our holy Rebbe and to Rabbi Berland shlit"a, but we must protest and show that in reality, according to the truth, everything is completely the opposite of what they are speaking."

"The great corruption of Sabbatai Zevi was that they preached to commit sins for the purpose of rectifying the world. But with Rabbi Berland shlit"a, we have never heard such a thing (nor a hint or anything resembling such a thing); on the contrary. These are delusions they imagined; they got up in the morning and said that we are saying this."

May Hashem help them return in teshuvah. We are not angry at them; we love them with a great love, only may Hashem illuminate the point of truth for them. May there be a Geulah with mercy and kindness.

The lesson by Rabbi Ofer Erez shlit"a was broadcast on the Breslov Information Line: 02-800-8800; from the USA: 18456400007; from England: 442038073333