Rav Berland shlit"a in a Rare Interview with Maariv Newspaper from 1978 Discussing the Importance of Austerities: "Such Leaders Can Operate Openly or in Secret; There is No Necessity to Follow Them; They Lead the Generation Alone"

Recently, much has been said about how our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, in fact, takes upon himself all the sufferings of the Jewish people. Of course, we are not speaking about those who come to mock and defame, but only about those who seek the hidden truth behind all the events unfolding right before our eyes.

To the students of Rav Berland shlit"a, it is clear that the Rav takes upon himself severe sufferings, illnesses, and endless self-sacrifice. At his advanced age (over 80, may he live long), other righteous individuals sit in honor before their congregation and enjoy the fruits of the seeds they planted throughout their days of toil. But not Rav Berland shlit"a, the righteous foundation of the world never rests. As long as there are Jews who suffer, who are in pain, because essentially they are far from their source. So Rav Berland shlit"a continues, and everyone knows that the Rav will never rest. As long as there is a Jew who needs to break free from the nonsense, from the shell that grips him, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a will continue to give his soul for him - he will continue until our righteous Messiah finally arrives here.

And why are we suddenly telling you this? After all, these things have been happening openly for many years. However, suddenly a rare interview from 1979 was revealed from the archives, in which our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a is asked, among other things, about the importance of austerities. The following interview, which we present to you, was conducted 38 years ago in Maariv newspaper, and it shows how even then Rav Berland shlit"a walked the path of suffering and austerities for the sake of the Jewish people.

"Rabbi Elazar would pray every day for terrible sufferings to come upon him, until his body was filled with wounds and the entire room was filled with blood and pus. Rabbi Elazar, who protected the generation, merited causing that throughout his life no person died before their time. Such leaders can operate openly or in secret. There is no necessity to follow them; they lead the generation alone." Our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a told Maariv, and in essence, even then revealed a glimpse of the righteous one's intention in accepting sufferings upon himself.

Rav Berland shlit"a, who throughout the years in his lessons has extensively elaborated, from the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, on the great virtue of accepting disgrace and sufferings, always stands behind this principle with devotion, exemplifying the idea of practicing what one preaches.

[caption id="attachment_7306" align="alignnone" width="407"] Article in Maariv Newspaper from 1979[/caption]