Rav Berland shlit"a in a Rare Interview with Maariv Newspaper from 1978

Lately, there has been much talk about how our teacher, Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, is, in effect, taking upon himself all the sufferings of the Jewish people. Of course, we are not speaking of those who come to criticize and slander, but only of those who seek the hidden truth behind all the events occurring right before our eyes.

For the students of Rav Berland shlit"a, the matter is clear: the Rav takes upon himself severe suffering, illnesses, and endless self-sacrifice. At his advanced age (over 80, may he live and be well), other tzaddikim sit in honor before their congregation, enjoying the fruits of the seeds they planted throughout their years of labor. But not Rav Berland shlit"a; the tzaddik, the foundation of the world, never rests. As long as there are Jews who suffer and are in pain because they are, in essence, far from their source, then Rav Berland shlit"a continues, and everyone knows that the Rav will never rest. As long as there is a Jew who needs to be extricated from foolishness and the shell that grips him, Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a will continue to sacrifice his soul for him—he will continue until our righteous Mashiach arrives here already.

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

"Rabbi Elazar would pray every day that terrible sufferings would come to 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 to ensure that throughout all the years of his life, no person died before their time. Such leaders can act openly or in secret. It is not necessary that people follow them; they lead the generation alone," said our teacher, Rav Berland shlit"a, to Maariv, effectively revealing even then a glimpse of the tzaddik's intention in accepting sufferings upon himself.

Rav Berland shlit"a, who throughout the years in his lessons has spoken at length, based on the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, about the greatness of accepting humiliation and suffering, always stands behind this principle with devotion, in the sense of one who preaches beautifully and practices beautifully.