VIDEO: Rav Berland with his community in Jerusalem

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: RAV BERLAND WITH HIS COMMUNITY,  3rd of SIVAN, 5777

From the moment that Rav Eliezer Berland, shlita, returned to his home in Jerusalem, his community has been fulfilling the verse ‘we were like dreamers’. It’s impossible for anyone to see the Rav, shlita, return to his home without being overcome with emotion. It’s hard to process all the good that’s suddenly been revealed in the world.

Just over a week ago, the Rav was still enduring his long galut (exile), then suddenly there are daily prayer services being held with the Rav, shlita, and everyone can come and experience the atmosphere of kedusha that surrounds him, for themselves. We wanted to share a little ‘taste’ of the amazing light that surrounds the Rav with you, our esteemed readers.

Every day, hundreds upon hundreds of people are flocking to Rav Eliezer Berland’s neighborhood in Jerusalem to pray together with the Rav in an atmosphere of immense simcha (joy), respect and soul-stirring emotion. In the following video clip, you can see experience a little of this awesome sight for yourself.

Hundreds of people are dancing together with the Rav, and singing: “Light is sown for the Tzaddik, and happiness for the straight of heart”. Suddenly, a Litvak visitor to the makeshift shul  thunders out the ‘shechechiyanu’ blessing, before reciting an additional blessing that is said upon seeing one of the Torah greats of the generation.

As per his usual practice, Rav Eliezer Berland, shlita doesn’t waste time by speaking any unnecessary words, and immediately begins to recite the kaddish prayer, that precedes the mincha (afternoon) prayers.

In the following clip, you can see how the Rav, shlita, is paying special attention to the younger members of the community, encouraging them to stand next to him throughout the prayers, and giving each one some special attention and fatherly concern.

The makeshift shul where the Rav and his community are currently praying is packed to capacity, and beyond standing room only. Consequently, many of these youngsters have made their way up on to the Rav’s own small podium, which means that the Rav himself barely has space to move.

Despite the stressful circumstances surrounding him, you can see how the Rav continues to take and respond to questions from the crowd, and to patiently write responses for those who are giving him notes to read.

A little later on in the video, you can see the Rav and the crowd spontaneously break into a popular song during the Rav’s shiur (Torah lesson), which is often sung in Uman, about the importance of guarding every second of time, when making the trip to visit the grave of the Tzaddik, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. 'It’s a great shame to waste even a second'!

Rav Eliezer Berland, shlita, has returned to this theme on many occasions during his past Torah classes and lectures. Another theme the Rav has repeated many times is that ‘if there is space in the heart, then there will never be a place lacking for another person.’ Truly, we’re witnessing this with our own eyes, as more and more people continue to crowd into the makeshift shul to come and pray with the Rav, and hear his holy words of Torah.

So many different Jews, from so many different streams of Judaism are coming to experience a little of the light of redemption for themselves, and each one leaves afterwards thinking ‘we were like dreamers’…