Rebbe Nachman says that due to the greatness of the true tzaddik, one can only grasp his greatness through his people, the students of the tzaddik, these are his holy words (Likutei Moharan 140):

"For the tzaddik himself cannot be comprehended, for there is no grasp of him, as he is beyond one's intellect. Only through his people who are close to him can one understand the level of the tzaddik. Because by seeing his people, who are men of deeds, God-fearing and complete, and in them there is grasp and understanding, for the world is not as distant from them as from the tzaddik himself, therefore, one who seeks the truth can know the level of the tzaddik through his people."

"And this is like the example of the seal, where the writing engraved on it cannot be read because the letters are reversed. Only by preparing and imprinting the seal on wax, can the letters and engravings on the seal be seen, and the writing of the seal understood."

In the article she wrote, Avia Kushnitzky sharpens this point from her personal perspective. Avia writes openly about her pain in light of the severe persecution of our teacher, the esteemed Rav Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. Although these matters are not new to the general public, the novelty in her words is that her entire approach to the holy 'Shuvu Banim' began only from knowing the students of Rav Berland. According to her testimony, she never saw our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a, yet she knows with certainty that he is the "tzaddik of the generation." These are her moving words.

I think my story and my impression of Rabbi Eliezer Berland are somewhat different from what you might hear or see online... I assume that if you type the words "Rav Berland" into the search bar, the results you get will roughly fall into two categories: the first category is, of course, the "good souls" who endlessly defame him... Among the members of this category, you will find stories, recordings, and perhaps even testimonies about allegedly terrible and shocking things that Rav Berland did.

The second category is of his group of believers who follow him through fire and water, and from them, you will hear fascinating stories of miracles and wonders that Rav Berland performed. You will witness blind faith and endless love of his community for him, following him through fire and water. I must note that in a certain way, this blind love initially deterred me because it immediately brought up associations of a 'cult'... until I had the merit to know the community members closely.

At the outset, I would like to say that I completely belong to the second category - those who support, love, and believe in Rav Berland. But for me, it's a bit different... I have not seen (at least in LIVE) any miracle, salvation, or magic that he performed. The truth is I have never seen him face to face. Oh..., and I have never spoken to him or transferred money to him in any way. The truth is I don't have much idea who he is or what his actions are. So how did I reach the state where I am sure in every fiber of my being and neshamah (soul) that this man, Rabbi Eliezer Berland, is indeed a tzaddik? (And I am using mild language... I think it would be appropriate to write here 'tzaddik of the generation').

Simply..., because I have known his community members closely for over a full year (which is now also my community), and I must note that I have never encountered such people in my life. What wisdom, what understanding, what love of Israel! I have no doubt that if all the rabbis here learned from Rabbi Eliezer Berland - then he m-u-s-t be the tzaddik of the generation! Please do me a favor and just listen to one lesson of Rabbi Ofer Erez and tell me if it seems logical to you that this person is not walking in the path of truth? One conversation with Rabbi Stern or with Rabbi Shalom Arush and you can already feel all the baseless love of these people. The sharp and acute internal logic that guides them. The care for others and the love and awe of Hashem in the most touching and beautiful way possible!

I have already been part of this community for over a year as I mentioned, and at first, I was v-e-r-y apprehensive and suspicious of everything. I was very afraid that God forbid it was indeed a cult. (I just want to laugh even when I write the word 'cult' because the stay here does not resemble anything of the sort - quite the opposite).

Here there is love, support, and help for one another, and serving Hashem in a devoted way from the melody of the neshamah... There is not a quarter of a sign of a cult here! I return home to my parents every week and have a wonderful relationship with my sister and my family, and the truth is so do the other people here!

You don't have to believe me, you are welcome to see for yourself.

And one last thing - a life tip (not just regarding the Rav) please understand that the media is an entity that often distorts things fundamentally. I am not just talking about Rav Berland - anything you see the media presents - please, I beg you, take everything with a grain of salt. Every program, every news flash, or interview, no matter with which celebrity or politician or whatever..., the media presents what it wants to present and not the truth. And I can testify that it does not present the truth regarding Rabbi Eliezer Berland or his community. Because there is no chance in the world that all the people I know (and I know many here) were educated and learned from a negative person God forbid. You see it in their eyes.

I wish you to always be closest to the point of truth and to walk in paths of pleasantness, peace, and love!

Avia