Reign Over All the World ◇ Exclusive Documentation and Extensive Coverage

The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days) stayed during the days of Rosh Hashanah in the city of Krakow, Poland, after trying until the very last moment to enter the country of Ukraine to reach the distinguished Tziyun (gravesite) for the holy Kibbutz (gathering) of Rosh Hashanah 5786 in the city of Uman.

During the days of Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a stayed at the "Ohel Avraham" Hachnasas Orchim (hospitality center), under the management of the wonderful man of kindness R' Avraham Zoldan, may Hashem protect him, in greater Krakow. Before you is exclusive documentation and extensive coverage of the holy days in his pure presence:

On Monday, the 15th of Elul, our teacher the Rav shlit"a left his holy residence, setting out to merit reaching the holy Kibbutz (gathering) of Rosh Hashanah 5786 in the city of Uman, Ukraine. Throughout these two weeks, many efforts and actions were taken to remove the obstacles preventing our teacher the Rav shlit"a from reaching the holy Kibbutz in the "City of Longing" (Uman). Even on the eve of Rosh Hashanah in the late morning hours, despite the private plane waiting on the runway at the Krakow airport to return him to the Holy Land, our teacher the Rav shlit"a did not give up and asked his attendants to return to the border to try again until the very last moment.

Close to 1:30 PM on Erev Rosh Hashanah (the eve of the New Year), the distressing announcement was made that all attempts had failed and our teacher the Rav shlit"a did not succeed in entering, not even this year. Six consecutive years. Six years where, despite everything, by a sealed and closed Heavenly decree—which we are far from understanding the celestial reasons for—the gates of Uman remained closed for our teacher the Rav shlit"a. The Tzaddik (righteous leader) of the generation, who was the one to open these gates over fifty years ago, remained like a Raya Mehemna (faithful shepherd) outside the Promised Land.

On the way back to Krakow from the Ukraine-Poland border, the clock already showed 3:30 PM. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a, whose primary desire was to return to the Holy Land to conduct the Kibbutz in Jerusalem at his holy residence, decided it was too late to return. Out of concern for the desecration of the Day of Judgment (the sanctity of the holiday), our teacher the Rav shlit"a was forced to remain in Krakow.

One of the special places in Krakow is the "Ohel Avraham" Hachnasas Orchim (hospitality center). This hospitality center cares for hundreds and thousands of Jews passing through greater Krakow throughout the year. The manager of the hospitality center, R' Avraham Zoldan, may Hashem protect him, when he heard that our teacher the Rav shlit"a was in Krakow, rejoiced greatly at the merit of hosting our teacher the Rav shlit"a in the hospitality center.

Until close to the start of the holiday, he prepared with great mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) all the holiday needs with great expansion and abundance. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a and his attendants numbered seven; R' Avraham and his two young sons completed the minyan (quorum of ten) exactly. A minyan of people who merited to be included together with our teacher the Rav shlit"a on Rosh Hashanah.

AND THROUGH IT YOUR KINGDOM SHALL BE EXALTED

Despite the immense difficulty and sorrow—both over not succeeding in reaching the Kibbutz this year as well, and over not being able to return to his residence in Jerusalem—our teacher the Rav shlit"a did not show even a flicker of sadness on his pure face, but only joy and "rejoicing with trembling," in the aspect of "for the joy of Hashem is your strength!"

All the prayers were held according to the Breslov Chassidic nusach (liturgical tradition) from time immemorial. For the prayers, our teacher the Rav shlit"a went to pray in the synagogue adjacent to the Tziyun (gravesite) of the Rema (Rabbi Moses Isserles). The final Mincha (afternoon prayer) of the year, with the last rays of the sun of the year 5785—"may the year and its curses end"—a few minutes after sunset, as the year of "May it be a year of Redemption and Geulah (Redemption)" entered, with the melody of Barchu, our teacher the Rav shlit"a approached the amud (prayer stand). At these very moments, "He passes His flock under His staff," the holy Rebbe Nachman passes all those who attend the holy Kibbutz, and above all, all those who yearned to arrive but were prevented, with their broken hearts and great humility—they pass first and merit to be written and sealed in the book of the True Tzaddik for a good and sweet year, for a long and good life and for peace!

After the prayer, our teacher the Rav shlit"a sat down for the holiday night seudah (festive meal) together with the minyan and R' Avraham, who like Moshe (Moses) in his time, stood over them and served them from the abundance of holiday delicacies—"eat delicacies and drink sweets." Throughout the entire meal, our teacher the Rav shlit"a only sang songs and delivered many lessons and was in immense joy. Each meal during the holiday lasted over four hours (!). During the meals, the Rav spoke extensively about how there is no doubt that in the merit of not being able to reach Uman this year as well, more people reach Uman, and this increases the yearnings and desires. The Rav further added that it is a mission for him to be in Krakow for Rosh Hashanah and one cannot understand the calculations of Heaven.

One of those present noted to us that one of the most moving moments was during the singing of "Avinu Malkeinu (Our Father Our King), open the gates of heaven to our prayer," where our teacher the Rav shlit"a shed tears like water with emotion and spiritual awakening.

AND HIS KINGDOM RULES OVER ALL

In the morning, our teacher the Rav shlit"a immersed in the mikvah (ritual bath) of the "Eden" hotel, located across from the "Rubinstein" hotel where the Rav shlit"a stayed during the days of Rosh Hashanah.

Close to 8:00 AM, he began the Shacharis (morning) prayer with melodies, joy, and vitality. At "HaMelech" (The King), our teacher the Rav shlit"a instructed his great-grandson and holy attendant, R' Naftali Zucker, to approach the amud for the Shacharis prayer. Throughout the entire prayer, the Rav stood by the amud, followed the entire prayer, and joined in the piyutim (liturgical poems) in the stirring nusach. After Shacharis and the Torah reading of "And Hashem remembered Sarah," our teacher the Rav shlit"a called up the attendants one after another, and he himself was honored with the fourth aliyah (Torah honor)—the aliyah of our holy Rebbe Nachman. Immediately after the Torah reading, our teacher the Rav shlit"a continued to the Shofar blowings. For the Musaf prayer, our teacher the Rav shlit"a had his grandson and attendant, R' Aaron Zucker, may Hashem protect him, lead the service. On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, the prayer ended close to 1:00 PM. After the prayer, the Rav sat for the holiday meal, and afterwards turned to engage in Torah study in his room until close to sunset. For the Mincha prayer of the first day and Maariv (evening prayer) for the second night of Rosh Hashanah, our teacher the Rav shlit"a himself approached the amud.

FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE WHO WENT THROUGH FIRE AND WATER FOR THE SANCTIFICATION OF YOUR NAME

As on the first day, so too on the second day of Rosh Hashanah—Dina Rafya (softened judgment)—the prayers proceeded in order with vitality and enthusiasm. It is worth noting that the Musaf prayer on the second day ended at the exact same time as on the first day. After the prayer, the Rav sat for the holiday meal. About an hour and a half before sunset, the Rav began the Mincha prayer for the second day of Rosh Hashanah. After the prayer, the Rav shlit"a left the synagogue and walked for about fifteen minutes to the "Pilsudski" Bridge that crosses over the Vistula River.

This bridge is known among the Jews of Poland who survived the inferno as the "Bridge of the Daughters of Krakow." The bridge serves as a silent, unforgettable witness to the supreme heroism of ninety-three Jewish girls who were led out of the infamous Krakow Ghetto. The girls, who feared that the Nazi beasts would abuse and desecrate the holy daughters of Israel, preferred to die for Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of G-d's name) by jumping into the rushing waters of the Vistula River.

There, at that point on the "Pilsudski" Bridge over the river, our teacher the Rav shlit"a chose to say the order of Tashlich (prayer by the water). Afterwards, the Rav shlit"a added a few words about that terrible event.

FOR YOU SHALL GO OUT WITH JOY

After the conclusion of the Tashlich ceremony, our teacher the Rav shlit"a returned for the Maariv prayer of the conclusion of Rosh Hashanah, and at the time of Rabbeinu Tam (a later halachic time for the end of the day), he performed Havdalah (ceremony marking the end of the holiday) over the cup. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a remained in the city of Krakow until the following morning, at which time he returned to the Holy Land and arrived at his holy residence close to 1:00 PM.

Exclusive documentation: Our teacher the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, during Havdalah at the conclusion of Rosh Hashanah together with the man of kindness R' Avraham Zoldan, may Hashem protect him, manager of the "Ohel Avraham" Hachnasas Orchim (hospitality center) in Krakow: