A harsh and terrible tragedy has fallen upon us. Many things are written with the “wisdom after the fact,” linking earlier prophecies and the words of Tzaddikim to the causes of the disaster. We are not coming to hand out “grades,” except insofar as these matters bring a person to Emunah, trust, and good resolutions. Fortunate are Israel, who lift their eyes upward and place their confidence in the Creator of the world and in His holy emissaries.

We present to you shocking words spoken by the Kabbalist, the holy gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Shlomo Almaliach shlit"a, author of the commentary on the Etz Chaim of the holy Arizal, and also by the great public teacher, the holy gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Shalom Arush shlit"a, head of the Chut Shel Chessed institutions. These shocking words were said two weeks before Rosh Hashanah 5784, at the beginning of September (secular calendar).

In his words, Rabbi Almaliach shlit"a warns that the “hunt” being waged by those pursuing the holy gaon and Tzaddik, The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, and the terrible efforts exerted with the Ukrainian authorities to prevent Rabbi Berland from entering Uman—would prevent the nullification of a terrible disaster that had been decreed upon the Jewish people. Rabbi Almaliach explains that Rabbi Berland’s arrival at the holy prayer gathering in Uman for Rosh Hashanah 5784 is of an importance beyond words. For, as is known to those who understand the inner wisdom and to anyone even somewhat familiar with Rabbi Berland shlit"a’s spiritual work and role, The Rav is Rebbe Nachman’s outstanding disciple in this generation—and his coming to Uman would have been in the aspect of a “Yichud (union) of sun and moon,” the union of Rav and disciple.

This union was necessary in order to accomplish lofty spiritual actions—thereby sweetening harsh judgments and bringing the Geulah through a process of kindness, not through decrees. Everyone saw the suffering and persecutions that Rabbi Berland took upon himself throughout the last decade; all of it was so that the Geulah would come with mercy “and not under the sign of Scorpio, with rivers of blood,” in the words of The Rav, Rabbi Berland. But very evil spiritual forces, which Rabbi Almaliach calls “Satan,” became impregnated (entered) into their agents, and they truly went into a frenzy of extreme actions—as if Rabbi Berland reaching Uman would be the most terrible thing. And indeed, the Sitra Achra knew that the most terrible thing for it would be the arrival of the great disciple (Rabbi Berland shlit"a) to Uman, and the union with our holy Rebbe, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zy"a.

To our great sorrow, the agents of evil succeeded in thwarting all of Rabbi Berland’s attempts to enter Uman for Rosh Hashanah 5784. The Tzaddikim and those who know the inner wisdom were shaken and frightened; everyone understood that Rabbi Berland’s entry into Uman at a time of such spiritual warfare is fate-determining. Thousands of those who hear Rabbi Berland shlit"a’s teachings—Breslov Chassidim as a whole, and Tzaddikim from Eretz Yisrael and around the world—tried to sweeten the decree by saying Tehillim and crying out to Heaven. To our sorrow, the emissaries did indeed go out, and a harsh decree unlike any other descended upon us.

We bring the difficult words of the Kabbalist Rabbi Shlomo Almaliach shlit"a, who in his remarks also mentions the outcry of Rabbi Shalom Arush shlit"a:

What I am saying now (two weeks before Rosh Hashanah 5784), Rabbi Shalom Arush shlit"a also said earlier in a class on the Stories (of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov) at the Chut Shel Chessed yeshivah.

Rabbi Arush said that if The Rav, the holy gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, does not enter Uman (in Ukraine) this year (5784)—G-d forbid, woe to what will happen here in Eretz Yisrael: there will be a very difficult war here, with much blood, chas v’shalom (he said then “chas v’shalom”; to our aching hearts, the decree was fulfilled).

There is no need to frighten (he said then; today the fear has reached the hearts of all Israel). Understand: this Yichud (this spiritual union) of The Rav (Berland) with Rebbe Nachman—this is a Yichud of sun (The Rav, Ze’ir Anpin) and moon (the disciple, Malchus). It is a Yichud of groom and bride.

Today, in Breslov Chassidus, you do not have anyone of true stature—someone with Ruach HaKodesh, with Torah, with mitzvos and deeds, with bringing the distant close and extending Rebbe Nachman’s path in the world—like our teacher and Rav, the holy gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Berland shlit"a.

If, G-d forbid, Rabbi Berland does not reach Uman this year (which ultimately happened), then they are preventing the Yichud of groom and bride.

Rabbi Almaliach asks: All those who speak—against whom are they speaking? Meaning: understand Who (what evil force) is clothing itself within them! From whose power are they speaking?

They are not speaking from their own power; they are speaking from a satanic power—from the power of Satan!! From that satanic power that does not want there to be a Yichud of sun and moon—and that power knows that the moment Rabbi Berland reaches the tziyun of Rebbe Nachman, there will be a Yichud of sun and moon—so that is its end (Satan’s end).