Story: The Spirit of Life that Pulsed in R' Yaakov Pinchas Gewirtz Upon Hearing the Rav's Name / A Wondrous Story

Two avreichim (young Torah scholars) who traveled to the United States merited to see how the name of Rabbi Berland shlit"a breathed youthful strength into a frail man, who rose from his bed with mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) to host them.

Story: The Spirit of Life that Pulsed in R' Yaakov Pinchas Gewirtz Upon Hearing the Rav's Name

About half a year ago, Hashem orchestrated events such that two avreichim from among the students of the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, needed to travel to the United States. Through Divine Providence, they merited to arrive and be hosted in the home of the tzaddik and chassid, Rabbi Yaakov Pinchas Gewirtz zt"l.

Frailty and a New Spirit of Life

At that time, Rabbi Yaakov Pinchas was already in a very frail state of health. He lay in his bed utterly exhausted, finding it difficult to function normally. The two avreichim gently entered his room, introduced themselves, and told him that they belonged to the community of the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a.

The moment the tzaddik's name was heard in the room was a wondrous moment. As soon as he heard the name of the Rav shlit"a, a new spirit of life suddenly entered him, and it was as if he became thirty years younger. The frailty vanished as if it had never been, and he was filled with renewed, inexplicable strength.

The Mesirus Nefesh (Self-Sacrifice) of Welcoming Guests

To the astonishment of the avreichim, Rabbi Yaakov Pinchas immediately got out of bed and strengthened himself with tremendous power in order to fulfill the mitzvah of hachnasas orchim (welcoming guests). Even though the rooms in his house were already full of other guests, he did not give up. He exerted himself personally, climbed the stairs of the house, and searched with devotion until he found an available room for them.

Anyone who was there could tangibly see the immense enthusiasm and pure joy that flooded him. The privilege of helping the tzaddik and his students burned within him, granting him physical and spiritual strength that overcame all frailty and illness. This story illustrates just how great the love for tzaddikim is, and how the mere mention of their names is capable of literally reviving souls.

A Wondrous Story: The Jew from the Remnants of the Previous Generation Who Merited to Host the Rav shlit"a

One of the close followers tells of a wondrous, majestic figure, a precious Jew who was truly from the remnants of the previous generation, one of the people of the "Heavenly Jerusalem." His external and internal appearance was exactly like that of the tzaddikim of old, full of majesty and supreme holiness.

Outpouring of the Soul and Shabbos Zemiros

All of this Jew's service of Hashem was done with immense dveikus (cleaving to God). His service to his Creator was performed with an outpouring of the soul and a special sweetness that is difficult to describe in words. So too were the holy Shabbos zemiros (songs) at his table, which were truly a taste of the World to Come, infusing an uplifting spiritual atmosphere upon all those present.

Complete Nullification Before the Rav shlit"a

Despite the spiritual greatness of this Jew, the most tremendous wonder was the absolute bitul (nullification) he had toward the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. It was a nullification of such an immense degree that it cannot be fathomed at all. "Throughout the entire Shabbos meal, he did not stop telling wondrous stories and speaking praises with immense awe and enthusiasm about the tzaddik," describe those who merited to recline at his table.

Memories from the United States

He drew all those stories and praises from what he merited to see with his own eyes. About fifty years ago, this Jew merited to host the Rav shlit"a in his home for a full half-year. This was when the Rav was staying in the United States with the goal of obtaining an entry visa to Russia, in order to merit entering the tziyun (holy gravesite) of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zy"a in the city of Uman.

That half-year in the presence of the Rav shlit"a left an indelible mark on that holy Jew. Even after fifty years had passed, the great light he absorbed from that period continued to illuminate his Shabbos table, and he never ceased to impart his immense awe of the tzaddik's greatness to everyone who merited to know him.

A Story of Testimony: The Enthusiasm in the Beis Midrash and Three Days Without Food

One Jew told of a moving event that occurred when he was honored with an aliyah to the Torah in the beis midrash (study hall). After the reading, as is customary, he asked to recite a "Mi Shebeirach" prayer for the congregants of the place, and he also asked to make a special blessing for the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a.

Enthusiasm from the Tzaddik's Name

When the name of the tzaddik was heard in the beis midrash, great excitement was felt in the place. One of the attendees, immediately upon hearing the name, declared with immense enthusiasm: "Morinu (Our Teacher) Rabbi Eliezer ben Rabbi Chaim!"

It should be noted that several wondrous stories told by the tzaddik and chassid Rabbi Y. P. about the wonders of the Rav shlit"a have already been published. These testimonies can be found in the booklets "Lechu Chazu Mifalos Elokim" (Go and See the Works of God), which are distributed in bookstores in the Mea Shearim area as well as in the courtyard of the beis midrash of the Rav shlit"a.

Three Days and Nights Without Food

Another wondrous testimony regarding the holy conduct of the Rav was given by the chassidic Rav, Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Rottenberg shlit"a. This testimony refers to the period when the Rav shlit"a stayed in the United States.

Rabbi Rottenberg, who merited to accompany the Rav frequently during those days, spoke of the Rav's immense mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) in serving Hashem and his asceticism from this world. He testified with his own eyes how the Rav shlit"a did not eat anything for three consecutive days and nights, being entirely immersed in holiness and the service of the Creator.

From Issue 82 — Parashas Vayakhel

From the series "Tzaddik Moshel Yiras Elokim" (A Tzaddik Rules Through the Fear of God) — "Shapir Amar Nachmani" publications