Story: They Opened the Holy Book Toldos Yaakov Yosef and It Was Written There Exactly What They Had Discussed / An Amazing Story

A Wondrous Story: The Amazing Answer Received in the Book 'Toldos Yaakov Yosef'

This wonderful story took place a few years ago, when Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a returned to his home. This was after a long period of difficult years of exile, wandering through several countries, persecutions, and imprisonments, may Hashem protect us. Upon the Rav's return, the prayers with him were renewed with tremendous vitality and holy enthusiasm. Masses of Jews began arriving every day in the early morning hours, as well as for Minchah and Maariv, in order to merit taking shelter in the shadow of the tzaddik.

The Dilemma and the Fear of Bitul Torah (Neglecting Torah Study)

In those days, a certain young man from the holy communities in the Holy Land heard about the great awakening surrounding the tzaddik. He turned to his friend and shared his strong desire to travel and pray with the Rav shlit"a in the early morning watch. However, his friend had reservations about the idea and tried to dissuade him from doing so.

The friend argued that such a trip could lead to bitul Torah (neglecting Torah study), and suggested that he stay and learn as usual. The two discussed the issue and could not reach a clear decision on whether it was right to travel to the tzaddik or if it was better to remain in the study hall of the yeshiva. Finally, they decided to take action and seek advice from Heaven. They agreed to open a holy book, and whatever was written there—that would be the answer for them.

The Heavenly Answer from the Holy Book

The young men approached the bookcase and pulled out the holy book "Toldos Yaakov Yosef." They opened the book at random, and were amazed by what was revealed before their eyes. The first lines they read described exactly the argument that had taken place between them just moments earlier.

The book explicitly described a situation where "one wants to go to the tzaddik, and the evil inclination incites him not to go because it is bitul Torah." The Divine Providence was revealed and tangible. Through the holy words of the book, they received a clear and wondrous answer from Heaven.

The doubts dissipated at once, and the young man immediately understood that the desire to travel to the tzaddik was the absolute truth. The precise answer proved to them that drawing close to the tzaddik is not bitul Torah at all, but on the contrary—it is the correct path to elevate oneself in the service of Hashem, while the arguments against it were merely the counsel of the evil inclination.

An Amazing Story: Rabbi Berland's First Words After a Difficult Surgery

There is no end to the immense and boundless passion of the tzaddik of the generation for the holy Torah. Everything we could tell and describe would not even capture a fraction of the passion, the desire, and the burning fire in the heart of the tzaddik of our generation for the words of the holy Torah. As has already been told many times, the love for Torah of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a is beyond all human comprehension.

A Difficult Surgery and General Anesthesia

A few years ago, Morinu HaRav shlit"a underwent a difficult and complex surgery that required general anesthesia. There is no need to explain the state a regular person is in after surgery, especially such a difficult and complicated one.

Usually, it takes a person a long time to recover in the recovery room. The patient is in a state of immense weakness, often unable to move or think clearly, and his entire body aches and hurts from the medical procedure he underwent.

The Breathtaking Awakening in the Recovery Room

However, with the tzaddik of the generation, the laws of nature operate differently. After the doctors finished the surgery, the Rav shlit"a began to wake up from the anesthesia. Immediately upon opening his eyes, even before he had fully recovered, the amazing words came out of his mouth: "Where is the book Shaarei Yosher?"

The holy fire burning in the pure heart of the tzaddik of the generation nullifies everything. In a single moment of awakening, all the limitations of nature dissolve and vanish as if they never existed. The first and only thought that filled the Rav's mind immediately upon regaining consciousness was the immediate connection to the study of the holy Torah.

An Amazing Story: Rabbi Berland's First Request After the Surgery

A certain Jew who was close to Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a related an amazing fact that testifies to the Rav's immense mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) for the holy Torah. It is known that the Rav shlit"a has undergone many sufferings and medical treatments, yet his mind is never distracted from Torah study, even in the most difficult moments.

The Surprising Request in the Recovery Room

That person described an event that occurred recently, immediately after the Rav shlit"a underwent surgery. Usually, a person waking up from a complex medical procedure needs a lot of rest, suffers from pain, and asks for time to recover. But with the true tzaddik, reality is completely spiritual, and the body is nullified before the soul.

As soon as he recovered slightly from the surgery, the very first thing he did was ask for one single thing. The Rav shlit"a turned to those surrounding him and immediately asked them to bring him the sefer "Ketzos HaChoshen".

Absolute Immersion in the Holy Torah

The moment the sefer was placed in the hands of the Rav shlit"a, a true wonder occurred. Despite his physical weakness and the aftereffects of the surgery he had just undergone, the Rav did not waste even a single moment on physical rest.

Immediately, he immersed himself in deep study of the holy Torah, as if he had not undergone any medical procedure just moments before. Those around him stood in awe at the uplifting sight, where it was evident how the Torah is the true elixir of life for the tzaddik.

This story illustrates to us once again the magnitude of the holiness and immense immersion of the Rav shlit"a, whose entire vitality and existence are solely in the Torah of Hashem, in every situation, at all times, and without any interruption.

From Issue 81 — Parashas Tzav

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