The esteemed Rabbi Michael Gol, head of the 'Mageney Eretz' Yeshiva and one of the veteran students of our teacher, the esteemed Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, in a special and strengthening talk to the members of the 'Hitchadshut' Torah monthly system. During his words, Rabbi Gol touches on the very important point in the life of every believing Jew, why we must thank Hashem for all the good He does for us, and why gratitude is a prerequisite for crying out and requesting from the depths of the heart.

Rabbi Gol strengthens the importance of spreading the point of the true tzaddik of the generation as a condition for redemption, while referring to the importance of spreading the 'Hitchadshut' monthly.

"We must make an effort that 'Hitchadshut' always comes out"

"You know the talk of the Rebbe, that every book that is destined to be written is needed? This is part of the matter of emunat chachamim, that we rejoice in every article that comes out, and everything that is written, of course, should be written with good taste. In 'Hitchadshut' there are special, unique things that we need and deserve, and we must make every effort for this booklet to come out. First of all, this booklet is more unique than most booklets because it deals with the subject of our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a, and this is a very important point."

"We believe with complete emunah that all the redemption, and all the salvation of the people of Israel, depends on the point of our teacher Rav Berland, it is simple to us. In every generation, there is this tzaddik in whom everything is concentrated, as Rabbi Natan says on Torah 228: that the tzaddik of the generation must undergo disgrace, because if he does not, it is impossible to draw close."

[caption id="attachment_45115" align="alignnone" width="482"] Our teacher, the esteemed Rabbi Berland, leaning over a pile of books[/caption]

"And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan" (Genesis 37:1), there are two Midrashim and our Rebbe connects the two Midrashim as one. Jacob sought to dwell in tranquility, the anger of Joseph sprang upon him. And another Midrash close to it: In the land of his father's sojournings, from his father's conversions, he engaged in converting converts. And the Rebbe connects the two Midrashim as one and says: When a person engages in converting converts - then controversy must arise against him, there is no other reality."

"Today, those who draw close to Rav Berland are only truth seekers"

"Our Rebbe brings the Gemara in Yevamot 24: Converts are not accepted in the days of Mashiach, just as converts were not accepted in the days of Solomon and David. The Rebbe also mentions the matter of David that when the people of Israel are at the height of the world (successful), it is not apparent that a person draws close because he seeks Hashem - today we see clearly that those who draw close to our teacher Rav Berland are only those who truly seek, those who truly burn for the truth and genuinely want to draw close to Hashem, otherwise they do not draw close."

"Today, being Shuvu Banim is not a great honor, and no prizes are given here, only disgrace is received, a person must have a true desire to seek truthfully. Rabbi Natan connects truth to emunah, until a person has truth he cannot reach emunah. Although emunah seems like something abstract, but, no, says Rabbi Natan, one who seeks truthfully even in the matter of emunat chachamim, if a person seeks with the eye of truth then surely he will reach the greatness of our teacher Rav Berland, he will reach emunat chachamim that all the rectification depends on Rav Berland - things are not simple, nothing is conducted simply."

We reach the importance of the tzaddik through closeness to his students

"There is a great advantage in 'Hitchadshut', because it speaks of our teacher Rav Berland and it is beautifully arranged. Today, a magnificent venue is also needed. People want to see beautiful colorful pages with illuminating pictures. The things are arranged, styled in good taste which is not always seen in other places. Many of the students of our teacher Rav Berland are mentioned in 'Hitchadshut' and this is very important."

[caption id="attachment_12313" align="alignnone" width="850"] Hitchadshut bulletin for the esteemed Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a - Tammuz 5778[/caption]

"We know the story that Rabbi Moshe Breslover used to come to talk to Rabbi Avraham Beraniv, they were good friends. Once, Rabbi Avraham Beraniv was not there, Rabbi Moshe wanted to return, but the father-in-law, Rabbi Abba, one of the students of our Rebbe, said to him: Why don't you talk to me? He answered: You are students of our Rebbe, like, where are we and where are you.., he answered him: You know from the Rebbe through Rabbi Natan more than we know from our Rebbe. Your closeness to Rabbi Natan has given you something we don't have."

"The tzaddik cannot illuminate himself in everything. Rabbi Natan says it's like Moses our teacher struggled with the making of the Menorah, and specifically Bezalel the student could make the Menorah, because the Menorah is the light of the tzaddik, it is the student himself. The tzaddik cannot stand and insert, and in general - here the tzaddik seeks disgrace for himself, someone needs to strengthen us, to explain - see these disgraces and know that it is a tzaddik upon whom all the worlds depend, specifically these disgraces.."

"Once someone spoke to me of the greatness of someone, I told him he is a great man for sure, but if this is the tzaddik the Rebbe speaks of, then where are his disgraces? Where are the disgraces? What, was the Rebbe's Torah for those generations? Rabbi Natan says that what the Rebbe speaks of the disgraces applies to every generation. He says: in the generation of the Ari HaKadosh they opposed him, and in the generation of the Baal Shem Tov most of those who opposed the Baal Shem Tov held from the Ari HaKadosh."

"We understand that holding from the tzaddikim of previous generations is not a proof at all, the proof is in this time, in this generation, in this second if I merit to hold - and this is the advantage of this booklet."

"Why do we need to say thank you to Hashem at all?"

"There are two points and they need to be combined. Rabbi Natan in Hilchot Kilay Behemah 4 says a great foundation, today there is already awareness to say thank you, say thank you and you will see salvations. Rabbi Natan does not disagree with this, but there is a great secret here related to Chanukah. We are now at the end of Chanukah and the light of the holiday continues, and Rabbi Natan explains a great foundation in gratitude."

[caption id="attachment_7545" align="alignnone" width="944"] Rabbi Michael Gol next to Rabbi Meir Shlomo[/caption]

"One point: Why is the Book of Psalms called that, after all, Psalms are praises to Hashem, and in fact, it should be called the Book of Cries and Shouts, not Psalms. The main part of the book is crying and shouting to Hashem, King David cries and shouts to Hashem in almost every psalm. Another wondrous point that Rabbi Natan refers to, I don't know if there is another book in the world that refers to it, but it can be said about hundreds and thousands of Rabbi Natan's articles, without Rabbi Natan's explanation the matter is not understood at all."

"Rabbi Natan raises the Gemara in Berachot page 7, the story of David fleeing from Absalom and the Gemara says: "A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son" (Psalms 3:1), it should have said a lament for David, what kind of psalm? When one's son pursues him, he says a lament, cries out woe, a lament? No! King David saw it as a great miracle, thanks and gratitude to Hashem that my son pursues me and not a servant pursuing his master, the son will have mercy on his father."

"Through the scriptures, it can be seen that Absalom had a small hesitation, only Ahithophel was behind this whole sinister plan, but apparently, it is difficult from several aspects. Every person prefers that troubles come from outside and not from within. The Sages themselves say, "A bad culture within a person's house is harder than the war of Gog and Magog" (Berachot 7b)."

"Regarding the war of Gog and Magog, David says in Psalms in the previous chapter: "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain" (Psalms 2:1), and in this chapter he says: "Many are my foes, many rise up against me", we see that it is harder. So why did he suddenly find a place to give thanks to the Master of the Universe? It's nice that it's the son and not a servant, thank you, Master of the Universe. There is a Midrash in Shokhen Tov on this parsha, parsha 3."

[caption id="attachment_47725" align="alignnone" width="482"] Book of Psalms - "Why do the nations rage"[/caption]

"It says there that King David gave thanks, he said: Master of the Universe, although I am pursued, the heroes are still around me, I am not alone even Joab son of Zeruiah, the Sages learn later, that he hesitated in Absalom's rebellion whether to join Absalom. It is written: "For Joab turned after Adonijah, but not after Absalom", the Sages say, and Rashi brings this: "He wanted to turn, but did not turn". He said, still the spark of David exists. That means there was a great danger here, we understand that if Joab had turned it would have looked very different, Hashem what it could have been."

"When Jacob our forefather sends the herds, it is written that he sends herd by herd alone, seemingly what is the idea?"

"I once did someone a favor and waited for a thank you, I didn't understand, 3 days passed and the person didn't respond at all. I said to myself that when I meet him I will apologize that it was just a small help and he will understand the hint. After 3 days he sent me a long letter of thanks with rhymes."

"The Sages say that Jacob our forefather asked, not all at once, after a period another trouble will come, like passing through exiles where there was a period between exile and exile. Here too the question arises why not finish everything together and not let it drag on for thousands of years from exile to exile?"

"Rabbi Natan says: Beyond the fact that we must give thanks to Hashem literally for all the kindnesses, but I cannot cry out if I do not say thank you first. Our Rebbe says in Torah 195: "In distress, You have enlarged me", when a person is in distress he must see the expansion that Hashem has expanded for him, then he can cry out, if not what will he cry out for? If I do not see how many miracles Hashem has done with me then what am I going to cry out about?"

He says: maybe no one hears me at all, but if he says, I have already gone through such a distress and cried out and was saved and saw how many kindnesses Hashem does with me - now he goes and receives more strength to cry out. Rabbi Natan connects everything as one."

"Rabbi Natan says that if we were to go through exile after exile, it is like giving a person blow after blow, he is already so broken and bent that he has no ability to give thanks to Hashem, but suddenly they give you expansion. We can, God forbid, despair from prayer, in order not to despair we must precede with thanks. Therefore Jacob our forefather asked for relief between distress and distress."

"Even the people of Israel needed a pause in troubles before the continuation of the exiles"

"And this is the secret of the Hasmonean war against the Greeks, this is a small relief within a sea of troubles. From the Babylonian exile, we went to the Median exile which includes Persia and from there to the Greek exile, from the Greek exile to Rome, when did we have a period of salvation? During the Hasmonean times! The days of Chanukah are days of gratitude, we had a period of 103 years, we had time to give thanks to Hashem, time to lift our heads, and this gives me strength afterwards to cry out to Hashem."

"And this is what King David says: "I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold" (Psalms 69:3), David does like Jacob, because he too sees the future exiles to come and asks Hashem for time. Give the people of Israel a period of salvation that we will take for generations. This is Chanukah where we see that Hashem saved me and thus we can afterwards cry out."

"Rabbi Natan says this is the secret of the Book of Psalms which is composed of cries, but one must start first with gratitude, otherwise how will I cry out? Rabbi Natan says that the psalm is divided into two, "Hashem, how many are my foes, many rise up against me" (Psalms 3:2), what difficult life I have, but thank Hashem. What kind of thanks is this?"

"David called it a psalm, but in essence, it is a lament, therefore Rabbi Natan says that this psalm is divided into two, on one hand, in distress, You have enlarged me, David seeks the salvations - the main thing is our booklet from 'Hitchadshut' which is composed of thanks and cries. Thanks to Hashem for the wonderful revelation every article..."

"I do not give up on reading 'Hitchadshut'"

"I stand on the booklet and see that there is not a single article here that can be skipped, and don't be mistaken, I read the entire booklet. I have not yet read the latest edition, because..., but I do not give up."

"Mishael and Nachman stayed at my house, and I showed them in the small bookshelf of the 15 books that I regularly study the 'Hitchadshut' booklet. Now that the new one has come out, it is replaced and the old one goes up, I said I want to always have 'Hitchadshut' - to renew. First, we must praise Hashem, a psalm of thanks that we have such a wonderful, interesting, fascinating booklet."

"The main point is the talks about our teacher Rav Berland, but today bulletins come out with jokes, and we understand that today we need something that will catch the eye, and 'Hitchadshut' is intended for the outside, but also intended for us. Certainly, outside we must illuminate the light of our teacher Rav Berland, today there is such darkness and concealment."

"This does not exempt us from saying that the Rav invited disgrace upon himself, our teacher Rav Berland invites darkness to the world, because this is the test of the generation, because it is impossible to draw close today without it, but if we, the students, do not mobilize senses and do something then many souls are lost. We do not know what draws close, one word, one speech - just a picture of our teacher Rav Berland."

"I can tell about a lawyer who sat at my house and told me that he heard bad things about our teacher Rav Berland, he looked at the faulty device and saw hatred that described evil that hadn't been since the days of Hitler, may his name be erased, such a danger to humanity. He wanted to see what this danger was, he saw our teacher Rav Berland and said to himself, this doesn't fit, there is a special light on this person's face, it can't be what they say about him."

"So he decided to check and opened the Shuvu Banim Int' website, two names popped up, Rabbi Ofer Erez and myself. He was completely enthusiastic about Rabbi Ofer and listened to him regularly and a little to me. He told me that after he heard us he said to himself that the character they painted of Rav Berland does not fit the stories, the students do not fit the stories - he returned in teshuvah."

"Do not say it is about a Lithuanian who became a Breslover - a completely secular person who does not know his right from his left returned in teshuvah. I cannot detail the things, modesty is beautiful for them, but it is unbelievable, it is not about one or two. Of course, this booklet needs and it is important that there be at least national if not global distribution - there needs to be a large distribution."

"Here we come to the second part, Rabbi Natan says that we start with thanks so that we can cry out, after all, we started with thanks for this booklet and we are crying out - friends wake up everyone must take it upon themselves."

"Yesterday I was at Nitzotzot, they invited me, I came, because I highly respect Rabbi Stern, the Nitzotzot booklet is excellent and does wonderful and important things, but 'Hitchadshut' is no less important - and for us, the students of Rav Berland, it should be more important, each according to his matter."

"Nitzotzot is excellent and deals with the greats of Breslov, wonderful articles, words of Torah from the important members of Anash without exception, but in 'Hitchadshut' there is a uniqueness that is not in any booklet in the world - and for us the demand on this booklet."

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