Sukkah of Peace: Masses in Holy Flame in the Sukkah of the Holy Rabbi Eliezer

The festival of Simchat Torah was experienced by the followers of the Gaon and Tzaddik with a great sense of spiritual elevation. After the Rav shlit"a arrived at the Western Wall on the night of the festival with thousands of his followers to conduct the Hakafot, the Rav continued his holy journeys even in the heart of the day. The Rav set out on a massive circuit of Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of Hashem's name) through the streets of Jerusalem, followed by a long, dense stream of celebrants. For two whole hours, the multitudes marched with Rav Berland shlit"a and the Torah scrolls in their hands.

The sight was inconceivable: thousands of Chassidim and men of action sanctifying the name of Heaven as they walked with the holy scrolls along the city streets.

And then came the conclusion of the festival, and with it the highlight: multitudes gathered together at the giant Sukkah of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a on HaChoma HaShlishit Street. Everyone waited in anticipation for the emergence of the Tzaddik, the foundation of the world, while in the background the orchestra played with an inspiring holy flame, sweeping the masses along with it.

The joy of the Torah continued until the light of morning on the night of the second Hakafot at the conclusion of the festival. The Sukkah of the Rav shlit"a was packed to capacity, yet due to the bonding of hearts, the crowding was not felt. Rav Berland shlit"a danced on the platform while the multitudes danced before him together with the Torah scrolls.

Photo gallery from the second Hakafot with the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a

Photos courtesy of Aharon Solomonovitch