Tens of Thousands at the Central Hadlaka Led by the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a

As is known, restrictions were imposed again this year on the Hillula (anniversary of passing) at the holy site of Meron, and no official bonfires took place on the mountain besides three on the night of the Hillula. Therefore, the 'Ichud Chasidei Breslov - Shuvu Banim' organized the central Hadlaka (bonfire lighting) in the holy city of Jerusalem, with the participation of multitudes together with our teacher, the Rav shlit"a.

Upon the conclusion of the Maariv (evening) prayer and Sefiras HaOmer (Counting of the Omer), which were conducted with singing and melodies in the courtyard of our Beis Midrash, the thousands streamed to the Hadlaka plaza that had been prepared in advance along HaChoma HaShlishit Street. The orchestra, together with the choir of avreichim (Torah scholars), began with the stirring melodies of Meron during "Vihi Noam," prior to the raising of the flame in honor of the Godly Tanna (Mishnaic sage, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai). Simultaneously, the pouring of the oil took place by the numerous donors who merited to contribute a jug of oil and the well-known segulah (spiritual remedy) of Chai Rotel (a traditional measurement of drink distributed at Meron).

At 11:25 PM, hearts beat with excitement. Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, ascended the stage, his face shining like an angel of the Lord of Hosts. To the sounds of the melody "L'kavod HaTanna HaEloki Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai" (In honor of the Godly Tanna Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai), he poured oil onto the bonfire, grasped the fiery torch—and ignited the flame of the Rashbi, which spreads light into every Jewish heart.

As the fire ignited in the bonfire, it was like lava erupting from a volcano in an instant. The massive crowd, who arrived in their multitudes as they do every year for the central Hadlaka organized by 'Shuvu Banim', danced and leaped as one man with one heart together with our teacher, the Rav, singing "L'kavod HaTanna HaEloki Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai..." Ah! It is impossible to describe the awesome feelings during those sublime and elevated minutes!

During the stormy dancing, from the heights of his advanced age, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, performed a "bridge" (leaning backwards in a deep backbend) with tremendous enthusiasm, with self-sacrifice in honor of the joy of the Hillula of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai zy"a.

The tremendous crowd, seeing the tzaddik shlit"a rejoicing and leaping with all his might in honor of the joy of the Rashbi, did not remain indifferent. Again and again, like roaring waves in the sea, the thousands of people seemed to jump and leap, singing 'Toraso magen lanu, hi me'iras eineinu, hu yamlitz tov ba'adenu, adonenu Bar Yochai...' (His Torah shields us, it enlightens our eyes, he will advocate for our good, our master Bar Yochai)!! After about an hour of fiery dancing, the joy soared to the heavens.

After about an hour of dancing and great joy, close to 12:35 AM, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, recited Kaddish and announced that everyone should now travel to Meron, strengthening the crowd with the assurance that they would succeed in reaching the gravesite of the Rashbi without any obstacles. Afterwards, the Rav descended from the stage and returned to his holy home.

Even afterwards, the dancing continued with even greater vigor and strength. The clear feeling was written in the fire of the Hadlaka along 'HaChoma HaShlishit' Street, even though the dwelling place of the Rashbi is in the holy site of Meron. But as our teacher and Rebbe shlit"a quoted in his class after Maariv, "Everyone is dancing in Meron, but Rabbi Shimon is here!" The burning spirit of the Godly Tanna rested this year upon the central Hadlaka organized by 'Ichud Breslov Shuvu Banim', with the participation of thousands of the Jewish people, under the leadership of our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a.

Photos courtesy of the "Tzaddik HaDor" group - to join, call 054-737-1958:

With the help of Hashem, an extensive photo gallery from the Hillula event will be uploaded later.