Testimony from the Steipler zt"l about Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a "A

Before you is a rare testimony from the mouth of the righteous Mekubal and Gaon, Rabbi David Chaim Stern shlit"a, regarding what he heard from the author of the Kehillot Yaakov, the Steipler zt"l, nearly fifty years ago about the holy Gaon, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a.

"People came to me regarding this Gaon, righteous and holy man, R' Leizer ben Atia Berland shlit"a. I have known this tzaddik for over 50 years; we have spoken, we spoke a great deal and conversed. He was the chavruta of the brother-in-law of the Chazon Ish, the Steipler, for many years, and he was a young avreich at the time. I asked the Steipler about him—what he said—as I wanted to know. He told me, "Know that he is an expert in the entire Torah; he is a righteous and holy man!" And this is his testimony from the mouth of the Gadol HaDor, and it is clear as the sun that the Steipler possessed true Ruach HaKodesh; there is no one who disputes this. I knew him (R' Leizer); we had many connections and many matters—a Jew elevated above the nation, there is no other Jew like him, who was entirely kindness and mercy. Whenever he had money, he would distribute it all to tzedakah. A Jew who distributes so much tzedakah and kindness, it is clear to us that Hashem rests His Shechinah upon such a person. 'He who has mercy on the creations, they have mercy on him from Heaven,' and consequently, Hashem rests His Shechinah upon him, and Hashem will guide him as Hashem understands, and it is clear to us all that we wait and yearn for Hashem to perform miracles and wonders. Others do not know R' Leizer as I knew him, and they did not ask the Steipler what I asked about him. He was a young avreich, and the Steipler, the Gadol HaDor, was older than him, and he was his chavruta, studying for hours every day! It interested me what he said about him; 'He is holy and pure'—that is all!"

Listen and watch the astonishing testimony: