The Admor of Tolna and Rav Berland shlit"a at the Brit of Rabbi Stein in Bnei Brak, and a Chanukah Meeting with the Admor of Spinka shlit"a - Chanukah 5780

Yesterday, the second night of Chanukah 5780, our teacher, the esteemed Rav Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, arrived in Bnei Brak for the holy brit of R' Nachman Stein ni"u. Rav Berland shlit"a served as the sandak, and the esteemed Admor of Tolna shlit"a also attended the brit. Everyone who came to the holy brit of Rabbi Nachman Stein's son was privileged to feel the light of Chanukah, and the air was filled with kedushah (holiness). But who is Rabbi Stein, and how did he come to connect with our teacher, Rav Berland shlit"a?

After investigating the details behind Rabbi Stein's connection to our teacher, Rav Berland shlit"a, a story emerged that more than anything teaches about the ways of Hashem's providence.

Rabbi Nachman Stein, before he connected to Rav Berland shlit"a, was a chassid of Belz. After hearing about the Torah gatherings and spiritual awakening in Ashdod, where he resides, he decided he must come and hear the words of Torah from Rav Berland shlit"a.

The connection was swift, as he testified, he immediately connected to the words of Torah imbued with kedushah (holiness) and fear of Heaven that came from the holy mouth of Rav Berland shlit"a. But it wasn't just this that led him to become a Breslov chassid of Shuvu Banim. After participating in Rav Berland's Torah gatherings, he naturally received an urgent call from those opposing Rav Berland.

'Hello, is Rabbi Stein speaking?' they asked with brazen audacity.

'Yes, who do I have the honor of speaking with?'

'This is so-and-so (name withheld) who wants to understand why you attended Rav Berland's Torah lesson?'

'Because I wanted to strengthen myself spiritually, which indeed happened, and what business is it of yours?'

Due to the sanctity of the content we publish on this site, we will not detail the continuation of the conversation, but it is important to note that Rabbi Nachman Stein, as a man of truth seeking pure fear of God, did not pay attention to the nonsense of that detractor, and in fact, only drew closer and closer to Breslov chassidut and our teacher, Rav Berland shlit"a.

Now, at the holy and joyous occasion of the brit milah, he was privileged that our teacher, Rav Berland shlit"a, served as the sandak at his son's brit, with the esteemed Admor of Tolna shlit"a honoring the event with his presence.

[caption id="attachment_33437" align="alignnone" width="482"] Rav Berland at the brit of Rabbi Nachman Stein with the Admor of Tolna shlit"a[/caption]

After the conclusion of the brit milah celebration, our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a continued to an emotional meeting in Bnei Brak, at the holy residence of the Admor of Spinka shlit"a. The two holy luminaries, together with the students, rejoiced and danced for a long time, until finally Rav Berland began with words of Torah.

Photography: Yanki Zucker from the holy city of Ashdod

Editing: Shuvu Banim International

[caption id="attachment_33436" align="alignnone" width="482"] Rav Berland shlit"a with the Admor of Spinka[/caption]