The Bar Mitzvah Celebration for the First Great-Grandson of the Rubinstein Family ○ A Fiery, Flame-Like Torah Talk from The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, at the Bar Mitzvah

Last night, the night of Tuesday, 3 Teves, the Bar Mitzvah celebration took place for the great-grandson of The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a—the young man Naftali Hertz, son of his grandson R’ Nachman, son of the distinguished son-in-law of the Nasi’s household, the chassid R’ Natan Rubinstein shlit"a, son-in-law of the chassid R’ Avraham Boruch Goldberg shlit"a, and great-grandson of the mashpia, the chassid R’ Yehoshua Dov Rubinstein shlit"a.

The Bar Mitzvah celebration was held in the halls of the old Beis Yaakov, with the participation of hundreds of Anshei Shlomeinu who came to take part in the joy of a house of Tzaddikim—this great celebration marking the Bar Mitzvah of the first great-grandson of the Rubinstein family.

The great-grandfather, The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, arrived to participate in his grandson’s simchah close to Chatzos at the old Beis Yaakov halls. At 12:10, The Rav shlit"a entered the Bar Mitzvah celebration to the singing of “Or Zarua LaTzaddik.” Immediately upon sitting in his place, he began delivering a fiery, flame-like Torah talk about Motzaei Zos Chanukah. He spoke about how Chanah—already seven hundred years before Chanukah—saw the miracles that would take place on Chanukah and Purim, as she said: “The bow of the mighty is broken, and the stumbling are girded with strength,” and also: “Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread”—referring to the seventy sons of Haman. He said that Zos Chanukah is a preparation for Purim. After that, he spoke about the greatness of the day of a Bar Mitzvah: that at every Bar Mitzvah, the soul of the Tzaddik becomes “impregnated” within the boy, and if he uses this gift properly, he can merit to become a true Tzaddik. After twenty-five minutes of the talk, The Rav shlit"a began singing “U’re’eh vanim l’vanecha…” for five minutes. After that, he delivered another talk of about eight minutes from the Zohar about the Bar Mitzvah feast of Rabbi Elazar the son of Rabbi Shimon—where everyone was surrounded by wings of fire. As is his holy way, The Rav shlit"a asked the Bar Mitzvah boy if he wants to be a Tzaddik, and the Bar Mitzvah boy roared with joy: “Yes! I want to be a Tzaddik and a scholar!” After that, The Rav shlit"a continued speaking about the greatness of the Bar Mitzvah and what a person can seize and accomplish on this day.

After the talk concluded, The Rav shlit"a again began singing “U’re’eh vanim l’vanecha” for several more minutes, and he blessed his great-grandson that he should merit to grow in Torah and yiras Shamayim, and to bring abundant nachas to all his parents.

After forty-five minutes of participating in the Bar Mitzvah gathering, The Rav shlit"a returned home, with a royal convoy escorting his vehicle all the way to his holy residence.

May it be Hashem’s will that our master, the gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, merit abundant nachas, with health of body and radiant light—Amen, may it be so!

Below is a photo gallery from the Bar Mitzvah celebration: