The Hillulah of Reuven son of Yaakov • A New Prayer from Rabbi Eliezer Berland

Today, the 14th of Kislev, is the day of the hillulah of Reuven son of Yaakov. Presented here is a prayer that Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a wrote last week especially for the day of his hillulah, 5784.

Master of the World, Almighty—before Whom no plan is impossible—on this holy and awe-inspiring day, which is the yahrtzeit of Reuven son of Yaakov, grant us the blessing that Reuven merited (Devarim 33:6): “May Reuven live and not die, and may his men be few in number.” And may we merit, like the tribe of Reuven—the firstborn of our father Yaakov—who saved Yosef from the pit. He fought with all the brothers with strength, might, and powerful resolve in order to save his brother who was innocent of wrongdoing, and he toiled and labored to set justice firmly in its proper place. And he already succeeded at the age of five to bring dudaim from the field, and not, Heaven forbid, to benefit from theft; and to be zealous for the sake of his mother—Leah; and to give over his life for the honor of father and mother, thereby fulfilling the halachah (Shemos 20:11): “Honor your father and your mother.” And in this merit he received the blessing: “May Reuven live and not die, and may his men be few in number.”

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