The Israeli Government Led by Netanyahu Declared a Death Sentence on Rabbi

One of the great rabbis in the country, who requested not to have his name published, issues an unprecedented statement regarding the situation of the esteemed tzaddik, Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, and the manner in which the State of Israel is treating him.

"My brothers and friends, students of our Rebbe, Moharan, and students of Rav Berland, may Hashem keep you alive!"

"I received a phone call in which I was told that Rav Berland is being treated in a way that is against his will; he is in terrible distress. Let us assume for a moment that the details are not precise, but (I know for certain) that Rav Berland, at his advanced age (over 83) and with his multitude of illnesses—it is a heinous crime, the likes of which Satan never created, that they have taken this tzaddik to prison. Even much greater criminals who were allegedly caught for worse things are not treated this way (all the more so Rav Berland, who is a tzaddik caught for no fault of his own). They release people on a thousand and one different clauses."

"Although there has not yet been a trial, we are all silent and doing nothing. Awake, you who sleep from your slumber, and rouse yourselves, you who are dormant; we must go out into the streets in the thousands and tens of thousands, to cry out to Hashem day after day and disrupt the entire course of the government in the country through massive demonstrations until they release Rav Berland, for this is a matter of life and death."

"I say again, I do not know who is currently handling matters; I am not saying to do things that are against the law, but if other communities in the country have managed to do things, then we should not fear or be afraid of anyone."

"We must go out into the city square and disrupt life until they release Rav Berland—there is no crime more heinous than this; it is simply murder. The Israeli government led by Netanyahu has declared a death sentence on Rav Berland, because this Jew will not survive what is being done to him."

"The Israeli government has decreed a death sentence upon Rav Berland, but we will rise and cry out a scream that will be heard from one end of the world to the other. To save the persecuted from the hand of their pursuers is our duty."

"All those who persecute Rav Berland, their sin is greater than can be borne; their end will be to perish, they will descend to the lowest depths."

"May it be the will that we merit the Geulah (Redemption) with mercy, and our Rebbe, our head, our leader, and our guide toward our righteous Mashiach, Amen and Amen."