The Jews Had Light, Gladness, Joy

As in every year, it is known throughout Greater Jerusalem that the truest and highest quality joy—to merit ascending to the Fiftieth Gate during the wine feast—is found in the courtyard of the King's house: in the plaza of the 'Shuvu Banim' synagogue, beneath the holy residence of the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days).

As every year, this year too—on the day of Shushan Purim HaMeshulash (the triple Purim)—the gabbaim (synagogue administrators) of the 'Shuvu Banim' synagogue organized a special orchestra. It featured the musician without whom the Purim joy is incomplete, R' Shimon Marian, may Hashem protect him, along with other instrumentalists. They accompanied the long hours with endless joy that made all the Jews who gathered to celebrate the Purim joy with Mordechai the Tzaddik jump and dance.

At 4:00 PM, the wine feast began. After the Mincha (afternoon) prayer, the orchestra started playing. As the hours passed, the dancing only intensified. Our followers from across the city arrived—some "perfumed" (intoxicated) according to the law "without compulsion," but most, according to the instruction of the Tzaddik, "perfumed" by being students of the Tzaddik and from the abundance of "Hungarian wine" (a metaphor for spiritual light and teachings) that flows to them throughout the year. This erupts during the holy days of Purim, reaching its peak in the exalted and sublime dances that burned with a holy fire reaching the heart of heaven. Even the saddest person caught in the storm of dancing could not remain indifferent to the immense joy that transcended everything. Elders with youths, Chassidic yeshiva students with Litvaks, Rabbis and lecturers alongside supervisors, influential members of our community alongside the simple and sincere—all hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, like one man with one heart, rejoicing and dancing over the miracles that occurred "in those days and at this time." They cried out in joy: "To make known that all who take refuge in You shall never be shamed!"

It is worth noting that one of the peak moments was when the musician R' Shimon Marian began to sing soulful songs, culminating in 'Acheinu Kol Beit Yisrael' (Our brothers, the entire House of Israel), in prayer for the release of all the captives. The entire community opened a wide circle; the intensity is beyond description or estimation. As our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, announced in the morning: through dancing, one can achieve all salvations for all matters, both for the individual and for the collective of the Jewish people!

After more than six consecutive hours of stormy, non-stop Purim dancing, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, wrapped in his blue-fringed tallit (prayer shawl) and holy garments, came out to the balcony of his home for the Maariv (evening) prayer at the conclusion of the holy day, at 10:20 PM on the night following Shushan Purim HaMeshulash. There were nearly thirty minutes of dancing to "Light is sown for the Tzaddik, and for the upright of heart, joy," followed by the Maariv prayer and a lecture of awesome majesty. At the conclusion, as all the days of Purim were sealed, they were renewed with songs of Uman for about twenty minutes with great joy and vitality until close to Chatzos (midnight) at 11:45 PM. At that time, the prayer concluded, and essentially, three full days overflowing with the abundance of "Hungarian wine"—flowing from the "Nahal Novea Mekor Chokhma" (the flowing stream, the source of wisdom)—came to an end. Purim HaMeshulash 5785!