The Journey to Uman: A Story of Mesirus Nefesh on the Way to the Tziyon with Rabbi Berland and Rabbi Shechter

A moving testimony from the historic journey to Uman in the year 5748 (1988). The tense moments at the Russian border, the dancing with mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice), and the emotional arrival at the tziyon (gravesite) of Rebbe Nachman with Rabbi Berland and Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter.

A trembling and unique testimony was recorded from the Chassid, Rabbi Betzalel Friedman shlit"a, who recounted the historic and turbulent journey to the tziyon of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov in Uman on the eve of Rosh Chodesh Nissan 5748.

In those years, sparks of hope were only just beginning to emerge that the residents of the Land of Israel would also be able to fulfill their life's aspiration and ascend to the holy tziyon. This was due to the energetic activities of important askanim (community activists), under the personal and close guidance of The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. Together, with Siyata Dishmaya (Heavenly assistance), the efforts were crowned with success and the journey set out on its way.

"The Rav commanded not to despair!"

When we arrived in Romania, on the way out of the airport, we were stopped by the Russian consulate in Bucharest, where we were supposed to receive the visas. The one responsible for the trip, Rabbi Yitzchak Weitzhandler, whose care and dedication to every individual was noteworthy, went down with all the passports to request the approvals.

After sitting tensely on the bus for over an hour, with everyone multiplying their supplications that no harm would befall us, Rabbi Yitzchak emerged with a pale face. He announced that due to technical reasons, the visas were not yet approved, and hinted that one of the members of the group would certainly not be approved for entry. In those tense moments, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a commanded everyone not to despair! He instructed us to get in touch with the dedicated askanim in the Land of Israel, and promised that with Hashem's help, matters would work out.

Indeed, Rabbi Yitzchak's efforts bore fruit. At three o'clock in the afternoon, we received a message to go immediately to the consulate because all the visas were ready. It is impossible to describe the joy that erupted in those moments. We grabbed the passports and hurried back to the synagogue. There we met everyone, and we placed the passports in the center of the table, at the head of which sat the tzaddik Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter shlit"a and Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, engrossed in a deep conversation regarding the teachings of Rebbe Nachman.

Dancing in the Heart of the Russian Interrogations

A freezing and snowy Russia welcomed us, filled with an atmosphere saturated with tension and fear. The Russian interrogators began with strict interrogations and inspections, brought us into a large and intimidating room, and closed the door on us. However, Rabbi Berland shlit"a, who was already an expert in these situations, stood adorned in his tallis and tefillin and began to dance with enthusiasm.

"You have brought us this far, bring us to Uman! Oh, that I had wings like a dove, I would fly to his holy tziyon in Uman..." The Rav sang with dveykus (deep spiritual attachment). The words of the song did not let us forget for a single moment where we were going and what our goal was. For some reason, the interrogators picked specifically on Rabbi Berland and another passenger named Rabbi Leibel, and detained them with various claims.

The reality was decisive and difficult: The train entered Russia while The Rav and Rabbi Leibel remained behind, after the Russians ordered them not to continue the journey. Depression enveloped us, and a spirit of sadness penetrated into the wonderful joy that had accompanied us. The train continued on its way, while Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter and Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Kenig constantly aroused the public not to stop hoping for their imminent salvation.

"The Entire Earth Before Him is Like a Garlic Peel"

The miracle was not late in coming. On Wednesday morning, as we went down for the Shacharis (morning) prayer, we met, to our great surprise and joy, Rabbi Berland and Rabbi Leibel. The joy returned to being complete. The Shacharis prayer passed with great emotion and immense gratitude to Hashem, May He be blessed, who guided us on a straight path.

Halfway there, we reached the lake designated for immersion before prostrating on the holy tziyon. However, the lake was completely frozen and a thick layer of ice covered it. We tried to break the ice at the beginning of the river, but in vain. Rabbi Berland worked hard to crack the ice, and he was joined by Rabbi Nachman Burshtein, but apart from a few scratches, nothing was visible on the ice.

In that moment of spiritual elevation, Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter shlit"a expressed himself about Rabbi Berland and said with a smile: "The entire earth before him is like a garlic peel (insignificant), except for this ice!" During these days of the journey, hearts were opened, and with them the mind and the mouth. The cheerfulness increased and gripped everyone. Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter and Rabbi Berland were in a state of spiritual elevation and dveykus, scattering pearls and gems (words of Torah) in every direction, and those who merited to sit in their presence delighted in every word.

Three Parsa'os from the Holy Tziyon

As we approached Uman, Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter said that it is brought in the holy Zohar that if we knew the magnitude of the immense greatness of Yaakov Avinu (our Patriarch Jacob), peace be upon him, we would kiss the dust three parsa'os (a Talmudic measurement of distance) near his resting place.

At that moment, Rabbi Berland shlit"a, who demonstrated amazing expertise along the entire way to the tziyon and to whom the paths of Uman were very clear, pointed out the window. He indicated that indeed, here we are arriving at kilometer 1390, which is exactly a distance of three parsa'os near the tziyon of our holy Rebbe.

Tremendous emotion gripped everyone as the great moment approached. This story, which was engraved in the hearts of the participants, remains to this day as a living testimony to the mesirus nefesh, the emunas chachamim (faith in the Sages), and the fierce yearnings for the tziyon of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, which were the portion of the Torah giants of Israel.

From Issue 83 — Parashas Ki Savo

From the series "Tzaddik Moshel Yiras Elokim" (A Tzaddik Rules Through the Fear of God) — "Shapir Amar Nachmani" (Well Did Nachmani Say) publications