The Kabbalist, the holy tzaddik Rabbi Shlomo Almaliach shlit״a explains how to do pidyon nefesh today, since the holy tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit״a does not accept money.

"Shalom to all our people, with Hashem's help we are joyful and we thank Hashem for the release of our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a from prison after a campaign of about two years. We went through very difficult upheavals, and what we went through is nothing compared to what the Rav shlit"a went through. The Rav went through very difficult upheavals—from hospitals to prisons—a very complex ordeal that lasted two years, and Baruch Hashem that we merited it."

"And who would have believed that we would merit such Torah activity from our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a—only Torah—classes of the Rav in his home for all of An"sh from across the country. This week people came to the Rav shlit"a’s home for classes from Holon, from Bat Yam, Rishon LeZion; there were already people from Eilat; all the kollelim in Jerusalem; special classes and Baruch Hashem prayers, seudah shlishit with the Rav, Shacharit and Maariv prayers."

"No one imagined that such influences would come, like what our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a is influencing now upon the community. Wondrous indeed—and unbelievable—the wonderful management in the Rav’s home: everyone has his role, but there are several people who stand behind the door; we do not even see them in the Rav’s home, but they carry upon themselves the entire financial burden—a very heavy burden."

"I can tell you only what the Rav said about this team that is now dealing with the expenses, with building the tent outside—after all, An"sh are now standing outside in the cold and in the rain. Fortunate are Israel, who sweeten judgments through this, but we need a bit of physical support here; we still have not merited to reach such a spiritual level of standing in snow, in cold, and in rain."

"There are expenses here for continuing the activity of our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a; they already need to take care of tents. Rabbi Ofer Erez already said several times: people want to put the money into the hands of the Rav shlit"a, but Rabbi Ofer Erez said several times that when they give it to the activists, it is considered as if he gave pidyon to the tzaddik; it is pidyon shevuyim, even though they do not give it to the Rav..."

"I met an avreich from Bnei Brak who asked to give pidyon to the tzaddik. I told him: the Rav no longer takes pidyonot. He continued: fine, I want to give tzedakah to the tzaddik. I told him that Rav Berland does not take tzedakah. He continued to say: but I want the Rav to be a partner here. I answered that we are sorry, but this is the procedure now, because legally and judicially it is impossible to give directly to our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a."

"People need to understand that even if they give toward the expense fund and to those who stand behind it, it is as if they gave tzedakah to the tzaddik. After all, the people who stand behind the curtain are trusted by us one hundred percent. They gave themselves over; they mortgaged their apartments for the Rav’s release; they give themselves over day and night. Therefore, anyone who has tzedakah—today it goes to the fund of the community’s rabbinical committee—and this is truly called pidyon."

"There are many expenses and they are carrying the burden alone; therefore it was decided by the community’s rabbinical committee to hold a fundraising campaign until Purim, that each and every one of those close to our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a, from Jerusalem and from outside it, should see to donate one thousand shekels each."

For a direct donation for the emergency fundraising campaign to maintain the synagogue of the holy tzaddik Berland shlit"a - click here