The Renowned Musician Mona Rosenblum Recounts His Connection to the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a

Previously, we presented the two melodies composed by Mona Rosenblum for the release of our Teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. Moshe Mordechai (Mona) Rosenblum, the legendary Chassidic composer and arranger—who served for 30 years as the conductor and musical director of the IDF Rabbinate Choir—was moved, like everyone else, by the return of our Teacher, Rabbi Berland shlit"a, following his long exile. He sat down and composed two songs in honor of that moving event.

Rosenblum previously served as the musical director of the IDF Rabbinate Choir as a civilian employee of the IDF. During those years, he guided the choir musically—from compositions and arrangements to rehearsals and conducting performances and events. In 2010, Rosenblum won the ACUM Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to music. We now present to you a special interview conducted with him on the Breslov Global Line.

"I will share the amazing experience I had with Rabbi Berland shlit"a. The moment we met, we connected instantly. When I entered the room, he began to sing, and the Rav told me that I must compose a new song every single moment. Rabbi Berland shlit"a held my hands, and we stood there for 4 or 5 hours; the Rav opened a Book of Psalms, and we began to sing."

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"The strength the Rav shlit"a possesses comes solely from Kudsha Brich Hu (The Holy One, Blessed is He); you don't see things like this. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, grant him blessing and success to sanctify Hashem's Name as he does; it is truly an amazing thing. I envy him; Rabbi Berland truly knows the meaning of song. He is truly an angel of God. The Hakafot (circuits) he performed on Simchat Torah—he encircled all of Jerusalem. Believe me, I do not understand where this Tzaddik gets such strength; it is supernatural. This is a Tzaddik who cleaves to Hashem Yitbarach with all his 248 limbs and 365 sinews."

"Our service today must be one of joy, just as Rabbi Berland shlit"a teaches us. The entire public now understands that we must reach people through joy in the service of Hashem. Through this, the Holy One, Blessed is He, will bring us the Mashiach in the most joyous way possible."

The musician Mona Rosenblum plays at the celebration of the return of the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a ( Mona Rosenblum playing at celebration of Rav Berlands return ) [embed width="600" height="375"]The interview with Mona Rosenblum was conducted on the Breslov Global Line [caption id="attachment_8685" align="alignnone" width="907"] Sticker of the Breslov Global Line[/caption]