The Story of the Joy of our Rebbe's Hillula: Two Thousand People Dancing for Seven Consecutive Hours

An amazing story about the joy of the Hillula (anniversary of passing) of our holy Rebbe in the prayer hall on Ido HaNavi Street, where two thousand people danced for seven consecutive hours without a break to holy melodies.

It is written by our holy Sages of blessed memory: "Whoever has not seen the Simchas Beis HaShoevah (the celebration of the water drawing in the Temple) has never seen joy in his life." And indeed, even today, the holy nation of Israel in all the dispersions of Israel maintains a remembrance of the Simchas Beis HaShoevah. Fortunate is the nation for whom this is so, and how magnificent is the sight to see Jews, elders along with youths, dancing and rejoicing in Hashem and His holy commandments for hours upon hours.

One cannot estimate the delight and spiritual satisfaction that ascends to the heights, and Hashem prides Himself in them, as we sing: "See My beloved children who find themselves in their distress and yet occupy themselves with My joy." It is known that our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), established the custom on the Hillula of our holy Rebbe, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zy"a (may his merit protect us)—which begins on the Ushpizin (holy guest) of Moshe Rabbeinu a"h (peace be upon him)—to dance all night until the morning. This is something that is truly above the natural order and beyond all intellect and thought.

This was revealed this year more than all previous years, in the prayer hall on Ido HaNavi Street. This year, even though we did not merit to see the Tzaddik with physical eyes, everyone can testify that our holy Rebbe zy"a, as well as—yibadel lechaim tovim (may he be distinguished for a long and good life)—the Rav shlit"a, was with us. For seven consecutive hours without a break, they danced and rejoiced, skipped and whirled with all their might before Hashem, amidst a massive crowd of about two thousand people, both in the hall and in the large Sukkah in the courtyard.

Holy Melodies in Purity

It is worthy to praise the important musicians who gladdened the public all night, and specifically that they were careful to play the holy melodies in the traditional style of previous generations. This was done without any interference from modern music, may Hashem protect us, which seeks to enter the midst of Charedi (ultra-Orthodox) Judaism.

The Rav shlit"a always warns that one must distance themselves from this like fire, for this is not holy joy but rather a culture that comes from the gentiles, may Hashem protect us. The G-d-fearing musicians played the traditional melodies of the old generation, and even new melodies that were recently composed by G-d-fearing individuals, but with the old flavor of our holy ancestors and teachers, just like in the Holy Temple which we anticipate seeing rebuilt every day, Amen.

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From Issue 81 — Parshas Bereishis
From the series "A Tzaddik Rules Through the Fear of G-d" — "Shapir Amar Nachmani" leaflets