The Story of the Special Meeting Between the Tzaddik of Ribnitz and Our Teacher, Rabbi Berland shlit"a

The story of the meeting of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a (may he live long and good days), with the Tzaddik (righteous man) of Ribnitz in Meron, and how he was considered one of the greatest Tzaddikim (righteous ones) even in his youth in Boro Park.

The Meeting at the Tziyun of the Rashbi in Meron

The venerable Chassid, Rabbi Aharon Lebel n"y (may his light shine), relates that he was present on the Holy Shabbat at the holy Tziyun (gravesite) of the Divine Tanna (Mishnaic sage), Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, in Meron. During the time of Rava d'Ravin (the auspicious time of the third Sabbath meal), a group of Breslov Chassidim gathered, and our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, delivered words of Torah publicly before the crowd.

In the middle of the lesson, the holy and righteous Rabbi, the Tzaddik of Ribnitz, zt"l (of blessed memory), entered and prepared to pray the Shacharit (morning) prayer (as it was known, the holy Tzaddik used to pray at very late hours). Those present turned to him and said that it was impossible to pray in that spot right now, because a lesson was being given on the book "Likutey Moharan" (the primary work of Rebbe Nachman).

The holy Tzaddik of Ribnitz responded and said: "You are not true Breslov Chassidim, for you have not yet been to Uman, whereas I have been to Uman at the holy Tziyun (gravesite)." Immediately, the people replied to him that the young man currently giving the lesson—who is none other than our teacher, the Rav shlit"a—had indeed merited to be in Uman at the holy Tziyun. When the Tzaddik heard this, he said that he wished to speak with him immediately upon the conclusion of the lesson.

The Personal Conversation and the Wondrous Humility

And indeed, after our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, finished the lesson, they approached him and told him that the Tzaddik of Ribnitz requested to speak with him. The two entered a side room in the courtyard of the cave and spoke in private for several minutes.

When they emerged from the room, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, out of his great humility, sought to downplay the significance of the fact that such a holy Tzaddik requested to speak with him in private. He turned to everyone with self-nullification and said: "Do you see? Even the Rebbe of Ribnitz says that I still haven't been to Uman..."

Three Lines for the Tzaddikim of the Generation in Boro Park

Another story was told by a prominent Satmar Chassid in Boro Park, who merited to host three Tzaddikim in his home for a long period: the first was the Tzaddik of Ribnitz, zy"a (may his merit protect us, amen); the second was the Tzaddik Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Kramer, zt"l (of blessed memory), from Kfar Gidon; and the third was, yibadel lechaim tovim (may he be distinguished for a long life), our teacher, the Rav shlit"a.

That same Chassid relates that every day, three separate lines of people would stretch through his house, coming to receive a blessing from these three Tzaddikim. The great wonder is that our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, was at that time still a young man, yet even then he merited to be counted among the Tzaddikim of the generation upon whom the House of Israel leans.

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From Issue 80 — Parshat Bereshit
From the series "A Tzaddik Rules Through the Fear of God" — "Shapir Amar Nachmani" leaflets