The Story of the Tzaddik's Return to the Land and the Wondrous Sweetening of Judgments / An Amazing Story

A collection of moving stories about the return of Rabbi Eliezer Berland to the Land of Israel, the reception at the airport, and a wondrous story about the sweetening of judgments through the letters of Mnatzephach.

The Story of the Tzaddik's Return to the Land and the Wondrous Sweetening of Judgments

The long and difficult journey of the tzaddik's exile reached its moving conclusion, leaving behind unforgettable moments of burning emunah (faith). Before you is a collection of moving stories about the return of Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a to the Land of Israel, and the spiritual attainments that accompanied those days.

A Seder Night of Supernal Attainments

During that period, it became known that the tzaddik requested to be brought a Passover Haggadah with the "HaSulam" commentary. Afterward, Rabbi Berland shlit"a expressed himself in a rare manner regarding that holiday. He said that this year he merited a Seder night the likes of which he had never experienced before, with completely new spiritual attainments.

The Release from Prison and the Return to the Holy Land

Hashem made, makes, and will make all things happen, and He alone guides and decrees. On the 13th of Tammuz, the day of the release of the Admor Rayatz of Lubavitch zy"a, the tzaddik arrived in the Holy Land. Prior to this, the Rav was held in a terrible prison where it is impossible to fathom the severe suffering he endured. No human being truly knew about it, because for the tzaddik, everything is always good, and he was never heard complaining.

Nevertheless, it is slightly known that this was a cruel prison from which it is very difficult to emerge alive due to the abundance of torture, may Hashem protect us. The cell where the tzaddik stayed at night was freezing with a terrible cold, without any means of heating. By the grace of Hashem, after many cries and pleas, the tzaddik left there and arrived in the Land of Israel. From the early hours of the morning, masses of students were already waiting for him in Lod to welcome him with joy, and some even arrived dressed in their Shabbos garments.

Sanctification of Hashem's Name at the Airport and the Shehecheyanu Blessing

All the people who arrived at the airport that morning, whether they were on their way to fly or returning to the country, encountered a rare sight the likes of which had never been seen. Amidst the noisy commotion of the place, which suddenly turned into a blazing fire of cries to Hashem, there were hours of dancing with immense joy. The scene publicly sanctified the Name of Heaven, as masses of Jews stood while strictly guarding their eyes (maintaining modesty). Some stood with their eyes closed, and others covered their faces with their talisos (prayer shawls).

The excitement reached its peak when many families, who had followed the tzaddik throughout all the years of his exile, returned to the Land. People who had not seen each other for a long time reunited, and the sight was moving to the point of tears. The students rejoiced with one another and loudly recited the "Shehecheyanu" blessing (the blessing for reaching a special occasion) over seeing each other. This brought to mind the words of Rabbi Berland shlit"a from many years ago: "Shuvu Banim is not a community, it is one family."

The Wondrous Sweetening of Judgments

That same week, one of the avreichim (married Torah scholars) of the community related a wondrous thing that happened to him. He had prepared a letter for Rabbi Berland shlit"a in which he asked for a blessing, as he was going through severe suffering, may Hashem protect us. As soon as he approached the tzaddik before the Shacharis (morning) prayer, he handed him the note. Rabbi Berland shlit"a opened a siddur (prayer book) to the page where the letters of the Aleph-Bet are printed, and pointed to the double letters "Mnatzephach" (the five Hebrew letters that have a different form at the end of a word: Mem, Nun, Tzadi, Peh, Chaf).

The Rav asked him questions in Yiddish about the final letters, such as the meaning of the final Mem and the final Tzadi. At that moment, the avreich did not understand the intention behind these words. However, afterward, he opened the book Likutey Moharan and saw in Torah 37 the words of Rebbe Nachman zy"a: "The prophets instituted the letters of Mnatzephach." Rebbe Nachman explains there that the letters of Mnatzephach have the same numerical value (gematria) as "Vridin" (veins) and are connected to the 216 judgments ("R"V Din"), and that the prophets foresee and sweeten them. The avreich immediately understood that the tzaddik had acted to sweeten the judgments from upon him.

The great wonder continued when that same avreich went to learn in the holy yeshiva in the Old City. He opened Tractate Zevachim, and the book opened for him exactly to page 25a. There, the words of the Gemara appear: "Rav Yirmiyah bar Abba said: The slaughterer must place the veins into the vessel." Thus, the wondrous circle of sweetening the judgments through the letters of Mnatzephach and the veins was closed.

These stories, which join a long chain of miracles and spiritual attainments, testify once again to the immense power of the tzaddik to sweeten judgments and awaken hearts to pure emunah, even from within the most difficult situations.

An Amazing Story: When Rabbi Berland Exited His Vehicle and Fearlessly Smashed the Immodest Sign

This amazing story was told by the son-in-law of Rabbi Berland shlit"a, during the regular gathering held every Thursday night at the "Nachalei Netzach" yeshiva in the Mea Shearim neighborhood. The story illustrates the immense zeal of the tzaddik for the holiness of Israel, and his absolute lack of fear when it comes to eradicating evil.

The Surprising Instruction and the Fear of the Police

On one of his trips, Rabbi Berland shlit"a was traveling in a vehicle together with several of his students. During the drive, they suddenly passed by an advertising billboard displaying an immodest image. As soon as he noticed it, Rabbi Berland shlit"a instructed his students to get out of the vehicle and smash the sign.

It is important to note that the general instruction of the Rav shlit"a is not to go and intentionally seek out such sights. However, "if, God forbid, one happens to be in such a place, it is an obligation to eradicate the impurity in order to save Jews from descending into the pit (spiritual destruction)."

Despite the clear instruction of the tzaddik, the students in the vehicle hesitated and were afraid to get out. The reason for this was that at that very moment, a police car was driving right behind them, and they were afraid of getting into trouble.

Fearless Holy Zeal

When the tzaddik saw that the students were delaying and afraid, he did not wait even one more moment. The Rav shlit"a got out of the vehicle himself, bent down, and grabbed a large stone in his hands.

Before the eyes of the astonished students, the Rav threw the stone with tremendous force at the billboard. He completely shattered and smashed the impurity, without showing even a hint of fear of the police officers who were nearby.

This act left a profound impression on all those present, proving once again that when it comes to the honor of Heaven and saving Jewish souls, the tzaddik sees no one else and acts with supreme heroism for the sanctity of the camp.

From Issue 79 — Parashas Matos

From the series "A Tzaddik Rules in the Fear of God" — "Shapir Amar Nachmani" publications