The Words of Saba Yisroel Dov Odesser Regarding Rabbi Eliezer Berland and the Words of Rabbi Berland Regarding the Saba

Saba Yisroel Dov Odesser Speaks About Rabbi Eliezer Berland

The Saba was born in the year 5646 (1886). Although he was fifty years older than The Rav shlit"a, there was a deep familiarity between them, as we have related in previous newsletters; The Rav would stay as a guest at the Saba's home, and the Saba would stay as a guest at his. Later in the interview with Rabbi Berlin, he revealed more details about what he heard from R' Yisroel Ber Odesser zt"l regarding The Rav shlit"a:

R' Aharon Berlin related: "I would travel to the Western Wall with Rabbi Berland many times, and on the way, we would stop to visit R' Yisroel Ber Odesser, who lived in Givat Shaul. We would hear stories from him, particularly about his teacher, R' Yisroel Karduner—things that only he knew. One of the times I visited him, we spoke about the Baalei Teshuvah (returnees to the faith) who had begun to draw close at that time. R' Yisroel said to me with enthusiasm, 'Rabbi Berland's path of drawing people close is good; Rabbi Berland has the power to bring the world back in teshuvah (repentance).' I then told him that the day before the Six-Day War broke out, Rabbi Berland said there were harsh judgments, and he danced in the Breslov Yeshiva for the entire day to the tune of the Russian anthem. This was in accordance with what Rebbe Nachman says, that in order to subdue a nation that oppresses Israel, one must sing the melody of that nation. It was a wonder in our eyes how the Rav knew that a war was about to break out and how he danced with mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) for a whole day. I told all of this to R' Yisroel Odesser. Then R' Yisroel said to me, 'I already told you a long time ago that his eyes truly see.'"

Listen to the words of Saba Yisroel Dov Odesser regarding Rabbi Eliezer Berland and the words of Rabbi Eliezer Berland regarding the Saba:

(To listen to the full interview with Rabbi Berlin, dial the "Information Line" at 0583287777, extension 43311)