Watch: Rav Berland shlit"a on Motzaei Shvi'i shel Pesach 5786 — The Secret of the Baal Shem Tov's Journey to the Holy Land

In the twilight hours of the Seventh of Pesach, as the holiday departs from us, the gates open to a story entirely composed of emunah (faith), mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice), and bittul atzmi (self-nullification). In the holy congregation of Breslov Shuvu Banim, the custom of the "Seudas Baal Shem Tov" (the festive meal of the Baal Shem Tov) has transformed into an event of spiritual elevation, in which our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, revives with his holy and sharp tongue the turbulent journey of the father of Chassidus to the Holy Land. The journey, whose ultimate purpose reveals just how crucial the Torah of the holy luminary, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, is for the final Geulah (Redemption).

Giving Up Everything: Serving Hashem "Without Olam Haba"

At the center of the article stands the trembling point related by our teacher, the Rav shlit"a: The moment when the Baal Shem Tov discovers that in order to grant salvation to a couple who had not been blessed with children, he must forfeit his entire reward in Olam Haba (the World to Come). In his unique language, Rabbi Berland described the immense joy that flooded the Baal Shem Tov at that moment—finally, he could serve Hashem with absolute purity, without any ulterior motive or hope for reward.

"If so, I will serve Hashem, may He be blessed, without Olam Haba!" cried out the Baal Shem Tov. And at that very moment, the Rav emphasized, all the heavenly accusations were nullified.

[VIDEO: https://vimeo.com/1181730818?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci]

"Alone" – The Miracle That Happened Right Under Their Noses

While the Baal Shem Tov was conducting the Seder in a dark basement in Istanbul, repeating over and over the words "To Him who alone does great wonders," a decree of annihilation was issued against the Jews of the city. The community leaders, who passed by his room, were astonished by his deveikus (cleaving to Hashem) and enthusiasm at a time when a sword was resting on their necks.

Our teacher, Rabbi Berland shlit"a, sharpened the holy irony in his story: It was specifically the "alone" of the Baal Shem Tov—the emunah that only Hashem operates in reality—that activated the Sultan's mother and miraculously nullified the decree, without anyone knowing who was truly pulling the strings behind the scenes.

The Storm at Sea and the Return to the Source

The journey did not end in Istanbul. The Rav shlit"a dramatically described the storm at sea, the casting of the holy manuscripts into the depths (out of a promise that a grandson would emerge—Rebbe Nachman—who would write even more exalted books), and the climactic moment on the deserted island:

The absolute bittul: The Baal Shem Tov loses all his spiritual attainments and stands facing murderers, remembering only the letters of the "Aleph-Beis."

Salvation through simplicity: Through the simple letters shouted by his shamash (attendant), Reb Hirsch, the spiritual illumination returned and the salvation arrived.

The Niggun That Never Ceased

The climax of the gathering in the Beis Midrash was not only in the story itself, but in what happened around it. The story, which began before the Maariv (evening) prayer at the conclusion of the holiday and continued afterward, was accompanied and sealed with a mighty singing that shook the walls.

The holy congregation, led by the Rav, burst into the well-known niggun (melody) to the words "To Him who alone does great wonders, for His lovingkindness is eternal." The niggun, so deeply identified with the holy court of Shuvu Banim, became a living declaration of emunah: Even when we do not see, even when the sea is stormy—Hashem does wonders, alone.