Watch: Great Excitement

Just before the sanctity of the Simchat Torah holiday commenced, our Teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, made a pilgrimage to the remnant of our Holy Temple, the Western Wall. Crowds accompanied Rabbi Berland shlit"a from the moment he left his home until his return. At the Western Wall itself, the Rav held a prayer service for the entire Nation of Israel in the presence of the multitude.

[embed width="600" height="375"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z06u7_WY_SE&showinfo=0;&rel=0[/embed]

The Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a in his car on the way to the Western Wall

It should be noted that, in hindsight, it became clear that our Teacher, Rabbi Berland shlit"a, was actually paving the way for what would unfold later, as he returned to the Western Wall that very night. Thus, while the holy Nation of Israel celebrated Simchat Torah in synagogues across the globe, each in their own place, our Teacher, Rabbi Berland shlit"a, went out accompanied by a massive crowd to encircle the city of Jerusalem with the Torah scrolls.

[caption id="attachment_8562" align="alignnone" width="1209"] Rabbi Berland shlit"a entering the Western Wall on the eve of Simchat Torah[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_8561" align="alignnone" width="1209"] Rabbi Berland shlit"a entering the Western Wall on the eve of Simchat Torah[/caption]

At the beginning of the Hakofos (circuits), Rabbi Berland shlit"a began by exiting slowly into the streets of Mea Shearim near his Sukkah. However, the Rav soon began walking toward the Western Wall. Tens of thousands accompanied the Rav shlit"a on the journey, sanctifying the Name of Heaven with Torah scrolls and Simchat Torah songs along the entire route. Upon Rabbi Berland shlit"a's arrival at the Western Wall plaza with the masses, everyone burst into a holy flame of dancing, with the Rav shlit"a in the center holding the Torah scrolls.

[caption id="attachment_8554" align="alignnone" width="869"] The Western Wall plaza packed with thousands of students of Rabbi Berland shlit"a[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_8559" align="alignnone" width="2268"] Rabbi Berland leaving his home toward the Western Wall[/caption]

The following day, Rabbi Berland shlit"a continued the moving Hakofos. Together with tens of thousands of people and the Torah scrolls, he walked all the way to the City Hall building, returned to HaNevi'im Street, and from there, everyone ascended to the Mahane Yehuda Market. All who participated in these Simchat Torah Hakofos understood that this was a unique event in which the Tzaddik effects fateful tikkunim (rectifications) for the entire Nation of Israel.

[caption id="attachment_8563" align="alignnone" width="1134"] The Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a at the Western Wall on the eve of Simchat Torah 5778[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_8560" align="alignnone" width="1209"] The Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a at the Western Wall on the eve of Simchat Torah 5778[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_8557" align="alignnone" width="2268"] The Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a at the Western Wall on the eve of Simchat Torah 5778[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_8556" align="alignnone" width="2268"] The Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a at the Western Wall on the eve of Simchat Torah 5778[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_8555" align="alignnone" width="1209"] The Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a at the Western Wall on the eve of Simchat Torah 5778[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_8552" align="alignnone" width="1209"] The Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a at the Western Wall on the eve of Simchat Torah 5778[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_8551" align="alignnone" width="1134"] The Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a at the Western Wall on the eve of Simchat Torah 5778[/caption]

Many thanks to Aharon Solomonovitch and Yissachar Berg for the photography.