Watch: Short Stories – The Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a – The Uncle Who Wanted to Take His Own Life

Recently, the unique story of the avreich (young married Torah student) Moshe Timsit sheyichye (may he live) was revealed to our ears—a heart-warming moment concerning our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. Moshe is a student at Yeshivat Shuvu Banim, the Rav's yeshiva, and his story reveals another facet of the unique path of our teacher, the Rav. "During the period when the Rav lived in Beitar, family members contacted me and related that my uncle was in terrible mental distress, on the verge of taking his own life," Moshe began his story. "We brought him to the Rav shlit"a without scheduling an appointment or coordinating in advance, fulfilling the verse, 'Cast your burden upon Hashem.' At that time, the activity around the Rav was very tumultuous, so it was unclear where the Rav was supposed to be. To our surprise and joy, just as we arrived at the Rav's home in Beitar, the Rav came out toward us. Everyone around shouted to my uncle, 'Run to the Rav, this is your opportunity!' We are speaking of a man who, at that time, was not yet walking in the path of Torah and Mitzvot. He had never seen the Rav and was certainly unfamiliar with the commotion that occurs immediately upon the Rav's arrival. However, something drew him in, and he jumped toward the Rav. The Rav shlit"a stopped, looked at his face, got into the car, and drove away. At that moment, my uncle fell on his face and began to weep; it was a surprising sight. While we were still trying to encourage my uncle, we saw the Rav's car turn around and return in our direction. The Rav got out of the car, turned directly to my uncle, took his hand, and brought him into his home. My uncle had never spoken to the Rav, yet suddenly the Rav turned to him and said, 'Is there a Dr. Shimon here? I do not want to hear anything about taking one's own life. From now on, you live here,' the Rav told him while dancing with him. Afterward, he wrapped him in a tallis (prayer shawl), blessed him, and even gave him a phone number for a shidduch (marriage match). Since then, a complete turnaround occurred in my uncle. He began to strengthen himself spiritually, put on tefillin, and attend synagogues, until everything passed as if it had never existed."