We Grew Up Among the Greatest of the Generation, but We Have Never Seen Avodas Hashem Like That of the Holy Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a

“I merited to know the holy Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a back when he was in Bnei Brak. And as someone who merited to follow his avodah through all the years—his Torah learning, his avodas Hashem, and his separation from worldly matters—who could possibly grasp this in his mind, and who could recount his mighty deeds?” These are the opening words of the gaon Rabbi Yosef Plavani, a halachic decisor (mo"tz) in the Beit Yisrael neighborhood, author of the responsa Chemdath Yosef and Darkei HaIyun, and one of the close students of Chacham Ben Tzion Abba Shaul zt"l and Maran the gaon Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt"l.

[audio mp3="https://www.shuvubanimint.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/הרב-יוסף-פלאבני.mp3" autoplay="true"][/audio] “The Yerushalmi says that many disasters came upon the Jewish people because they did not protest the disgrace of a Torah scholar. Who does not recognize the greatness of Rabbi Berland shlit"a? All the chambers of Torah are placed in his hand. Dozens of times when we would speak with him and he wanted to open and prove his words to us from the sources, the sefer would open to the exact place—instantly.” “His guarding of the eyes and his awe-inspiring avodas Hashem—many days he would go for Hisbodedus in prayer and avodas Hashem. For twelve consecutive hours we saw him praying without leaving his own four amos. Anyone who publicizes this and protests the disgrace of a Torah scholar prevents harsh decrees from coming upon the Jewish people.” “I merited to grow up among the great sages of Sepharad—Rabbi Tzion Abba Shaul, who was great in Torah, and of course Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who was the wonder of the generation—but we did not see avodas Hashem like what was found in Rabbi Berland shlit"a. Beyond his long and powerful prayer and his guarding of the eyes, there were also the good deeds he did. I know facts showing that he would scatter money endlessly for tzedakah; his own money, and the money of the Pidyon Nefesh offerings that people would bring him, he would immediately distribute. I remember how he sold his apartment in Bnei Brak and gave all the money to tzedakah (anonymously). They saw that we are speaking about an angel of Hashem Tzevakos. Things like this I have not seen among the greatest of the world. True, they had ruach hakodesh, but to draw it out and see from moment to moment like Rabbi Berland shlit"a—we have not seen anywhere.” “It is not the way of Torah to argue and speak against the Rav shlit"a. It is a mercy—may those who speak against the Rav shlit"a not be harmed. I have facts about people, even simple ones, who harmed others and were punished severely. Some of them did not have children; they received illnesses, and so on. The Rav raised tens of thousands and brought them close to Judaism, and even those who speak against him were strengthened through him. Have compassion on your wives and your children, so that a disaster does not happen to you.” “The Yerushalmi says that the more suffering a person receives, the more his greatness rises; and we must pray that the troubles will end and that we will behold the greatness and splendor of the Rav shlit"a. Hashem will remove the kelipah and impurity from those who oppose, and bring them back in teshuvah.” באדיבות קו המידע 02-8008800