The Daily Chizuk (spiritual strengthening) from our teacher, the holy Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a – The more years one gives to the Tzaddik, the more one merits to sit beside him

Monday, 11th of Kislev 5786 – David is the Tzaddik who sits in the middle

The word 'HaGeshem' (the rain) has the numerical value of 343 (Shin-Mem-Gimmel) – "For he also (Besha-gam) is flesh" (Genesis 6:3). Moshe (Moses) is hinted at in the word "Besha-gam." Moshe represents 343 lights; 7*7*7 equals 343. This is the greatest light.

Therefore, Lemech, the father of Noach (Noah), lived 777 years, because 777 is [connected to] exactly 343 when you multiply [the sevens].

Methuselah lived 969 years; he gave 31 years to David, and therefore he sits next to David. It is written in the Gemara (Megillah 52b) that Methuselah sits next to David. There are seven shepherds: Adam, Sheth (Seth), and Methuselah, who gave 31 years to David. Anyone who gave years to David sits next to David – David is in the middle.

The Tzaddik is in the middle; even Moshe is on the left side. People are not familiar with this Gemara (Megillah 52b). Who is greater, David or Moshe? It is explicitly written: Moshe is on the left side, Methuselah is on the right side, and David is in the middle – David is the Tzaddik. The fact that the hostages were returned – the Tzaddik does everything.

The Gemara (Megillah 52b) reveals that there are seven shepherds: "Then we shall raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men... and he shall deliver us from Assyria when he comes into our land" (Micah 5:4-5). All of this appears in Micah regarding the seven shepherds. What are the seven shepherds? David is in the middle! Adam HaRishon (the first man), Sheth, and Methuselah are on the right side; Methuselah stands right next to David.

Everything David has comes from Methuselah. In the time of Methuselah, the sun went backward. Thirty students can move the sun (Sukkah 28a) – it is written in the Gemara, Sukkah 28a, that thirty of Hillel's students could move the sun. Therefore, Moshe certainly moves the sun.

Hillel had 80 students; 30 of them could move the sun, just like Yehoshua (Joshua) and Moshe, who moved the sun during Matan Torah (the giving of the Torah). At Matan Torah, the day lasted 72 hours. During the Ten Commandments, with every word spoken, the People of Israel flew back 12 mil (a measure of distance), which is three parsas (leagues).