Wondrous Story: 12 Hours of Dancing and Borders Opened Without Visas / A Wondrous Story

An amazing story about a journey for Shabbos Chanukah in Russia, where the group was stuck without visas. Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a danced for 12 consecutive hours, until the borders miraculously opened.

The Chassid, Rabbi Yitzchak Weitzhandler, may his light shine, told of a wondrous event that occurred on one of the journeys for Shabbos Chanukah. A large group of Chassidim traveled under the leadership of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a. The original plan was that a certain individual would wait for them at the border and bring the required visas for everyone. However, Hashem orchestrated events in such a way that this person did not arrive at all. In those days, there was absolutely no chance of entering Russia without arranged visas, and the group found themselves facing a broken trough (a situation of utter helplessness).

Sweetening the Judgments Through Dancing

Despite the despairing situation, the tzaddik did not become confused and did not lose his absolute trust in Hashem for a single moment. Exactly as it says: "And David strengthened himself in Hashem his God." Morinu HaRav shlit"a recalled the words of the holy Rebbe, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, may his merit protect us, who says in his book Likutey Moharan that through dancing, strict judgments are sweetened (mitigated).

Without hesitation, the Rav shlit"a began to dance with the crowd. He danced, leaped, and whirled hour after hour, without stopping. He danced like this for twelve consecutive hours, stopping only for the Minchah prayer. Among the crowd were those who found it difficult to understand this conduct, wondering how one could bring such a large group to the border without visas, and instead of trying to act through natural means, the Rav just dances and dances.

Above the Way of Nature

But Hashem, who made, makes, and will make all deeds, showed that He is the sole Ruler and Guide of creation. Suddenly, miracles and wonders the likes of which had never been heard of occurred, and the border officials let all the members of the group enter without exception, even though they had no visas whatsoever! At that moment, everyone saw tangibly how the tzaddik, who lives every moment with pure emunah (faith), sees nothing but Hashem alone. It became clear to all that when one clings to the Creator of the World with complete faith, all the laws of nature are completely null and void.

Wondrous Story: 12 Hours of Dancing and Borders Opened Without Visas

The Chassid, Rabbi Yitzchak Weitzhandler, may his light shine, told of a wondrous event that occurred on one of the journeys for Shabbos Chanukah. A large group of Chassidim traveled under the leadership of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a. The original plan was that a certain individual would wait for them at the border and bring the required visas for everyone. However, Hashem orchestrated events in such a way that this person did not arrive at all. In those days, there was absolutely no chance of entering Russia without arranged visas, and the group found themselves facing a broken trough (a situation of utter helplessness).

Sweetening the Judgments Through Dancing

Despite the despairing situation, the tzaddik did not become confused and did not lose his absolute trust in Hashem for a single moment. Exactly as it says: "And David strengthened himself in Hashem his God." Morinu HaRav shlit"a recalled the words of the holy Rebbe, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, may his merit protect us, who says in his book Likutey Moharan that through dancing, strict judgments are sweetened (mitigated).

Without hesitation, the Rav shlit"a began to dance with the crowd. He danced, leaped, and whirled hour after hour, without stopping. He danced like this for twelve consecutive hours, stopping only for the Minchah prayer. Among the crowd were those who found it difficult to understand this conduct, wondering how one could bring such a large group to the border without visas, and instead of trying to act through natural means, the Rav just dances and dances.

Above the Way of Nature

But Hashem, who made, makes, and will make all deeds, showed that He is the sole Ruler and Guide of creation. Suddenly, miracles and wonders the likes of which had never been heard of occurred, and the border officials let all the members of the group enter without exception, even though they had no visas whatsoever! At that moment, everyone saw tangibly how the tzaddik, who lives every moment with pure emunah (faith), sees nothing but Hashem alone. It became clear to all that when one clings to the Creator of the World with complete faith, all the laws of nature are completely null and void.

A Wondrous Story: Half a Year of Mesirus Nefesh in the USA for the Journey to Uman

Hashem knows the extent of the mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) of Breslov Chassidim in those days, when the Iron Curtain still stood, to reach the gravesite of the holy Rebbe in Uman. One of the things that demanded immense self-sacrifice was leaving home and family for a period of several months. The Chassidim were forced to stay in a foreign land, in the United States, in order to obtain American citizenship. In those days, only with a foreign passport was it possible to receive the longed-for visa and travel to Uman.

To the Very Essence of Strength and Soul

Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, as with every holy endeavor, did this to the very essence of his strength and soul. It is known that the Rav shlit"a stayed in the United States for about half a year for this purpose. This period was filled with awesome service of Hashem, with much crying out, Hisbodedus (secluded prayer) to Hashem, and lengthy supplications.

He did not rest for a moment, utilizing every opportunity to draw closer to the Creator of the World even while far from his home and the Land of Israel. The yearning for Uman burned within him, and he was willing to pay any price of personal comfort to merit reaching the holy gravesite.

Hachnasas Orchim (Hospitality) in Boro Park

The one who merited to host the Rav during those days was the pious tzaddik, Rabbi Yaakov Pinchas Gevirtz shlit"a, rabbi of the "K'Vatikin" synagogue in the Boro Park neighborhood. He merited to fulfill the mitzvah of welcoming guests with great beautification and wondrous dedication, hosting Morinu HaRav shlit"a in his home for that entire half-year.

Morinu HaRav shlit"a feels immense gratitude to him for this to this very day. Whenever possible, he makes sure to mention this publicly and give thanks for the warm hospitality during those difficult days of exile in the United States.

Rabbi Yaakov Pinchas has many wondrous stories from that period. He testifies with amazement about the awesome and holy Divine service he witnessed from Morinu HaRav shlit"a during the time he stayed in his home. This story illustrates more than anything the magnitude of the yearning and sacrifice of the Rav shlit"a for the sake of drawing close to the tzaddik, a self-sacrifice that resonates and serves as an inspiration to our very days.

A Story of Joy in America: I Didn't Come Here for Money

Lights of Joy in America

A Jew who spent time in the presence of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a in the United States tells of the immense impression the Rav left on the congregants of the local synagogue. Every day, after completing the order of prayer, the Rav would deliver a class on the book Likutey Moharan. Afterward, he would sweep the entire congregation into dances of awakening and tremendous joy.

The scene that took place there was a true wonder. None of those present left the dance circle until Morinu HaRav shlit"a finished. This is a tremendous novelty, especially in America, a place where people are always rushing to their businesses and work. Only a true tzaddik is capable, with his power, of infusing such vitality and joy into the service of Hashem, blessed be He, specifically in a country of wealth and materialism, exactly as Rebbe Nachman describes in his Sipurei Ma'asiyos (Tales of Ancient Times) regarding "The Master of Prayer."

Only for the Holy Rebbe Nachman

During his stay there, it became known to the congregants of the synagogue that Morinu HaRav shlit"a, thank God, has a large, blessed family, may they multiply. They understood that he was in great need of parnassah (livelihood) and that his financial situation was very tight, may Hashem protect us. Out of immense love and appreciation for the Rav, they were very happy to give him a substantial donation with a generous hand.

To their great surprise, Morinu HaRav shlit"a firmly refused to take the money offered to him. He stood his ground and declared to them decisively: "I didn't come here for money, I came here only for the holy Rebbe Nachman!"

This fact left a deep mark on everyone's hearts. It illustrated more than anything the self-sacrifice of the Rav shlit"a and his sole purpose: to spread the light of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zy"a in the world, without any personal interest or desire for material gain.

From Issue 79 — Parashas Eikev

From the series "A Tzaddik Rules in the Fear of God" — "Shapir Amar Nachmani" publications