Wondrous Story: The Grasp of Rabbi Berland's Hand That Changed the Avreich's Life, and 3 More Stories

An avreich (young Torah scholar) who suffered agony in his battle against the yetzer hara (evil inclination) merited to have his hand held by Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a. In a single moment, he was transformed into a new person, completely holy and pure.

Wondrous Story: The Grasp of Rabbi Berland's Hand That Changed the Avreich's Life

One of the prominent students of our holy teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, shared a wondrous testimony that he heard from the subject of the story himself. The story illustrates the immense power of the tzaddik to bring about salvations and to completely transform a person's nature from one extreme to the other, even without words, but simply through his very presence and holiness.

The Difficult Battle in Matters of Holiness

That avreich once came to Morinu HaRav shlit"a, broken and crushed. He complained to the Rav with great pain that he was suffering terrible agony from the immense war he was waging in matters of personal holiness.

He described how the yetzer hara pursued him relentlessly, until he felt that "his strength to endure had already failed." The daily struggle with the vanities of this world had exhausted his spiritual strength, and he desperately sought a way to be saved and sanctified.

The Hand Grasp That Worked Wonders

Hearing these words, Morinu HaRav shlit"a did not speak at length. Instead, he simply took the avreich's hand and held it for several minutes.

The avreich relates that in those few moments, he was transformed into a completely different person. He literally began to feel disgusted by every scent of worldly vanity and by all those impure desires that had previously attracted him. The purity that flowed into him from the grasp of the tzaddik's hand took effect immediately and absolutely.

The change was so extreme and rapid that his family and everyone around him could no longer understand him. They were amazed to see how he had become a holy and pure person, completely detached from the vanities of this world. The merit of the tzaddik stood by him to truly become purified and sanctified.

Amazing Story: When Rabbi Berland Threw the Wealthy Man's iPhone

About two years ago, an extraordinary event occurred, witnessed by the entire congregation present. It was during one of the evening prayers, when Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a was praying together with the congregation with immense sweetness and pleasantness, as is his holy custom. The entire holy congregation stood around the tzaddik on their feet, and everyone basked in the radiance of the Shechinah (Divine Presence) that rested upon the place.

A Surprising Guest on the Bimah

During this moving spiritual gathering, a man arrived from outside Jerusalem. By all appearances, he was a wealthy man, and likely counted among the important donors to the institutions and to the Rav shlit"a. This Jew went up to the bimah (prayer platform) and stood right next to the Rav shlit"a. Initially, the Rav drew him close with great love and a radiant countenance.

However, suddenly, this man pulled an iPhone out of his pocket and began filming the moving scene. As is known, the way of the Rav shlit"a is usually to remain silent and endure humiliation, even though he constantly cries out and warns with very sharp words about the severe prohibition of possessing these destructive devices, even those that are called "protected" (filtered).

A Flaming Fire of Zealotry

At that moment, an amazing thing happened. Suddenly, the Rav shlit"a ignited like a flaming fire, grabbed the iPhone from the man's hand, and threw it forcefully outside. The entire congregation present was deeply startled by the frightening and unexpected sight. The intensity of the tzaddik's zealotry against impurity erupted in all its might.

But the greatest wonder occurred immediately afterward. Right away, the Rav shlit"a's face transformed back. He turned to that Jew with immense warmth and love, exactly as if nothing had happened a moment before.

This story perfectly illustrates the path of the tzaddik: a burning, uncompromising hatred for impurity and destructive devices, alongside infinite love and a drawing near of hearts for every single Jew, whoever he may be.

A Story from Rabbi Berland's Youth: The Vow Not to Enter the Grocery Store

It is known to all how much our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, is strict with tremendous self-sacrifice regarding the holiness of the eyes. A special story from the Rav's youth sheds light on his uncompromising strictness in this matter, a strictness that has accompanied him throughout his entire life.

The Vow in the Grocery Store

The Rav shlit"a himself told of a formative event that occurred in his youth. On one occasion, he entered a local grocery store to buy basic groceries. While in the store, the Rav noticed that the place was crowded and that it was very difficult to properly guard his eyes there.

At that moment, without any hesitation, the Rav made a firm decision. He made a severe vow that he would never again enter a grocery store, in order not to stumble, Heaven forbid, even with a slight glance that is not in holiness.

The Instruction for Generations

The Rav shlit"a demands this conduct from his students and listeners as well. The Rav always cries out and strictly warns that it is absolutely forbidden to enter stores or commercial places where it is impossible to maintain holiness and purity of the eyes.

"It is worthwhile to give up all kinds of foods, as long as one does not blemish their holiness," instructs the Rav shlit"a. He adds and advises that instead of putting ourselves to the test, we can simply send household members to buy the necessary groceries.

This story illustrates more than anything the magnitude of the holiness of the tzaddik, who is willing to give up his personal comfort and his most basic needs, just to maintain a pure and clean connection with the Creator of the world.

A Shaking Story from the Exile in Holland: Because of These Devices I Suffer

During the difficult period when our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, was in exile in the country of Holland, an event occurred that testifies to the greatness of his spiritual vision. As is known, these were difficult and agonizing years of exile that the Rav shlit"a suffered before returning to the Holy Land. The wicked regime persecuted the tzaddik from country to country, Hashem protect us, but he was not alone.

Wandering and Self-Sacrifice in Exile

Together with the Rav shlit"a, about seventy families of Chassidim wandered from place to place, demonstrating self-sacrifice to be in his presence. This journey of wandering is a wondrous and awesome story in its own right, about which entire books of emunah (faith) and self-sacrifice could be written. The Chassidim left their entire lives behind just so as not to leave the tzaddik alone in the battle.

The Painful Cry of the Tzaddik

On one occasion during his stay in Holland, the Rav shlit"a asked to use a phone to contact someone. One of the people present quickly handed him his personal device, which was an advanced "iPhone" type device.

The moment the Rav shlit"a saw the device, he reacted with deep sorrow. "Because of these devices I suffer so much, Hashem protect us!" said the Rav with tremendous pain.

This short and piercing sentence reveals a glimpse of the spiritual suffering that the tzaddik takes upon himself. It reminds us how much the damages of technology and unfiltered devices cause sorrow to the Shechinah (Divine Presence) and to the true tzaddikim, and it calls upon us to awaken, to strengthen ourselves in the holiness of the camp, and to distance ourselves from these devices as far as a bowshot.

From Issue 80 — Parashat Bamidbar

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