Words of Chizzuk which Rabbi Yehuda Deri ZT”L Gave at the Protest Tent in Beer

ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, WHEN MOREINU HARAV ELIEZER BERLAND SHLIT”A WAS IMPRISONED IN THE CITY OF BEER SHEVA, THE CHIEF RABBI OF BEER SHEVA AND MEMBER OF THE CHIEF RABBINATE COUNCIL OF ISRAEL, THE GAON RABBI YEHUDA DERI ZTVK”L, WHO PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY TODAY, VISITED THE PROTEST TENT SET UP OUTSIDE THE PRISON WALLS.

On Friday, Rosh Chodesh Av 5776 (2016), Rabbi Yehuda Deri ztvk”l (brother of MK Aryeh Deri) made a surprise visit to the protest tent and expressed his support and empathy with Rav Berland’s Chasidim who were staying there.

Rabbi Deri instructed his assistants to address any requests for help from the Chasidim and even used his connections in the municipality to assist with several logistical arrangements related to the protest tent.

Furthermore, Rabbi Yehuda Deri expressed his amazement at the self-sacrifice of Rav Eliezer Berland's Chasidim, who are found in difficult conditions and continue to remain loyal to their Rabbi.

A regrettable incident occurred during his visit. As the city's Rabbi, he sought to visit Moreinu HaRav shlit”a for a professional visit and to see to his religious needs before Shabbat, but was denied by the prison authorities, demonstrating once again the discriminatory treatment and ongoing persecution Rav Berland faces from the state authorities. What would happen if this had been an Arab sheikh in prison?  The response would certainly have been different, and already there would have been immediate petitions presented to the Supreme Court regarding the matter by the champions of freedom and democracy.  Yet in the “Jewish State,” this has turned into a painful routine of ongoing religious persecution under the guise of the rule of law.

Rabbi Deri instructed the Chasidim with a number of halachic guidelines concerning staying at the tent over Shabbat, and even gave over words of chizzuk, which are presented here.

HERE ARE THE WORDS OF CHIZZUK DELIVERED BY RABBI YEHUDA DERI ZTVK”L IN PRAISE OF MOREINU HARAV ELIEZER BERLAND SHLIT”A:

Erev Shabbat Shalom U’Mvorach to all the tzaddikim who are staying here now.  We are found here now in the temporary encampment of the yeshiva, mamash temporary, which has been set up here.  I hope, bezrat Hashem, that soon -- perhaps already on Motza’ei Shabbat -- we will hear and receive good news.

“These are the journeys of the Children of Israel,” as it is said.  Let us hope that the last journey of the Tzaddik will be here. And from here, bezrat Hashem, he will return to his community and congregation and lead his entire congregation along the wellsprings of Torah and chasidut.

We will try with all our ability here, bezrat Hashem, to make their stay pleasant here.  Even though they are children of kings and they deserve palaces, we do not have palaces to build.  So what we can [do is] the maximum possible for food, drink, and sleeping accommodations, as far as our hands reach, with Heaven’s help.

I strengthen everyone who is found here and who is expected to arrive, bezrat Hashem.  We expect hundreds to arrive.  Then, bezrat Hashem, [during] this joy of the final parashah [of Bamidbar], Rosh Chodesh, the Holy One Blessed is He will announce for us good news, salvations, and consolations -- may it be His will, and let us say, Amen.  Shabbat Shalom U’Mvorach!

TO HEAR THE AUDIO OF RABBI DERI'S WORDS, CLICK HERE [https://www.shuvubanimint.com/4767-2/] TO GO THE HEBREW PAGE