Yom Kippur: A Story About the Sweetening of Judgments During Ne'ilah That Prevented a Terrible Disaster / Yom Kippur

On Yom Kippur, our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a extended the Ne'ilah prayer in an unusual manner. The next day, the magnitude of the miracle became clear, when a massive fire near the Beit Midrash was miraculously extinguished, preventing a heavy disaster.

Yom Kippur: A Story About the Sweetening of Judgments During Ne'ilah That Prevented a Terrible Disaster

All the people of the tzaddik were witnesses to the following amazing story, which occurred on Yom Kippur. In recent years, our teacher Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a usually concludes the holy day's service exactly at nightfall, so as not to burden the fasting congregation. However, that year, something unusual happened, and the Rav shlit"a greatly extended the holy service toward the end of the fast.

Holy Fire and the Sweetening of Judgments

The special extension was particularly noticeable during the recitation of "Avinu Malkeinu" at the end of the day. Usually, the Rav shlit"a sings the verse "Avinu Malkeinu, be gracious to us and answer us, for we have no deeds; deal with us in charity and loving-kindness and save us" a few times and concludes. But this time, the Rav shlit"a repeated the melody over and over again many times.

Those present saw how the holy face of the Rav shlit"a was literally burning with holy fire. During the singing, he even burst into tears several times. The entire congregation immediately understood that there was tremendous spiritual work taking place here, intended to sweeten harsh judgments from upon the people of Israel.

The Awesome Miracle and Rescue from the Fire

The next day, the magnitude of the awesome miracle that occurred became clear to everyone. A large fire broke out in the building adjacent to the Beit Midrash of the Rav shlit"a. The fire ignited with tremendous speed and reached a height of about four stories.

Very close to the center of the fire stood eight large gas cylinders. The fire approached them with giant steps, and in just another moment, God forbid, it would have reached them. One can only imagine the immense disaster that would have occurred, Heaven spare us (Rachmana litzlan), if the eight gas cylinders had exploded in the heart of a residential area.

But then, by a miracle of miracles, a water pipe suddenly burst in exactly the right place. The fierce stream of water extinguished the fire, and thereby a terrible and unprecedented disaster was prevented.

Simple Faith and Divine Providence

The excitement of all those around was immense in light of the miracles and wonders performed by Hashem, may He be blessed. There is no doubt that this miracle occurred through His faithful servant, our teacher the Rav shlit"a, who serves his Creator with self-sacrifice.

"This is why we drew close to the tzaddik, to believe with complete and simple faith that there is no coincidence in the world at all," the students concluded. This is the education that the Rav shlit"a constantly roots in everyone – to accept with love and patience everything that happens, and to know with full confidence that everything Hashem, may He be blessed, does, is all for the good.

Yom Kippur: A Story About the Enormous Gathering and the Tense Wait for Kol Nidrei

Our teacher Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a awakens us every year that on the holy day, Yom Kippur, one must also gather together. Just as it is customary to gather on Rosh Hashanah by the holy Rebbe in Uman, so too there is a tremendous virtue in being together on the day of the forgiveness of sins.

The Great Gathering in the Beit Midrash

Thank Hashem, in the last two years, Hashem, may He be blessed, prepared a large and spacious place for the congregation. It was the temporary Beit Midrash of the Chassidim of Toldot Avraham Yitzchak, may they be blessed. It is especially fitting to note His Holiness the Admor of Toldot Avraham Yitzchak shlit"a, one of the greatest tzaddikim of our generation, who constantly stands to the right of our teacher the Rav shlit"a. Together with him stood his brother, His Holiness the Admor of Toldot Aharon shlit"a, praiseworthy is their portion.

By the grace of Hashem, may He be blessed, multitudes flocked from all corners of the land. From the north and from the south, everyone gathered and came to the place of assembly. How magnificent was the sight to see how the holy congregation arrived towards evening, approaching the onset of the holy day. Everyone was dressed in white garments, waiting and anticipating with holy awe the appearance of the tzaddik.

Holy Awe and Tense Waiting

The enormous crowd waited in tense anticipation. They waited and waited for a full hour, but the tzaddik delayed in coming. At seven-thirty in the evening, the news suddenly arrived that the Rav shlit"a was not feeling well. The instruction given was to begin the order of the holy day, with the hope that perhaps later we would merit and the tzaddik would arrive at the place.

The congregation received the news with mixed emotions, and began the Kol Nidrei service with a deep broken heart. The voice of thousands of people pierced the heavens, as they cried out to Hashem, may He be blessed, for the complete healing of our teacher the Rav shlit"a. The entire event turned into a tremendous time of favor (et ratzon), in which everyone united as one heart for the sake of the tzaddik.

Yom Kippur: A Story About 600 Pure Children in the Presence of Rav Berland

Praiseworthy is the eye that saw the moving and uplifting sight on this holy and awesome day. Hundreds of pure children sat for long hours, throughout all the prayers of the holy day, as they sang and chanted to the living and enduring King, God.

A Great Noise in Heaven

Praiseworthy is the portion of those engaged in this holy work, headed by the Mashgiach Rabbi Naftali Bick, may Hashem guard him and keep him alive, together with all his dedicated assistants. Their tremendous effort to organize the children on the holy and awesome day certainly makes a great noise in Heaven.

"The breath of the mouths of the holy tinokot shel beit rabban (schoolchildren), who are without sin, awakens abundant mercy upon the entire Jewish people," those present described with emotion the magnitude of the event.

Vitality and Joy Before the Face of the Tzaddik

No less than six hundred children, may they multiply, sat throughout all the hours of the day on the bleachers (parentches) in the Beit Midrash. They did not divert their gaze, and merited to constantly see the face of our teacher Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a.

The sight of the tzaddik, who resembles an angel of God, radiated a special light upon them. Gazing at his holy face brought tremendous vitality and pure joy into the hearts of that holy flock.

The merit of the pure children, together with the power of the tzaddik, continue to protect the people of Israel and awaken abundant Heavenly mercy on Yom Kippur.

From Issue 84 — Parashat V'Zot HaBerachah Sukkot

From the series "Tzaddik Moshel Yirat Elokim" — "Shapir Amar Nachmani" publications