סיפורים קצרים – הגה"צ הרב ברלנד שליט"א – כוס של דמעות

## The Decision to Give Up Money for the Sake of Holiness
Natan Danino, an avreich in the "Shuvu Banim" yeshiva, shares a powerful personal story about the power of the tzaddik and the choice of spirituality over materiality. It all started when Natan was staying in Switzerland for the purpose of fundraising. As the holiday of Purim approached, he faced a dilemma: to stay in Switzerland and continue collecting significant amounts, or to return to Israel to be in the presence of his teacher and master, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a.

## "The Tzaddik is the Source of Abundance"
Despite the financial temptation and the surprise of the locals in Switzerland, Natan decided to return. Immediately upon his arrival, during the prayer, he merited to hear words from the Rav that shook his soul. The Rav spoke about those people who leave their fundraising on Purim and come to the tzaddik, and explained that the tzaddik is the true source of abundance. Natan, who was standing in the back and had not spoken with the Rav, felt how the Rav "felt" him and the sacrifice he had made.

## 40 Minutes of Tears and Purity
The experience reached its peak when Natan began to cry bitterly, a crying he had never known before. He describes it as a "cup of tears," similar to the Midrash about King David. For 40 consecutive minutes he cried, feeling how the tears washed and cleansed his face and his soul. "I felt that the Rav was cleansing me," he recounts, describing a feeling of deep purification and the opening of the heart.

## The Joy After the Crying
After that deep spiritual release, Natan merited an immense joy that cannot be explained in words. He understood that this was the true gift he received for giving up the money and choosing to connect to the tzaddik. The compassionate gaze of the Rav and the purifying experience left an indelible mark on him, proving to him that there is no greater gift than the opening of the heart and drawing closer to the truth.