One year ago on Wednesday, 11 Tevet, our Rebbe Rav Eliezer Berland shlit”a was released after two years of imprisonment. Shuvu Banim goes back to that day of celebration in which the Rav shlit”a returned to his home in Jerusalem, the holy city.
At 9:15 am in the morning, Wednesday, 11 Tevet 5782, the day in which the Rav’s administrative release began, one of the main media channels publicized that our Rebbe Rav Eliezer Berland shlit”a was expected to be released in the coming hours. After nearly fifteen tension-filled minutes, in which the heart fears believing only to be disappointed again by the legal system in Israel, at 9:30 am the stirring news was received from the Rav’s lawyer: Our Rebbe the Rav shlit”a would be released today to his home in Jerusalem with no restrictions.
At 10:40, this happened after nearly two years of endless hopes, prayers, millions of Tikkun HaKlali’s, and hundreds of prayer gatherings for the Rav’s release. And so the Rav shlit”a left the gates of the Ayalon Prison in Ramla.
The stirring news spreads wings and reaches all over Israel. In the next hour, the Rav shlit”a will come to his holy home. The Rav’s students don’t manage to absorb the great moment.
After a few minutes the message goes out on the Breslov Information Hotline from Rav Michael Gol shlit”a on behalf of the community’s Rabbinical Council, in a voice choking from tears of excitement and joy. He informs that welcoming the Rav shlit”a will be in the next hour at the entrance to his home: “One should come in Shabbat clothes in honor of our Rebbe Rav Berland shlit”a.”
Within a few minutes Rechov HaHoma HaShlishit fills up with thousands of Chasidim and followers of the Rav shlit”a: the new with the old, Chareidi Litvaks alongside secular, knitted kipas alongside Chasidim… All of them gathered and came, amongst them even those who had never merited to see the Rav shlit”a. Thousands upon thousands flowing in from all over Israel, from Metula (the northmost city) to Eilat (the southernmost city) to gaze at the radiance of the holy countenance of the true Tzaddik of the generation and to welcome him.
At 11:55, the message goes out on the Breslov Information Hotline, “’Open the gates and a righteous nation shall come’” – our Rebbe the Rav shlit”a has entered the gates of the holy city of Jerusalem, and in the coming minutes, we shall merit to gaze at the radiance of his countenance.” The excitement in the hearts of the gathered thousands reaches its peak, while Rechov HaHoma HaShlishit becomes tight for containing the thousands gathered. The police decided to close Highway 1 adjacent to HaHoma HaShlishit.
“Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright of heart”
At 12:13 pm, the Rav’s car arrives at his home, with great difficulty wading through the thousands who came from all over Israel. The band breaks out with the song “Or Zarua” and the Rav’s assistants attempt to clear a path between the thousands of people congregating at the building entrance where Rav Berland’s home is located. Rav Michael Gol shlit”a blessed with shem and malchut: “Baruch Shehechiyanu… — Blessed is Hashem Who gave us life, sustained us, and allowed us to reach this time” “Baruch SheChalak MeChochmato Leyere’av – Blessed is Hashem Who bestowed from His Wisdom on those who fear Him.” The gathered thousands answer with a mighty roar “Amen!!!” that is heard from a distance.
Our Rebbe the Rav shlit”a gave over a short shiur from the car in which he blessed the gathered thousands who came to greet him: “Now all the sins are forgiven in the merit of the welcoming – greeting one’s Rabbi is like greeting the Divine presence. In the merit that everyone is present here, so all the sins of all incarnations are forgiven, from Adam HaRishon. Now is a rectification for all the incarnations. Everyone who came will easily live until 110, with no illness – he and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren until the end of all generations.”
After about fifteen minutes, at 12:30, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit”a entered his holy home after two years, from the bitter day of 14 Shevat 5780, in which the haters of the Jewish people managed to put their impure hands on our Rebbe the Rav shlit”a, until the day of redemption – 11 Tevet 5782!
“Venahafoch Hu – It was turned about!” – The welcoming on the Rav’s balcony
At 1:20, a message goes out from the Rav’s holy home that in another fifteen minutes, our Rebbe Rav Berland shlit”a will come out on his home’s balcony in the direction of Rechov Ido HaNavi, and give over a shiur on loudspeaker to the gathered thousands who came to welcome him but didn’t merit to see his face. The longing is overwhelming, and so after a delay of a few minutes, at 1:46, the Rav shlit”a came out onto his balcony while the gathered thousands bless, “Shehechiyanu” and “SheChalak MeChochmato Leyere’av” with shem and malchut. The Rav shlit”a began the shiur with the greatness of Asarah B’Tevet and began the song, “Venahafoch Hu…” After about three-quarters of an hour, he once again entered his home to sit on the chair of Eliyahu HaNavi and to serve as sandak for the brit of the son of R’ Natan ben R’ Nachman Fox, and likewise for the brit of the son of R’ Nachman Hass. Meanwhile, the gathered thousands begin to disperse, not believing their eyes or ears. Did we really see and hear our Rebbe Rav Berland shlit”a!? “A great miracle was here” and “for the Jews, there was light and gladness and joy and honor”!!
Below is a clip which summarizes the first two months by Rav Berland shlit”a after his return to his home on that day:
