Rav Yisrael Ber Odesser on Rav Eliezer Berland
Although the venerable Rav Yisrael Ber Odesser (1888 – 1994) – known as the Sabba Yisrael – was about fifty years older than the Rav, they had a very close rapport. The Rav would stay at the Sabba’s house when he was in Jerusalem, and Rav Odesser would stay by the Rav when he was in Bnei Brak.
Rabbi Aharon Berlin recounted what he had heard from the Sabba about the Rav. “I used to go with the Rav when he would come to Jerusalem to pray at the Kotel and (Wailing Wall) we would pay the Sabba a visit at his home in Givat Shaul. He would tell us unknown stories, especially about his teacher, Rav Yisrael Karduner. One visit of my own to the Sabba really sticks out in my mind. We began to discuss the many recent baalei teshuvah (newly observant Jews), a movement which has just then began.
“The Sabba was very enthusiastic. ‘Rav Berland has a wondrous way of reaching out to baalei teshuvah!’ he exclaimed. ‘He has the power to inspire the entire world to teshuvah, (repentance)!’
“I told him Rav Berland’s astounding prescience before the outbreak of the Six Day War. It was before anyone knew anything. He told everyone that there were harsh judgments in heaven and danced all day to sweeten the decrees. He also sang the anthem of an enemy nation. All this in fulfillment of Rebbe Nachman’s teaching in Likutei Moharan that if one wants to sweeten judgments he should dance. In another place the Rebbe says that one who sings the anthem of the nation he wants to overcome with the right kavanah (spiritual intent) breaks their power.”
“But Rav Odesser was unsurprised, ‘I already told you, he has eyes that can see.’”
Hear the interview with Rabbi Aharon Berlin and the words of Rav Berland about Rav Odesser:
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Rav Yisrael Ber Odesser sur Rav Eliezer Berland
Traduit de la newsletter “Knishta Chada” #41
Bien que le vénérable Rav Yisrael Ber Odesser (1888 – 1994) – connu comme le Sabba Yisrael – avait environ 50 ans de plus que le Rav, ils avaient un très proche rapport. Le Rav restait à la maison de Sabba quand il était à Jérusalem, et Rav Odesser restait chez le Rav quand il était Bnei Brak.
Rabbi Aharon Berlin raconta ce qu’il avait entendu de Sabba à propos du Rav. “J’avais l’habitude d’aller avec le Rav quand il venait à Jérusalem prier au Kotel (Mur des Lamentations), nous faisions une visite au Sabba chez lui à Givat Shaul. Il nous racontait des histoires inédites à propos de son professeur Rav Yisrael Karduner. Une de mes propres visite chez le Sabba me vient vraiment à l’esprit. Nous commençions à discuter à propos des nombreux récents baalei teshuvah (des nouveaux juifs observants), un mouvement qui a juste ensuite commencé.
“Le Sabba était très enthousiaste. ‘Rav Berland a une merveilleuse façon de toucher les baalei teshuvah!’ il s’exclama. ‘Il a le pouvoir d’inspirer le monde entier à la teshuvah, (repentance)!’
“Je lui ai raconté l’incroyable prescience de Rav Berland avant le déclenchement de la guerre des Six Jours. C’était avant que quiconque ne l’ait su. Il disait à chacun qu’ils y’avaient des dures jugements dans le Ciel et dança toute la journée pour adoucir les décrets. Il chantait également les hymnes des nations ennemies. Tout ceci dans l’accomplissement des enseignements de Rebbe Nachman dans le Likutei Moharan que si quelqu’un veut adoucir les jugements il devait danser. À un autre endroit le Rebbe Nachman dit que celui qui chante l’hymne de la nation qu’il veut vaincre avec la bonne kavanah (intention spirituelle) brise leurs pouvoirs”
“Mais Rav Odesser n’était pas surpris, ‘Je t’ai déjà dit, il a des yeux qui peuvent voir.’”
Écoutez l’interview avec Rabbi Aharon Berlin et les mots de Rav Berland sur Rav Odesser (voir vidéo ci-dessus)