On Sunday this week, 9 Adar I, Parshat Tetzaveh, activists from the headquarters of Agudat Yisrael – Shuvu Banim entered the holy home of Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit”a, to hear words of chizzuk (encouragement) ahead of the battle for Jerusalem – “the reality that must change.”
Some forty activists came to the shiur. For most of the shiur the Rav encouraged the activists with how important this struggle is, because this is for the character of Jerusalem the Holy City, that there will not be, God forbid, the light rail on Shabbat, and likewise that stores and businesses will remain closed on Shabbat HaMalka. Likewise, he spoke a great deal about the need to recruit even our brothers who do not keep Torah and Mitzvot to vote for Agudat Yisrael, saying that really today every Jew, even one called “Hiloni (secular),” wants to keep Torah and Mitzvot, only that it is difficult for them to show it outwardly, and in a moment, the spark in every Jew ignites. Therefore, every activist, whether he travels on the train, bus, is in the grocery store or on the street, can approach anyone and explain to them the importance there is in this struggle, because they want to uproot all traces of religion and Judaism. The Rav added that today, we see in the war, the great awakening among soldiers in regular service and reserve personnel, who only desire Tzitzit, Tefillin, and Tikkun HaKlali’s.
In his holy manner, the Rav seasoned all these words with the words of the Living God, with numerous chizzukim, among them emphasizing the great importance of prayer, especially prayer with niggunim (melodies), bringing the Baal HaTurim on “VaEtchanan,” which is the numerical value of “Shirah (song).” Likewise, he encouraged learning Gemara, adding that the legacy which Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender left us was primarily in the matter of dancing and, to a greater extent, the study of Gemara specifically in Breslov. “Today, people speak in the name of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak without having known him in his lifetime, and without hearing anything from him,” the Rav said in the shiur.
Furthermore, the Rav added that the Torah does not explicitly write the 39 forbidden labor of Shabbat, so that the gentiles would not copy the Torah for themselves. He also added that because of this, the Torah sometimes “misleads” such as when it says, “and they shall be Totafot between your eyes,” the Rav speaking a great deal about this.
At the end of the shiur, the Rav asked all the activists to bring at least fifty new voters for the municipal elections in Jerusalem, who will vote for Agudat Yisrael, which is marked with the letter “Gimmel.”
