“We’re gathered here, at this holy place [at the Bar Ilan intersection, next to the Sanhedria Cemetery]. Many Tzaddikim are buried in this place – may their merit protect us, but here we are protesting outright against the trial, which isn’t a trial. In reality, they judged the Rav already for 11 months in prison – without trial.
“The end of the legal proceedings of our Rebbe Rav Berland shlit”a have already been finished after nine months, and Rav Eliezer Berland ben Etiya…they still haven’t brought evidence or testimony – this is atrocious criminality whose kind hasn’t been heard of since the founding of this State, which is waving a flag of righteousness, law, and justice.
“They tried Rav Berland without trial, for no crime. All the accusation that he has is for pidyonos (redemptions) – pidyonos like all Gedolim of the generation [who] make Pidyonos. Every Kupas Va’ad…, behold, Kupas HaIr – look in front of you…, Kupas HaIr and Va’ad HaRabbanim [names of various charitable funds administrated by Gedoley Yisrael]. Kupas HaIr in Meah Shearim – all the Admorim receive pidyonos.
“So for pidyonos they need to try Rav Berland unlawfully? No law and no judge.
“In particular, we [point] a finger of guilt here at this gathering against the Assistant State Attorney. After the prosecution already recommended freeing the Rav and making a plea bargain with him, then the Assistant State Attorney, who is responsible for the prosecution, gave them three months to work day and night, and he decided in his great wickedness to not free the Rav. As known, the Supreme Court and the judges there are biased from the media, biased from their IPhones and Whatsapp and what they see behind closed doors – so certainly no true trial was done here.
“We, the people of ‘Shuvu Banim’ – this is only a portion of what you see here from the people of Shuvu Banim – protest outright against the Supreme Court – Oyyyy (screaming), Oyyyy…
“Oyyy Tata Gevald (screams).
“Anyone who saw the pictures of the Rav, how he appears, in very, very serious condition, as Rav Nachman [the Rav’s son] said. How is it possible to hold a Jew who is sick with 28 illnesses? How is it possible to hold him in prison?
“Oyyy…
“Rabosai, the prosecution itself with all its investigators admitted in front of the Supreme Court that Rav Berland is unfit for imprisonment – Rav Berland shlit”a can’t sit for another minute in prison, and here we protest and scream to the heart of Heaven.
“Oyyy…
“Well, Bezras Hashem, today is the birthday of our Rebbe Rav Berland – today is the birthday of Rav Berland…”
Watch the video of Rav Elmeliach (in Hebrew)
