A Lesson from the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a for Bochurim

Approximately fifty students from the elite Litvish yeshivot in the center of the country entered for a special lesson in the inner sanctum ■ A fiery lesson on the importance of studying Gemara in-depth ■ A great mitzvah to always sharpen the intellect, with our teacher, Rav Berland shlit"a

The number of Litvish yeshiva students who have drawn close in recent years to the light of our holy Rebbe - Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, and to the path of our teacher, Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, totals several hundred fine young men, may they increase. They continue to toil in their studies at the most elite Litvish yeshivot in the Holy Land.

Approximately fifty of these yeshiva students, including many from the most elite institutions in the world of Litvish yeshivot, merited entering the inner sanctum for a fiery lesson at the home of our teacher, Rav Berland shlit"a, on the importance of studying Gemara specifically in-depth, according to the words of our holy Rebbe.

Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, read from Likutei Moharan, Torah 105, that everything depends on the study of Torah when one understands one thing from another, combining and connecting the letters of the Torah. Our teacher also read to the students who are drawing close from Torah 62, where our Rebbe writes, "It is a great mitzvah to sharpen the intellect to understand the matter thoroughly." Our teacher strengthened the students, saying that even though they have merited drawing close to the light of our holy Rebbe and to Breslov, they must strengthen themselves with even greater intensity and vigor and not miss the yeshiva schedules. As per his holy words:

"A person thinks that he has come to Breslov to rest; he needs to know, on the contrary, 'he has fallen from the frying pan into the fire...' Now he needs to study twelve hours of Gemara..." He also spoke about the virtue of studying Torah during Bein HaZmanim: "Specifically during Bein HaZmanim, while one needs to rest—because studying Gemara is the thing that most strains the intellect—someone who merits utilizing the time can study double the usual amount, as per the words of the Chazon Ish. Because during the term there are yeshiva schedules, but during Bein HaZmanim, one can study both day and night..."

[caption id="attachment_49674" align="alignleft" width="300"] Our teacher, Rav Berland shlit"a, in a lesson for students from Litvish yeshivot[/caption]

After more than half an hour of fiery words regarding the greatness and obligation of studying Torah in-depth, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, began to sing with the students, "It is a great mitzvah to always sharpen the intellect..." for several minutes with enthusiasm and awakening, and concluded with Kaddish. Afterwards, he blessed the students that they should ascend higher and higher and have success in all matters.

Immediately at the conclusion of the lesson, the strengthened students went straight to Maariv prayers in a large congregation together with our teacher, the Rav, in the courtyard of the prayer hall.