And From the Remaining Flasks • Hanukkah Conference for the Bnei HaNeurim Youth

Hanukkah Conference themed "Choosing the Tz" (Tzaddik) ○ Singing and Melodies ○ The Central Address from our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days) ○ Dancing and Hanukkah Joy ○ A Presentation regarding technological devices from our teacher, the Rav shlit"a ○ A Clicker program for the boys of the group

As in the previous year and by the instruction of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a (may he live long and good days), this year as well, the Bnei HaNeurim (youth) group conference was held. The conference was organized to strengthen the pure young men of the Shuvu Banim community, helping them merit to abstain from all "Greek culture" (secular influences) that floods the entire generation in the depths of oblivion through technological devices that are dangerous to a Jewish person. This year, the theme was "Choosing the Tz" (referring to the Tzaddik). Under the instruction and guidance of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, the boys were asked to choose whether to enter the path of the Tzaddik (righteous leader) and sign again, as they did last year, a letter of commitment to abstain from dangerous technological devices—ranging from non-kosher music players to the most dangerous of forbidden items—or, Heaven forbid, to choose the "Chet" (sin), as per the plot of the "Ba'al Davar" (Satan) to cause the pure boys of the final generation to stumble and fall. In honor of the conference, a journal titled "Bechartanu" (You Have Chosen Us) was published by the Bnei HaNeurim group, containing explanations and comprehensive articles on the subject of choosing a good and happy life, along with a special Q&A with our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, which will be published here, G-d willing, in the coming days.

This year, too, the conference was held with the participation of nearly a thousand holy and pure young men who are members of the Bnei HaNeurim group in our holy community. At 8:00 PM, the doors of the "Karl Netter" auditorium in the Eretz Hefetz neighborhood of Jerusalem were opened. Hundreds upon hundreds of precious Breslov Shuvu Banim youth crowded the entrances of the hall. Slowly, the crowds entered to the sounds of the orchestra. After some time, one of the well-known speakers in the Haredi public took the stage, strengthening the boys to be like the Hasmoneans—to merit guarding the "pure jar of oil" (spiritual purity) and to completely distance themselves and abstain from all the hazards of technology, which have been forbidden by our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, and all the great leaders of Israel with him.

At 10:45 PM, to the sounds of soulful melodies, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, entered the auditorium. For long minutes, he sat absorbed in holy books and joined the boys of the group in emotional songs and Hanukkah hymns set to heart-stirring Breslov melodies that penetrate the depths of the heart, melting the coldness of Greek culture with the fire of the Hanukkah flames.

A hush fell over the hall as our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, began his holy address to the hundreds of boys—words coming from the heart of the world and entering the heart of every boy, wherever he may be. During the lesson, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, repeatedly cried out from the depths of his heart about the many casualties fallen due to destructive technology. More than once, the Rav shlit"a raised his voice, shaking the hearts of the boys. From his holy words: "Today, Greek culture is the smartphones, the iPhones, and the Xiaomi." "There is no need to see pictures of the Rav on iPhones; it is all nonsense." "A non-kosher player is exactly like an iPhone." "Even Elisha ben Abuya (the Talmudic sage who went astray), because he heard Greek song, became an apikoros (heretic); he didn't even have Xiaomi or the internet. Today, there are abominations that never existed before." "The Hasmoneans ruled for one hundred and eighty years and succeeded in subduing Greece, but not the Greek culture, which in our generation is the internet." Of course, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, did not skip over encouragements in the study of Gemara (Talmud). As is his holy custom, he integrated many references from dozens of books into his lesson without them even being open before him. Especially in the second half of the lesson, he dealt with Likutey Halachos (the collected laws/teachings of Reb Noson), Matana 5, 61, regarding Chanah the Prophetess, in whose merit—eight hundred years before the miracle of Hanukkah—the Maccabees defeated the Greeks, and he expanded upon this matter until the end.

After a fiery lesson that lasted over an hour (1:03), our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, departed for his holy home, and the holy boys of the group settled into their places. The members of the group merited to watch a special presentation prepared with great effort. This featured the leaders of the group who had the merit of entering the inner sanctum several weeks ago to hear and receive advice, guidance, and direction from our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, on how to merit abstaining from these impure vessels; for true Da'as (knowledge/wisdom) requires the truth of the Torah. At the conclusion of the presentation, the boys participated in an entertaining "Clickers" (interactive response) program, which brought much laughter to the faces of the precious youth. The conference concluded only at 3:00 AM, as the precious boys, strengthened and inspired, rushed to the forests to cry out and plead before Him, may He be blessed, that He merit them to be saved from the days of the wicked Greeks who threaten to drown every pure and clean Jewish soul in the abomination of the internet.

Photo Gallery of the Hanukkah Conference for the Bnei HaNeurim Group with the Participation of the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a: