Lesson for the Activists of the Agudat Yisrael

On Sunday of this week, the 9th of Adar I, Parshat Tetzaveh, the activists of the Agudat Yisrael - Shuvu Banim headquarters entered the holy residence of our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), to hear words of chizuk (encouragement) regarding the campaign for Jerusalem—the reality that must change.

Approximately forty activists attended the lesson. Throughout most of the lesson, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, encouraged the activists regarding the immense importance of this campaign, explaining that it is a battle for the character of Jerusalem, the Holy City—ensuring that, G-d forbid, the light rail will not operate on Shabbat, and that shops and businesses will remain closed on the Queen Shabbat. He also spoke extensively about the need to recruit even our brothers who do not yet observe Torah and mitzvos (commandments) to vote for Agudat Yisrael. He said that in truth, today every Jew—even one labeled "secular"—wants to keep the Torah and mitzvos; it is only outwardly that he finds it difficult to show it, and in a single second, the spark within every Jew can be ignited. Therefore, every activist, whether traveling on the train, the bus, at the grocery store, or in the street, can approach every single person and explain the importance of this campaign, as there are those who wish to uproot every sign of religion and Judaism. The Rav further added that during the current war, we see a great awakening among the regular soldiers and reservists, who desire only tzitzis (ritual fringes), tefillin (phylacteries), and the Tikkun HaKlali (the General Rectification).

In his holy way, he seasoned all these words with the "words of the Living G-d," offering many points of encouragement. Among them, he spoke extensively on the importance of prayer, especially prayer with melodies. He cited the Baal HaTurim on the word "Va'eschanan" (and I entreated), noting that its gematria (numerical value) is equivalent to "shirah" (song). He also encouraged the study of Gemara (Talmud), adding that the legacy left to us by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender zt"l (of blessed memory) was primarily regarding dancing and, even more so, the study of Gemara specifically within Breslov. "Today, people speak in the name of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak even though they did not know him during his lifetime and never heard him at all," the Rav said during the lesson.

The Rav further added that the Torah does not explicitly list the thirty-nine melachos (forbidden labors) of Shabbat so that the nations of the world would not copy the Torah for themselves. He added that for this reason, the written Torah uses cryptic language, such as "and they shall be for totafos (frontlets) between your eyes," and he spoke at length on this subject.

At the conclusion of the lesson, the Rav requested that every single activist bring at least fifty new voters for the Jerusalem municipal elections to vote for Agudat Yisrael, whose ballot letter is "Gimmel."