Reb Yechezkel Could Not Endure This World for a Single Second • For the

On Shabbos, the 19th of Nissan, the yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) of the Rav of the settlement of Nehora, the Gaon (Torah genius) Rabbi Yechezkel Berland zt"l (of blessed memory), brother of our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), will occur. Presented before you is a short eulogy delivered by our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, about his brother in the year 5780 (2020):

Reb Yechezkel passed away during Chol HaMoed (the intermediate days of the festival). Chol HaMoed is also the yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) of Reb Aharon of Karlin. He would study for 24 hours straight; he never looked at a woman—not any woman. He lived in a village because he did not want to live in the city. I told him to come live in the city, but he said no, he wouldn't be able to guard his eyes (maintain visual purity). He wouldn't be able to leave the house; he would lose all his Torah. If a person sees the form of a woman, he loses all his Torah. This is written in the "Megaleh Amukos" (Ophan 191), that when one does not see a woman [properly], he sees demons. When Chavah (Eve) sinned with the Tree of Knowledge, her skin turned into the skin of a snake; one sees a snake, not a human. When a person looks at a woman [inappropriately], he sees a snake, and his "demons" (spiritual impurities) connect with hers, creating andralamusia (chaos and confusion). When there is immorality in the world, andralamusia is created. Andralamusia is the [forbidden] connection of man and woman—"Ander" refers to the male and "Musia" to the female. From the [forbidden] connection of man and woman comes andralamusia, like that of the atom.

Yechezkel could not endure this world for even a second, and Hashem fulfilled the desires of his heart that he should depart at the age of 76, just as our father also passed away at 76. Generally, a person lives as long as his father.

Rabbi Mendelson of Komemiyus gave him his semicha (rabbinic ordination) certificate; he was his chavrusa (study partner) for twenty years. His shiva (seven days of mourning) falls during the Torah portions of Tazria and Metzora, which speak about new birth. For in reality, this [passing] is a birth; he did not pass away, rather, now is his birth. All those 76 years were merely a pregnancy, a preparation for birth. Now in Heaven, it is truly the seven days of the wedding feast; one can see angels coming out, "walking straight ahead," everyone dancing around him. "And she gave birth to a male"—thirty-three days she shall remain in the blood of purity. If it is a daughter, it is sixty-six days, because the daughter brings a spirit of purity, a blessing to the home. And after this comes "Acharei Mos Kedoshim" (After the death of the holy ones), for truly this is like Nadav and Avihu who passed away for the Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of God's Name). The tzaddikim (righteous ones) pass away for Kiddush Hashem, and they sanctify the Name of Heaven. "Acharei Mos Kedoshim" refers to Nadav and Avihu, who passed away "when they drew near before Hashem."

Aside from Hashem, he saw nothing in his life. When I told him we were going to the Yeshiva, I prepared myself for a struggle, but he immediately said, "Fine, let's go to the Yeshiva." To this day, I don't understand what happened that day. We boarded the train—back then we still traveled by train from Haifa to Tel Aviv, then to Ramat HaSharon, to Rabbi Edelstein. He [Rabbi Edelstein] accepted him immediately; he became his chavrusa (study partner) and was his most beloved student. This is truly "Acharei Mos Kedoshim"—he was a spark of Nadav and Avihu.

But I wanted him to live in the city; instead, he went to Ramot Naftali (in the Hula Valley). He would only live in moshavim (agricultural settlements) so as not to see a woman, not even the form of a woman. [He said,] "In a moshav, I can close my eyes; I go to the field, the streets are empty, no one is in the street. All the housewives are in their homes, the children are in schools, the streets are clean 24 hours a day. I will only live in a moshav; I don't want to see a city. I don't want to stumble through forbidden sight—all the study of Torah is not worth it [if one stumbles]."