The Kabbalist Rabbi Shlomo Almaliach shlit"a

The Kabbalist Rabbi Shlomo Elmaliach shlit"a explains how to perform a pidyon nefesh today when the tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a does not accept money.

"Greetings to all our people. With the help of Hashem, we are joyful and thankful to Hashem for the release of our teacher, Rav Berland shlit"a, from prison after a campaign of about two years. We went through very difficult upheavals, and what we went through is nothing compared to what the Rav shlit"a went through. The Rav endured very difficult trials, moving from hospitals to prisons, a very complex campaign that lasted two years, and thank Hashem, we have merited this."

"And who would have believed that we would merit such Torah activity from our teacher, Rav Berland shlit"a—purely Torah-based—with the Rav's lessons in his home for all our community members from across the country. This week, people arrived at the home of the Rav shlit"a for lessons from Holon, Bat Yam, Rishon LeZion; there were already people from Eilat, all the kollelim in Jerusalem, special lessons, and thank Hashem, prayers, Seudah Shlishit with the Rav, and Shacharit and Arvit prayers."

"No one imagined that such influences would arrive as those that our teacher, Rav Berland shlit"a, is now bestowing upon the community. It is a wonder of wonders, and it is unbelievable, the marvelous management in the Rav's home. Everyone has their role, but there are several people standing behind the door—we don't even see them in the Rav's home—but they carry the entire financial burden upon themselves, a very heavy burden."

"I can only tell you what the Rav said about this team that is now dealing with the expenses, with building the tent outside, since our community members are now standing outside in the cold and rain. Fortunate are the people of Israel who sweeten judgments through this, but we need a little bit of physicality here; we have not yet merited reaching such a spiritual level of standing in the snow, cold, and rain."

"There are expenses here for the continuation of the activities of our teacher, Rav Berland shlit"a; we must already provide for the tents. Rav Ofer Erez has already said several times that people want to give the money into the hands of the Rav shlit"a, but Rav Ofer Erez has said several times that when one gives it to the activists, it is considered as if they gave a pidyon to the tzaddik; it is pidyon shvuyim (redemption of captives), even though one does not give it to the Rav directly."

"I met an avreich from Bnei Brak who asked to give a pidyon to the tzaddik. I told him: 'The Rav no longer takes pidyonot.' He continued, 'Fine, I want to give tzedakah to the tzaddik.' I told him that Rav Berland does not take tzedakah. He continued to say, 'But I want the Rav to be a partner here.' I replied that we are sorry, but that is the procedure now, because it is impossible legally and judicially to give directly to our teacher, Rav Berland shlit"a."

"People need to understand that even if they give for the expense fund and to those standing behind it, it is as if they gave tzedakah to the tzaddik. After all, the people standing behind the scenes are 100% trustworthy to us. They sacrificed themselves, they mortgaged their apartments for the release of the Rav, they sacrifice themselves day and night; therefore, anyone who has tzedakah, today it goes to the fund of the community rabbinical committee—and it is truly called a pidyon."

"There are many expenses and they are carrying the burden alone; therefore, it was decided by the community rabbinical committee to conduct a campaign until Purim where everyone close to our teacher, Rav Berland shlit"a—from Jerusalem and beyond—will see to donating one thousand shekels each."

For a direct donation for the emergency campaign to maintain the synagogue of the tzaddik Rav Berland shlit"a - Click here