A Story of Mesirus Nefesh (Self-Sacrifice): Five Hours of Crying Out at the Western Wall / Story

Masses of students of Rabbi Berland shlit"a gathered at the Western Wall plaza under a blazing sun to cry out on behalf of the tzaddik, completely oblivious to the physical heat.

A Story of Mesirus Nefesh (Self-Sacrifice): Five Hours of Crying Out at the Western Wall

One Thursday, following the instructions of the leading students of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, a moving and extraordinary event took place. Masses gathered from all over the Holy Land and arrived at the Western Wall plaza. The goal was clear: to unite in a cry for the tzaddik, the source of our vitality. The gathering began at four-thirty in the afternoon, with the recitation of the entire Book of Tehillim (Psalms) from beginning to end.

Gathering Under the Blazing Sun

On that day, a heavy heatwave prevailed, and the Western Wall plaza was filled to capacity despite the scorching heat. Usually, on such hot days, everyone hurries to gather inside the shaded Western Wall tunnels. However, the students of the tzaddik stood under the blazing sun without feeling the heat or the burning rays of the sun at all.

"Who even feels the physical body when crying out for the tzaddik, the source of our vitality?" the attendees described the transcendent feeling that enveloped everyone. The complete self-nullification for the sake of the spiritual goal made everyone forget the harsh weather conditions. No one sought shelter; rather, everyone stood as one man with one heart.

Tears Poured Like Water

And so, for several consecutive hours, the masses cried out all the chapters of the Book of Tehillim. It was evident on the face of every participant how deeply immersed they were in serving Hashem, and many tears poured like water before the presence of Hashem. After concluding Tehillim, minyanim (prayer quorums) were held for Minchah and Maariv (afternoon and evening prayers), which were conducted with sweetness, enthusiasm, and immense joy.

Afterward, the congregation continued by reciting The Tikkun HaKlali (the General Rectification) several more times in a row. The cries and pleas that burst forth from the hearts of those gathered were so powerful that they echoed and could be heard from afar. The entire event left a profound impression of mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice), love for the tzaddik, and a burning faith that is unconditional.

A Story: The Mighty Cry at the Western Wall That Tore the Heavens

At the conclusion of this great gathering of spiritual awakening, all those present at the Western Wall experienced a trembling and awe-inspiring sight. It was when one of the prominent students of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, Rabbi Eldad Shmueli shlit"a, approached and sought to arouse the crowd. He stood before the masses and declared in a loud voice: "Gentlemen, our holy Chazal (Sages of blessed memory) said that the Jewish people will not be redeemed until they request three things: the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of the House of David, and the building of the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple)."

A Cry on Behalf of All of Israel

Rabbi Shmueli continued, addressing the crowd with great emotion: "Let us all cry out to Hashem for these three things. We will intend to fulfill this obligation on behalf of the entire Jewish nation, for we are the emissaries of every single Jew, wherever they may be." Immediately afterward, he began to cry out from the depths of his heart, and the massive crowd repeated after him with a mighty voice that pierced the air.

"Avinu Malkeinu (Our Father, our King), we request the Kingdom of Heaven!" the masses cried out until their strength was exhausted. A mighty and awesome voice burst from the mouths of thousands of Jews, who continued to scream and plead for long minutes with heart-rending cries. Afterward, the pious Rav continued to cry out the second request: "Avinu Malkeinu, we request the Kingdom of the House of David!" And again, piercing and heart-trembling cries were heard throughout the Western Wall plaza, as the crowd continued to cry out and beg.

Heavenly Delights

Finally, the third and final request arrived. "Avinu Malkeinu, we request the building of the Beis HaMikdash!" the cry echoed, accompanied by prolonged weeping. Everyone present at that moment felt their heart melt like water. It seemed as though the Western Wall, the wall of tears, was experiencing for the first time such a trembling and powerful display of yearning for the Geulah (Redemption).

There is no doubt that Hashem, who hears the sighs and groans of His people Israel and listens to the destitute, derived immense nachas (spiritual pleasure) from that moment. It is impossible to fathom the heavenly delights experienced Above at the sight of a holy nation that, despite all hardships, desires only one thing - "When will You reign in Zion?" Everyone anticipated the moment when His blessed Name will be revealed and magnified, as it is written: "May You be magnified and sanctified within Jerusalem, Your city."

The Story of the Trembling Gathering and the Great Cry at Rachel's Tomb

"A voice is heard on high, wailing, bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children." On Sunday afternoon, the masses gathered once again for a moving prayer rally at the tomb of Rachel Imeinu (our Matriarch), peace be upon her. Even though multitudes had already arrived from all over the Holy Land throughout the week, the students of the tzaddik, Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, did not seek rest for their souls. They did not entertain a moment of laziness, and they flocked to the site in about twenty buses and a hundred private vehicles.

Tears Poured Like Water

Already at five o'clock, about two hundred and fifty people arrived early with the goal of completing the entire Book of Tehillim (Psalms). Tears poured like water together with Rachel Imeinu, peace be upon her, who weeps over the troubles of the Jewish people. The recitation of Tehillim was conducted with deliberation, sweetness, and melodies that infused the place with a literal supernal pleasantness. This was done exactly as the Rav shlit"a educates his students, that a request ascends to Heaven specifically with melodies and songs, as brought down in the book Likutey Moharan (Torah 42, Part I).

Afterwards, the Minchah (afternoon prayer) was held with immense power and joy. By this stage, a huge crowd of about one thousand five hundred people had already arrived at the location. The massive crowd recited The Tikkun HaKlali three times with a great, resounding voice and with the pleasantness of the familiar melodies of the tzaddik. The mighty singing awakened and moved everyone who merited to hear it. Immediately after that, everyone prayed Maariv (evening prayer) together, using the same melody and the special nusach (prayer style) of the tzaddik.

Cries for the Kingdom of Heaven

The climax of the awe-inspiring event arrived when the crowd burst into mighty cries, pleading for the revelation of the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of the House of David, and the building of the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple). The masses did not stop crying out with awesome and moving shouts for a long time. Afterwards, everyone sang with deveikus (cleaving to Hashem) and yearning the words: "Have mercy in Your loving-kindness upon Your people, our Rock, upon Zion the dwelling place of Your glory, the habitation of Your glorious House."

The event concluded with the mighty singing of "Yibaneh HaMikdash... (May the Temple be rebuilt... and there we will sing a new song and ascend with joyous song)." The gathering left a profound impression on all the participants, who felt how the gates of Heaven were opening in the merit of the tremendous awakening and walking in the path of the tzaddik.

From Issue 79 — Parashat Korach

From the series "A Tzaddik Rules in the Fear of God" — "Shapir Amar Nachmani" Newsletters