Wondrous Tales: The Unseen Observer and the Chilling Dream / A Story of Self-Sacrifice: "Give Me the Most Severe Humiliations"

An amazing collection of stories about the power of our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), ranging from revealed Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Inspiration), through hidden spiritual accompaniment, to a chilling dream that saved a soul.

Wondrous Tales: The Unseen Observer and the Chilling Dream

True tzaddikim (righteous ones) operate in this world in hidden and wondrous ways, seeing from one end of the world to the other. The following collection of stories, brought from eyewitnesses and those directly involved, reveals a glimpse of the revealed Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Inspiration) and wondrous Divine Providence surrounding our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. Through the spiritual accompaniment of his students, knowing hidden matters on the eve of Shabbos, and prophetic dreams that save souls—we merit to peek behind the spiritual curtain.

Who is the Third Person Standing Here?

A certain Jew related a wondrous event that occurred, which was told at the regular Thursday night gathering at the "Nachalei Netzach" yeshiva. That evening, three baalei teshuvah (returnees to the faith) arrived from the city of Bat Yam, and one of them shared with the audience what his own eyes had seen.

These Jews would travel together throughout the Holy Land to raise funds for the Shuvu Banim institutions, as well as to bring distant Jews closer to their Father in Heaven. It is known that our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, would always tell them that he accompanies them wherever they go. Indeed, there are many wonderful stories about this, and each time they would conduct themselves with reverence, as if the tzaddik was literally right there with them.

Once, they arrived at a home that was very disconnected from Judaism. A woman opened the door for them and they entered, but they were careful to leave the door open due to the prohibition of yichud (seclusion). They sat on the couch and began speaking words of strengthening in emunah (faith). Suddenly, the woman interrupted them and asked in immense amazement: "Who is the third person standing here? He has the appearance of a tzaddik, is it Rebbe Nachman?"

The two men were very startled, as they did not know of anyone else who had come with them, and they immediately understood that she was tangibly seeing the Rav shlit"a. To verify this, they showed her three different pictures of the Rav. In the first picture, he appeared with a tallis, and in another picture in regular clothing, but she said that was not him. The third picture was of the Rav shlit"a wearing a shtreimel and Shabbos garments. The moment she saw it, she cried out: "That's him! That is the Jew I see standing right here!"

Today You Can Learn Until Five

A dear avreich (Torah scholar) who recently drew close to our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, shared an open miracle he experienced. Once, he asked the Rav regarding his learning schedule on the eve of the holy Shabbos. On one hand, he deeply wanted to learn Torah, but on the other hand, he knew he had to help at home and prepare the Shabbos necessities.

The Rav shlit"a instructed him to learn in the kollel until twelve noon, and afterward go home to help with the Shabbos preparations. The avreich accepted the instruction and indeed followed this routine consistently every week.

One week, Hashem orchestrated it so that by Thursday night almost everything was already prepared for Shabbos, leaving very little to do at home. On Friday morning, when the avreich arrived for the Shacharis prayer, the Rav shlit"a unexpectedly turned to him and said: "Today you can learn until five o'clock!" The avreich was astounded by the revealed Ruach HaKodesh of the tzaddik, who saw from afar and knew exactly what the situation was in his home.

A Chilling Dream: Appease Your Relative

A certain man related a terrifying and chilling story, which he heard directly from the person involved. It involved a Jew of Persian descent who had recently drawn close to our teacher, the Rav shlit"a. One week, early Thursday morning, he saw the tzaddik in a dream.

In the dream, the Rav shlit"a turned to him and spoke clear, piercing words: "You have a relative in such-and-such country. Call him immediately, tell him that you forgive him, and appease him, because today at four o'clock he will no longer be in this world."

The Jew woke up in immense panic. The vivid dream drove the sleep from his eyes, and he decided not to delay. He indeed called that relative immediately, spoke with him, forgave him with a full heart, and they completely reconciled.

That same day, at three-thirty in the afternoon, he received a horrifying phone call. He was informed that this relative had been in a severe car accident; his vehicle was completely crushed, and he was killed on the spot, may Hashem protect us. One's hair stands on end realizing what happens here in this world, and in what a concealment within a concealment the tzaddikim operate to save souls.

Fortunate Are Those Who Merit to Publicize the Truth

Facing all the concealments and tests, there are precious Jews who merit to publicize the absolute truth and sanctify His blessed Name in the world. For example, an interview was recently broadcast on the Breslov information line with a dear Jew who merited to publicize wondrous tales in their entirety, without omitting a single detail.

At the conclusion of that interview, he recited the "Nishmas Kol Chai" prayer together with the avreich Rabbi Gavriel, may his light shine, with immense emotion and gratitude to Hashem. Fortunate is the portion of those who merit to spread the light of the tzaddik, to strengthen faith in Divine Providence, and to reveal the glory of Hashem in the world.

A Story of Self-Sacrifice: "Give Me the Most Severe Humiliations"

A few months ago, two avreichim (young Torah scholars) were staying in the United States. During their trip, they met a young man from the Satmar Chassidus. When this young man heard that they were counted among the students of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, he hurried to share with them a personal and chilling testimony that he had heard from his grandfather.

A Rare Testimony from the United States

The grandfather related that about forty years ago, he merited to host Morinu HaRav shlit"a in his home for a certain period. In those days, two other tzaddikim and supreme holy men stayed in his home together with the Rav: the holy Tzaddik of Ribnitz, and the holy Tzaddik Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Kramer from Kfar Gidon, may the memory of the righteous and holy be for a blessing. The presence of these three spiritual giants transformed the house into a place of sublime holiness.

The Chilling Request During Hisbodedus

During that period, the Rav shlit"a would regularly go out to practice Hisbodedus (secluded prayer) behind that Jew's house. On one occasion, the grandfather heard with his own ears how the Rav shlit"a cried out and pleaded from the depths of his heart: "Master of the Universe, please grant me the merit of being humiliated with the most severe humiliation!" These words were spoken forty years ago, long before the persecutions known to us today began.

Who can imagine and who can describe what the tzaddik accomplishes here in this world. What sweetenings and mercy he draws down upon the entire Jewish people through the suffering and humiliations that he accepts upon himself with love. It is known that tzaddikim have said that if there had been such a tzaddik during the Holocaust, he would have nullified the Holocaust entirely. May Hashem, blessed be He, shine a new light upon Zion, and may we merit the complete Geulah (Redemption) speedily, Amen.

From Issue 79 — Parashat Shlach

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