Amazing Story: "Tell Your Mother That I Hear Everything She Says" and 3 More Stories

An amazing story about a man who came to Rabbi Berland shlit"a for the first time in his life, and received a surprising message for his mother who used to speak to the tzaddik's picture out of pure emunas chachamim (faith in the Sages).

Amazing Story: "Tell Your Mother That I Hear Everything She Says"

A Jew related a wondrous story that he heard from a man he picked up as a hitchhiker in his car. That passenger told him that he makes a point to come every single month to receive a blessing from the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a.

First Visit to the Tzaddik

On one occasion, he decided to bring along a friend who did not know the Rav shlit"a at all. The two entered the holy inner sanctum together, and the Rav spoke with them at length.

When they finished the visit and were on their way out of the room, the Rav shlit"a suddenly turned to that friend and told him a surprising sentence: "Tell your mother that everything she says to me - I hear."

The surprised friend had no idea what the Rav meant. Immediately afterward, he hurried to his mother and told her that he had been to a great tzaddik, and that this tzaddik conveyed a message to her that he hears everything she says to him.

Pure Faith in the Sages

The mother, a woman with pure and innocent emunas chachamim (faith in the Sages), was deeply moved to hear these words. She enthusiastically replied to her son: "Indeed, I recently saw a picture of some holy tzaddik. I don't even know who it is, but out of sheer excitement from his holy appearance, I make it a habit to speak to the tzaddik with complete faith that he hears me."

This wondrous story practically illustrates the words of Rebbe Nachman zy"a, that the true tzaddik hears all the sighs and words of those who are attached to him, even when they are far away from him.

Wondrous Story: Is it Possible to Speak with the Tzaddik from Afar? The Answer of the Prince of Torah

Throughout the generations, we have witnessed a deep and wondrous spiritual phenomenon. Many tzaddikim told their students that they do not have to come to them physically, and that it is possible to speak with them and connect to them even from afar, using only the power of thought.

There are countless stories of people who sought salvation in their thoughts, connected to the tzaddik, and were saved in a supernatural way. However, not everyone is quick to easily accept these lofty spiritual concepts.

The Yeshiva Student's Doubt

It is told of a yeshiva student from the city of Bnei Brak who heard about the concept of speaking with the tzaddik from afar, but the matter aroused doubt within him. He found it difficult to understand how such a connection could be possible without physical presence.

In order to clarify the issue in depth, that student decided to enter the residence of the Prince of Torah, the holy genius Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky zt"l. He handed the Rav a note in which he wrote his question: "Is it possible to speak with a living tzaddik from afar?"

The Ruling of the Prince of Torah

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky read the question and answered him affirmatively and unequivocally: "Yes."

Despite the clear answer, the student still felt the need for further clarification. A week later, he entered the holy inner sanctum again, and handed the Prince of Torah exactly the same question. This time too, Rabbi Chaim answered him affirmatively.

After receiving the same answer twice, the student gathered his courage and asked the Prince of Torah: "What is the source for this?"

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky answered him with a single word that holds great depth: "Sevara (logic)".

This story illustrates to us just how much the connection with the tzaddik is not limited by space or time. The power of spiritual connection does its work, and the tzaddik hears and brings about salvations even when the appeal is made from the depths of the heart and mind, from anywhere in the world.

A Wondrous Story: The Surprising Phone Call from Tzalmon Prison that Comforted a Broken Heart

Letters of Pain Behind Bars

A certain Jew, who was going through a difficult period filled with suffering, shares a wondrous story that happened to him. In those days, our teacher Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a was incarcerated in the Tzalmon prison. Out of immense pain and a search for comfort, this Jew decided to write to the Rav and share his troubles with him.

He sent several letters within the prison walls, hoping that the tzaddik would read them and awaken mercy upon him. It was known to all that during that period, the prison authorities did not allow the letters sent to the Rav shlit"a to reach him. Despite this, the Jew acted with complete earnestness and continued to send letter after letter, pouring out his bitter heart before the tzaddik.

The Surprising and Wondrous Phone Call

One day, something unbelievable occurred. This Jew suddenly received a phone call, and on the line was none other than our teacher Rabbi Berland shlit"a himself. The Rav addressed him with a voice full of compassion and said the moving words: "My heart truly melted from your sorrow."

During that conversation, the Rav shlit"a deeply encouraged and strengthened him, breathing renewed hope into him to face his hardships. To this day, that Jew remains astounded and does not understand how these matters reached the Rav's awareness. Beyond the very knowledge of his sorrow, he has no idea how the Rav shlit"a even had his phone number while under prison conditions.

This story illustrates once again how the eyes of the tzaddik are open to each and every individual. It proves how Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Inspiration) and soul connection cross walls and bars, all to bring comfort to a Jew with a broken heart.

A Wondrous Story: The Distant Confession that Rabbi Berland Heard Word for Word

One of the students of our teacher Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a related a wondrous event that happened to him several years ago. On a Thursday night, the young man was making his way home, and during the walk, he began to do Hisbodedus (personal secluded prayer) in the midst of nature.

The Distant Confession

As the holy Rebbe, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zy"a, writes in Torah 4 of Likutey Moharan, there is a great concept in telling a Torah scholar everything that a person is going through. Out of earnestness and burning faith, the young man made a "Vidui Devarim" (verbal confession) before the tzaddik while walking on the road. He believed with complete faith that the Rav shlit"a was capable of hearing his confession even from afar.

After he finished, the young man called an avreich (Torah student) who was waiting in line at that time to enter the inner sanctum. He asked him an unusual request: "Please ask the Rav shlit"a if he heard my verbal confession."

When the avreich entered the room of the Rav shlit"a, he did not hesitate and relayed the young man's question. The Rav shlit"a answered immediately and said: "Tell him to come to me on Sunday at ten o'clock and confess before me."

A Revelation of Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Inspiration)

The young man received the message, and he spent that entire Shabbos in tremendous spiritual preparation and a great awakening of teshuvah (repentance). He knew that on Sunday he would have to stand face to face and confess before the tzaddik, and this made a profound impression upon him.

Indeed, on Sunday night, the young man merited to enter the room of the Rav shlit"a. The moment he entered, the tzaddik greeted him with a uniquely radiant countenance, took him by his hands, and drew him close with great love.

And then the immense wonder occurred: The Rav shlit"a began to repeat to him, word for word, everything that the young man had spoken and confessed on Thursday night, while walking alone on his way home! After revealing to him that he had indeed heard everything, the Rav strengthened him and said: "From now on... from now on, be strong!"

This story once again illustrates the power of the tzaddik, whose eyes and heart are open to his students at all times and at every hour. He hears the prayers of their hearts even when they are far from the eyes of flesh and blood, and he guides them on the path of truth.

From Issue 82 — Parshas Metzora

From the series "Tzaddik Moshel Yiras Elokim" — "Shapir Amar Nachmani" newsletters.