“And From the Remaining Flasks” ◇ Hanukkah Convention for the Youth Group with the Participation of HaGaon HaTzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a
Hanukkah Convention Themed "Building for Generations" ○ Song and Melodies ○ The Central Address from our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a ○ Dancing and Hanukkah Joy ○ Clicker Program Presentation for the Young Men of the Group
Following the tradition and the spirit of purity that flows during the days of Hanukkah, the Bnei HaNeurim (Youth) group continued to uphold the war of holy fire. They answered the Tzaddik's call of "Who is for Hashem, come to me," standing against the Greek culture of our generation—namely, the technological devices that corrupt the pure soul. This year as well, Hanukkah 5786, the magnificent Hanukkah gathering was held by the Bnei HaNeurim group of the Shuvu Banim holy community.
This year's convention was held under the banner of "Building for Generations." In a special booklet published by the Mashgichim (spiritual supervisors), it was explained with great wisdom and insight how important it is for the precious young men of the Bnei HaNeurim group to sign for another year within the inner sanctum, committing themselves before our teacher the Rav shlit"a to abstain from destructive devices.
As in every year, this gathering took place in the 'Karl Netter' auditorium in the Shimon HaTzaddik neighborhood of Jerusalem, on Thursday night, the fifth night of Hanukkah.
Even before the doors opened, crowds of young men thronged the entrance. Exactly at 7:30 PM, the gates opened to the sounds of the orchestra led by the singer R' Natan Marian. The event was opened by R' Shimon Nachman Rabinowitz, who lost his son in the measles epidemic. R' Nachman Shimon spoke with inconceivable strength of soul. For over an hour, he captivated hundreds of young men with words of encouragement in Emunah (faith) and Bitachon (trust) in Hashem, with the clear knowledge that nothing bad descends from Heaven.
After these strengthening and inspiring words, the man of great action, the head of the Bnei HaNeurim group, R' Nachman Haas, rose to speak. With pleasant and sharp language, he explained the importance of signing this year within the inner sanctum, emphasizing that this signature is a "building for generations"—not just for the young man himself, but for all the generations to come after him.
Upon concluding his inspiring words, R' Nachman Haas broke into powerful song together with the hundreds of young men, accompanied by the orchestra, as preparation for the arrival of our teacher the Rav shlit"a.
Close to 10:30 PM, our teacher the Rav shlit"a appeared in his holy majesty at the magnificent event. It is important to note that despite the medical treatments the Rav undergoes daily, he insisted on attending the event with supreme Mesirus Nefesh (self-sacrifice).
The soulful melodies grew even stronger. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a, together with hundreds of young men in immense Dveikus (cleaving to Hashem), cried out from pure hearts: "And from the remaining, the remaining flasks, a miracle was performed for the roses." In the heart of every youth, the cry was heard: "Tatty (Father)! I want to be among those who remain, from the pure oil that the impurity of Greece did not touch at all!"
At the conclusion of the powerful singing, our teacher the Rav shlit"a delivered his holy address—words of the Living God in a flame of holy fire, coming from the heart of Israel and entering like an arrow into the hearts of the hundreds of pure young men.
At the end of the holy address, over 600 young men of the group merited to pass before the holy presence and receive 'Hanukkah Gelt' (traditional Hanukkah money) from his holy hands. One could not miss the satisfaction on the Tzaddik's face as he saw the hundreds of pure young men passing before him. Here, for the first time, something occurred that departed from the usual holy conduct: the Rav shlit"a stayed and distributed to over 600 young men; despite his great weakness, another boy and another boy—until the very last coin, the Rav did not give up!
With the conclusion of the coin distribution, the Rav shlit"a rose from his place to the sound of the song "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the Tzaddik) and returned to his holy residence. Hundreds of young men burst into dancing over the immense merit of having our teacher the Rav shlit"a participate in this magnificent event again this year.
After about half an hour of joyful dancing, the lighthearted part of the convention arrived with the 'Clickers' program and questions that brought many smiles to the faces of the young men. In the middle of the program, an equally entertaining presentation was shown. The convention concluded with the distribution of a gift to every young man.
The convention ended only at 2:30 AM, with the hundreds of young men leaving the event with a profound impression. Their single resolution was: "We are signing and building for generations."
With this resolution, they rushed to the forests to perform Hisbodedus (solitary prayer), to cry out and plead before Him, may He be blessed, to merit being saved from the days of the wicked Greeks who threaten to drown every pure and clean Jewish soul in the abomination of the Internet.
Summary of the topics mentioned by our teacher the Rav shlit"a during the event:
- "For their selling the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of shoes" — The brothers sold Joseph for the shoes of the Shechinah (Divine Presence).
- The secret of Hanukkah is that when earth is thrown, it becomes swords and arrows.
- Moshe and Chanah prayed for Hanukkah to subdue the Kelipah (husk/evil force) of Greece, then we merit "And the kingdom shall be Hashem's."
- The story of Alexander the Great who fell before Shimon HaTzaddik.
- All of Hanukkah is Shimon HaTzaddik; Shimon HaTzaddik elevates the prayers of the People of Israel. All the miracles during the time of the Second Temple were in the merit of Shimon HaTzaddik.
- The fall of Sennacherib's army by the Angel of Hashem.
- The miracle performed for Nakdimon ben Gurion whose water pits were filled, and even more so, he merited that the sun stood still for him.
- Everyone from Shuvu Banim needs to know how to move the sun.
- Lavan prayed "Yegar Sahadutha" so that Greece would rule for 214 years.
- Eldad and Medad prophesied that Moshe would die and Yehoshua would lead them in; consequently, the spies wanted to kill Moshe.
- Whoever has a Xiaomi or a smartphone endangers the life of the Tzaddik. Anyone who has a smartphone or Xiaomi endangers the life of the Tzaddik!
- If everyone throws away their iPhones and smartphones, Mashiach will arrive today.
- When they ask you what Shuvu Banim is—it is to learn seven pages of Gemara (Talmud).
- One who has drawn close to the Rebbe (Rebbe Nachman) does not need to sleep. After such an event, one needs neither sleep nor food.
- Antoninus made a tunnel to study with Rabbi (Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi) every day. He said, "I wish I could merit to be the dust under your feet in the World to Come."
- A person should long to be a footstool under the feet of the Tzaddik.

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