Important Message Before the Return to Jerusalem - The Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a

An important and special message from our teacher, the holy Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), ahead of his return to his holy home, after a period of rest.

"Since the year 5738 (1977) on Simchat Torah (the holiday of Rejoicing with the Torah), it has been 41 years. For 39 years, the Yeshiva has been conducted with orderly prayers, prayers with kavanah (intense spiritual focus). However, in the last two years, the prayer has turned into a public reception; thousands of notes reach the Rav during the time of prayer."

"Therefore, we are now restoring the crown to its former glory (returning to the original way), just as the prayer was conducted for 39 years—orderly prayers with kavanah (spiritual focus), without notes, without questions, and without public receptions during the prayer time. All private questions will be answered immediately after the prayer."

"If a person has an urgent question, he can direct it to the gabbai (rabbinic assistant) and he will receive an answer, but during the time of prayer, no note will be answered. There will be a large box where people will place the notes and Pidyonos (redemption of the soul offerings); after the prayer, they will check for urgent questions and call the families."

"From today, the Rav will pray without interruptions, and the children with the bleachers (tiered seating) will be moved to the front part of the hall, so that the Rav can see them throughout the entire prayer. The Rav will be able to encourage them and give them good hints for praying with kavanah (spiritual focus). All the children will be able to pray an orderly prayer, with kavanah, with niggunim (spiritual melodies), just as we received the blessing from Rabbi Levi Yitzchak [Bender], from Rabbi Nachman of Tulchin, who received the blessing from Rabbi Noson."

"Everything will be conducted peacefully, in a meticulous manner with the utmost stringency, without concessions and without compromises. From today, candy will not be distributed during the prayer; the prayer will be in the 'Holy of Holies' out of awe and fear [of Heaven]. One must only concentrate on the words, the niggunim (melodies), and the requests, and then this will sweeten everything. Only prayer with kavanah (spiritual focus) that is entirely in awe and fear can sweeten all the judgments in the world and on a private level."

"From today, the prayers will be conducted on time—Mincha (afternoon prayer) before sunset, Kabbalat Shabbat (the service welcoming the Sabbath) 20 minutes before sunset. The Shacharit (morning) prayer will always be one hour before Netz (sunrise). The prayer will end on time so that the women can send the children to the Cheder (schoolrooms) in an orderly fashion."

"Anyone who interferes with these rules will cause the Rav to be unable to come to the prayers."

"Women shall not follow after the Rav and shall not stand on HaChoma HaShlishit (The Third Wall) Street opposite the Rav's house."

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