Rabbi Eliyahu Meirav at the Memorial Day Ceremony - The Moving Words of a Student of Rabbi Berland shlit"a

Rabbi Eliyahu Meirav shlit"a (may he live long and good days), the father of the soldier Yosef Cohen Hy"d (may Hashem avenge his blood), and one of the veteran and prominent students of our teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, delivered strengthening words filled with a message at the Memorial Day ceremony of 5779 (2019). Rabbi Meirav has an extensive and eventful history; as a young child, he immigrated with his family from Egypt, joined the Air Force, and advanced as a pilot until becoming a Wing Commander. Afterward, he returned in teshuvah (repentance) and served as a gabbai (attendant) for the leader of the Jewish people, the holy Tzaddik Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira zt"l (of blessed memory, the Baba Sali). He drew close to the path of the "Holy Lamp," the light of Israel, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zy"a (may his merit protect us), and also to our teacher Rabbi Berland shlit"a. For a certain period, he served as a mayor, yet he always remained faithful to the path of Torah and Chassidus, while carrying the burden of important missions he received from our teacher the Rav shlit"a.

After the passing of Yosef Hy"d, Rabbi Meirav spoke to the media, which naturally arrived to cover the event. Rabbi Meirav's words sparked positive reactions among the general public and were etched as a corner of emunah (faith) within the flood of vanity carried by the general media. From there to the invitation to speak at the Memorial Day ceremony at the IDF Fallen Soldiers Memorial in Beit Shemesh, the path was short. The event was held in the presence of Mayor Dr. Aliza Bloch, Members of Knesset Kati Shitrit and Nir Barkat, council members, public figures, and the entire Jewish people.

"We Have No Other Land"

These are the main points of his words: "Rebbe Nachman of Breslov says that the main place of a Jewish person is in Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel); here is our place, we have no other land. Eretz Yisrael was given to our forefathers; here the foundations of our emunah (faith) were planted. Here, Avraham Avinu (our father Abraham) walked on his feet after abandoning the idols of his father Terach by Divine command, carrying the banner of emunah for himself and all other nations. We were exiled from our land, scattered, and dispersed in every direction. According to any natural logic, there was no reason we would return to see our land, to unite in it, and to build it. Against all odds, in a way that has no parallel in the history of nations, we returned here after two thousand years of galus (exile)..."

"The Exile Came Because of Baseless Hatred"

"We were exiled from here because of sinas chinam (baseless hatred) which caused the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple) and the exile of our ancestors. In these days, the days of Sefiras HaOmer (the counting of the Omer), we mourn the death of the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva who died in a short period because they did not treat one another with respect. Many dangers threatened our existence as a nation; in every generation, they stand against us to destroy us, but none of them could ever overcome us. We survived Pharaoh, Amalek, Haman, the Greeks, the Romans, the Inquisition, the Nazis, the Communists, and many others."

"Baseless Hatred is a Greater Threat Than All Others"

"To this day, we struggle for the nations' recognition of our historical right to Eretz Yisrael, but one threat was, and still is, the true danger to our existence as a nation. As Jews, as believers, as a society, as a state—this threat does not come from the outside; it is within us: sinas chinam (baseless hatred). In each of us there is a heart, and if in this heart we hate, with what heart will we love?"

The Fundamental Principle is to Find the Good Point in the Other

"Why is it that only enemies succeed in making us lovers? Today, Baruch Hashem (thank G-d), we live in a land full of Jews in every place and every corner, but perhaps specifically because of this goodness, it is hard for us to see and recognize this good. We forgot to see the nekudah tovah (good point) in the other, as Rebbe Nachman calls it in his famous Torah lesson—'Azamra.' We are surrounded by good, by constant growth, but we immediately identify what is rotten and what isn't working."

"Rebbe Nachman revealed many wonderful secrets about man and the world, and one of them is the wondrous power of the nekudah tovah (good point). This is a mighty principle and the height of precision; if we understand it, we will all be resurrected. The principle teaches that perfection and goodness do not necessarily take up an impressive share. On the contrary, in this world, the perfect and the good hide in many small points within the darkness. But, the good is the essence, it is eternal, it is our true story."

"Rebbe Nachman teaches us not to suffice with just accepting the other, but rather one must find the good and the special in them, to give them a true place in our hearts. This is not a slogan; it is work—to connect all the tribes."

In the Merit of the Torah and its Learners, the Jewish People Will Exist

"In a few weeks, we will celebrate the holiday of Shavuos, the holiday of the Giving of the Torah, where we stood as 'one man with one heart' to receive the Torah that turned us into a Segulah (treasured) nation. We must cherish and respect this 'one man,' which refers to the many who truly 'kill themselves' (sacrifice themselves) in the 'tent of Torah'; in their merit, and in the merit of their Torah, the Jewish people will have existence."

"Forty-six years ago, in the Yom Kippur War, I was scrambled along with my friends in the Air Force beyond enemy lines. We risked our lives; it was a difficult and bitter war. We won, but the true victory will be when the verse in Isaiah (Chapter 2) is truly fulfilled: 'And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.' 'Hashem will give strength to His people; Hashem will bless His people with peace' (Psalms 29:11)." [audio mp3="https://www.shuvubanimint.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/הרב-אליהו-מירב.mp3"][/audio]