A Story of Salvation: The Frightening Lump in the Throat Disappeared in the Merit of a Pidyon Nefesh and 4 More Stories

The wife of one of the Rav's students discovered a frightening lump in her throat. A moment before they turned to medical tests, they transferred a Pidyon Nefesh to Rabbi Berland shlit"a, and the lump disappeared as if it had never been there.

A Story of Salvation: The Frightening Lump in the Throat Disappeared in the Merit of a Pidyon Nefesh

A Jew relates an amazing medical miracle that recently happened with his wife, which illustrates the immense power of a Pidyon Nefesh with the tzaddik. About a week ago, the woman suddenly began to feel a sharp and bothersome pain in her throat area. When she checked the area, she discovered to her amazement a sort of protruding lump that had not been there before.

The Anxiety and the Decision of Emunah (Faith)

The sudden discovery of the lump in the throat aroused great fear and deep concern in the couple. Their thoughts began to race, and they were already about to urgently call the family doctor to schedule an appointment for a series of comprehensive medical tests. The anxiety about what was to come was palpable, but specifically in this stressful moment, they paused for a moment and made a fateful decision.

Instead of sinking into anxiety, they decided to preempt the blow with a cure. "Before we turn to doctors and tests, let's do a Pidyon Nefesh," they said to themselves. They decided to set aside a sum of money as a redemption and transfer it to Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, out of complete emunah in the power of the tzaddik to sweeten the judgments and nullify the decree.

The Immediate Salvation

The result of this act of emunah was not late in coming. Baruch Hashem, by the loving-kindness of Hashem, the Pidyon Nefesh worked its effect with tremendous speed. Within a very short time from the moment the Pidyon Nefesh was handed over, the great wonder occurred.

The woman noticed that the sharp pains that had been bothering her simply stopped completely. When she checked her throat again, she was amazed to discover that the frightening lump had disappeared as if it had never been there. This moving story reminds us once again how binding oneself to the true tzaddik and handing over a Pidyon Nefesh can bring about open miracles, and spare us from much suffering and anguish.

The Story of the Special Letter from Rabbi Dov Kook: Suffering the Afflictions of the Jewish People

A while ago, one of the students of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a merited to enter the residence of the holy tzaddik, the Kabbalist Rabbi Dov Kook shlit"a of Tiberias.

A Holy Mission

Towards the end of the visit, a moment before the student left the home of Rabbi Kook, the tzaddik handed him a sealed letter. He asked him to deliver the letter personally into the hands of Morinu HaRav Berland shlit"a.

The student, with awe and respect, guarded the letter with utmost care and of course did not dare to open it on the way. When the student arrived at Morinu HaRav shlit"a, he handed him the letter as the emissary of the Kabbalist.

"To Suffer the Afflictions of the Entire Jewish People"

Morinu HaRav Berland shlit"a opened the letter in the presence of the student. In that rare moment, the student was able to glance at the holy handwriting of Rabbi Dov Kook shlit"a and see the trembling words that were written there.

The letter stated the following: "May Hashem give you the strength to suffer the afflictions of the entire Jewish people that you have taken upon yourself."

Whose heart would not tremble and whose eye would not shed a tear upon hearing such powerful words, which testify to the magnitude of the Rav's self-sacrifice for the sake of the Jewish people.

Rabbi Eliezer the Great

Further testimony to the immense esteem and the spiritual secrets between the tzaddikim can be seen in another photograph of the holy handwriting of Rabbi Dov Kook shlit"a.

In that rare document, the Kabbalist from Tiberias writes sublime words: "In honor of Rabbi Berland shlit"a, who is Rabbi Eliezer the Great, who suffers in the difficult exile of Israel."

These words shed light on the immense holiness of Morinu HaRav shlit"a, who carries the burden of the entire generation on his shoulders with love, in silence, and with tremendous self-sacrifice.

Story: The tzaddik Rabbi David Chaim Stern on the Final Test Before Mashiach

Many come to hear the clear Torah perspective of the Torah leaders of Israel regarding the persecutions in our generation. The tzaddik Rabbi David Chaim Stern shlit"a constantly warns, cries out, and cautions about the terrible controversy and persecution taking place. It is very difficult to put into writing the sharp and fearful expressions he uses when speaking about the pain of the Shechinah (Divine Presence).

The Final Test of the Generation

In his piercing words, the tzaddik firmly establishes that "the final test of the generation is the test of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a." Regarding this era, it is said, "The prudent shall keep silent in that time," and fortunate is the one who merits to remain silent and not get involved in the dispute. The tzaddik promises that there will be no end to the immense joy that will be the portion of anyone who successfully passes this difficult test.

Climbing a Smooth Wall

These words connect perfectly to the well-known teachings of the holy tzaddik of Ruzhin zy"a (may his merit protect us all, Amen). The Rebbe of Ruzhin said that before the coming of Mashiach, the test of emunah (faith) will be so difficult that it will feel exactly like climbing a smooth wall. This is a resounding warning for anyone who seeks to guard his soul in the generation of Ikvesa d'Meshicha (the footsteps of Mashiach).

To survive this period, strenuous spiritual work and a cry from the depths of the heart are required. Without many cries, pleas, and tears poured out like water before Hashem, blessed be He, no one is guaranteed to withstand the test, may Hashem protect us. May it be His will that we merit to pass the final test and remain attached to true emunas chachamim (faith in the Sages).

A Special Story: The Amshinover Rebbe on the Secrets of Rabbi Berland

Last week, a group of students of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a merited to enter the residence of the Amshinover Rebbe shlit"a. As is known to all, the holy service of the Amshinover Rebbe is like that of one of the supernal Seraphim. He is truly like an angel of the Lord of Hosts, and his Divine service continues for hours upon hours until total exhaustion, without eating, without drinking, without sleeping, and without any trace of the vanities of this world.

Hours of Strengthening in the Dead of Night

Despite his packed schedule and holy service, the Rebbe dedicated his precious time in the middle of the night for the Rav's students. For two full hours, the students sat in his presence and merited to hear holy words from him that revive the soul.

During the conversation, the Amshinover Rebbe asked to convey a special and important message to all the students of the Rav shlit"a. He instructed them to strengthen themselves and to study with deep concentration the prayers authored by Morinu HaRav Berland shlit"a.

Secrets and the Secrets of Secrets

"They contain profound depth, secrets, and the secrets of secrets," the Rebbe said in amazement regarding the prayers. He added and emphasized that the enormous quantity of tens of thousands of prayers emerging from the hands of the tzaddik is a tremendous novelty the likes of which has never been heard before.

The words of the Amshinover Rebbe left a profound impression on the students. They left his residence strengthened and moved, with a renewed understanding of the great privilege to delve into the Torah and prayers of Morinu HaRav shlit"a.

An Inspiring Story: One of the Greatest Tzaddikim Who Does Not Forgo the Words of Rabbi Berland

It is well-known and famous that the holy words of Morinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit"a illuminate the hearts of the Jewish people all over the world. However, this story reveals just how much the leaders of the generation themselves thirst and yearn for every word that emerges from his holy mouth.

Thirst for the Words of the Tzaddik

One of the greatest tzaddikim and rabbis, a leader of thousands of Jews, revealed immense and extraordinary affection for the words of Rabbi Berland shlit"a. It turns out that this tzaddik simply does not forgo receiving these words week after week.

He specifically requested that one of the students of the Rav shlit"a be responsible for regularly obtaining and bringing him these words of awakening and awesome supplications written by the Rav.

Constantly on his table in his room

This refers to those holy pages that are distributed every Friday night in the Beis Midrash of the Rav shlit"a. Every week, about eight or nine new prayers are printed, dealing with the secrets of the weekly Torah portion, current events, as well as all topics related to the service of Hashem of that time.

The student emissary makes sure to deliver this spiritual treasure into the hands of that Torah giant in Israel. To the surprise of many, these pages are not stored away in a closet, but are always placed on his personal table in his room, so that he can delve into them at any time.

This fact testifies more than anything to the immense holiness of those words, which are written with Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Inspiration) and serve as a drawing force even for the greatest and most prominent leaders of the land.

From Issue 80 — Parashas Shlach

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