Story: Dancing with the Sheikh

Rabbi Efraim related: There was a Gur Chassid named Yehoshua, a businessman who lived in Bnei Brak and was very close to the Rav. He told me that for a certain period, he would travel every night to Rabbi Berland shlit"a in Jerusalem and learn with him in his home. Afterward, they would travel to Halhul. They would get out, recite The Tikkun HaKlali three times, and return to Jerusalem for Shacharis (morning prayers).

One night, when they finished reading The Tikkun HaKlali, Rabbi Berland shlit"a began to speak about the verse we say, "And David said to Gad, I am in great distress; let us fall now into the hand of Hashem, for His mercies are great." Rabbi Berland shlit"a started talking about Kiddush Hashem (sanctifying God's Name), and how one must have mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) for Kiddush Hashem.

Meanwhile, morning dawned, and the Arabs began to gather there for the mosque. Rabbi Berland shlit"a was speaking about how a person needs to sacrifice himself like an offering upon the altar. Yehoshua was trembling with fear—he had small children at home, and Rabbi Berland shlit"a was talking about Kiddush Hashem!

"But behold, a wonder," Yehoshua said. "It was as if the Arabs didn't see us at all; they didn't even look in our direction. After they finished their prayers, Rabbi Berland shlit"a approached the Sheikh and began speaking with him in front of everyone. I was shaking like a leaf. After a few minutes, I rubbed my eyes in disbelief—Rabbi Berland shlit"a took the Sheikh and the Arabs and started dancing with them! He called me over to join the dance. I joined in, having no other choice, and Rabbi Berland shlit"a danced with them for about fifteen minutes. Afterward, we returned to Jerusalem."

From Issue 84 — Parashat Vayakhel
From the series "A Tzaddik Rules in the Fear of God" — "Shapir Amar Nachmani" Newsletters