The Class of the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, for Rosh Chodesh Shevat at the Melaveh Malkah Meal - "The Tzaddik Lives and Endures; We Must Believe the Tzaddik Walks With Us"

The class of our holy master and teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, as delivered in honor of the Melaveh Malkah meal, Motzaei Shabbat Kodesh (Saturday night), the night following Rosh Chodesh Shevat 5777. These are his holy words:

"From this month, the aspect of 'Head of Months' begins. In sixty days, the actual 'Head of Months' (Rosh Chodesh Nisan) begins. Truly, according to Rabbi Eliezer [in the Gemara], the world was created in Tishrei. Therefore, all the sins a person committed are atoned for on Rosh Hashanah, because Hashem established Rosh Hashanah as a day of pardon, a day of forgiveness, a day of atonement."

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"On the first of Shevat, we see how Hashem has mercy, how Hashem forgives. Now is the moment when we see the Shechinah (Divine Presence) face to face. If a person does teshuvah (repentance), all their sins are forgiven. There is no iniquity that cannot be atoned for; there is no sin that is not forgiven. In Shevat, the Ten Commandments were given [referencing the Torah reading]. In the month of Shevat, one must hear the Ten Commandments; one must merit that Hashem will shine the light of the Ten Commandments upon us."

"The tzaddik lives and endures. We must believe that the tzaddik walks with us. There is no such thing as the tzaddik passing away. Whoever knows this fears nothing. Moshe and Aharon are with us and walk before us. The entire service is to reach the level of 'Moshe and Aharon among His priests' [Psalms 99:6], which is why Shmuel HaNavi (the Prophet) merited [to be equated with them]."