On Wednesday, the 13th of Kislev, the ceremony of Pidyon HaBen (Redemption of the Firstborn) for the great-great-grandson of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a (may he live long and good days), took place in the sanctuary of our Beis Medrash (study hall).

The Pidyon HaBen ceremony was held for the newborn Natan, may his light shine, the son of R' Nachman Galinsky, son of R' Moshe Galinsky shlit"a, and son-in-law of the eldest grandson of our teacher the Rav shlit"a – R' Nachman Zucker shlit"a, who is the son-in-law of the Mashpia (spiritual mentor), the Chassid R' Yehoshua Dov (Ber) Rubinstein shlit"a.

Upon the entrance of our teacher the Rav shlit"a to the ceremony, his great-grandson, the father of the child, R' Nachman Galinsky, performed the rare mitzvah of Pidyon HaBen with the two blessings and by transferring the five selaim (silver coins) into the hands of the Kohen (Priest) of distinguished lineage – the Halachic authority and Dayan (Rabbinical judge), the Gaon Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Kahana shlit"a. Afterward, Rabbi Kahana recited the blessing over the vine (wine) and blessed the redeemed firstborn with Birkat Kohanim (the Priestly Blessing).

With the conclusion of the Pidyon HaBen ceremony, all the participants sat down for the Pidyon meal, which is equivalent to 84 fasts. During the meal, the holy great-great-grandfather – our teacher the Rav shlit"a, delivered his holy discourse for nearly half an hour. At the conclusion of the lesson, our teacher the Rav shlit"a asked the Halachic authority, the Gaon Rabbi Yitzchak Kahana shlit"a, to say a few words. Rabbi Kahana began his words with a Chiddush (Torah insight) from the Parshah, "And he sent angels before him," explaining that when a Jew is persecuted, the angels descend from Heaven to assist him, thereby hinting at the terrible persecutions that our teacher the Rav shlit"a has undergone in recent years.

After Rabbi Kahana's words, our teacher the Rav shlit"a broke into singing and dancing with immense vitality, which lasted for over an hour and a half (!). At the conclusion of the Pidyon meal, during Birkat HaMazon (Grace after Meals), Sheva Brachos (seven blessings) were also performed by our teacher the Rav shlit"a for the esteemed groom, R' Mordechai son of R' Pinchas Bick shlit"a. After nearly three hours, the Pidyon HaBen and Sheva Brachos ceremony came to a close.

From here, a single blessing is sent to His Holy Eminence, our teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, that he should merit to have long days upon his kingdom in goodness and pleasantness, and merit to see generations upon generations of upright and blessed offspring, viable offspring amidst health of body and superior light, until Yinon (Mashiach) comes and our King is at our head, Amen!

Before you is a summary of the holy discourse of our teacher the Rav shlit"a during the ceremony:

1. The revelation of the Ohr Ein Sof (Infinite Light) in the Pidyon HaBen: Every firstborn is a vessel for drawing down the light of the Ein Sof, "With their own eyes they shall see Hashem’s return to Zion."
2. The Gematria (numerical value) of Bechor (firstborn - 228), and together with the four fillings of the Name Havayah (72, 63, 45, 52) which equals 232 – the aspect of "Lev" (heart), the revelation of all four Names.
3. The concept of "Rav" (Great) and "Rav Koach" (Great Power) as a hint to the Name "Av" (Father), which is not recognized until the aspect of Yosef HaTzaddik is revealed.
4. The number of Yosef (156) which completes to 501–502, the aspect of "Baruch Mordechai" (Blessed is Mordechai) and "Arur Haman" (Cursed is Haman) – a connection between Chanukah and Purim.
5. The Pidyon HaBen reveals the aspect of Mordechai and his sons: "361" and "Baniav" (his sons) = 70, numerically linking Mordechai-Esther and Mattathias-his sons.
6. The secret of the Gavia (goblet): "Gavia" is hinted at in the 13 Attributes of Mercy and the Name of 72 (36), which is linked to Mordechai and Esther.
7. The goblet of Yosef as a tool for the Birur (spiritual clarification) of the tribes – "he can surely divine" – reveals the hidden and effects the clarification.
8. The matter of the silver: The brothers brought ten sacks full for long-term sustenance, and not for a daily purchase – clarifying the value of the money they brought to Egypt.
9. The brothers' claim: "Even the silver that we found, we returned" – the question of why they would steal a goblet whose value is small compared to the amount of their money.
10. The goblet "says" who is who – it reveals the place of Yosef and the order of the brothers' clarification.
11. The power of Yehuda's cry – it overturns the orders of the world, as told by our Sages of blessed memory regarding the fall of Egypt's heroes in panic.
12. All the lights of the firstborn reveal Avraham-Yitzchak-Yaakov and the aspect of "dust and ashes," and the building up of all the broken ones.
13. The words of the Baal Shem Tov that the entire Torah is "upside down" (paradoxical) – such as "Go for yourself from your land..." versus Avraham's response "Only to my land."
14. Lavan searched for a "needle" in Yaakov's house and found nothing – a hint to the attempt to find a flaw in Yaakov who had fallen.
15. Yehuda son of Yaakov, with one cry, overturns the heads of heroes.
16. The Yosef-Mordechai-Esther-Chanukah connection: The numerical values of the names are equal, and the revelation is one.
17. The Pidyon HaBen and the goblet: The goblet does not have real economic value compared to the great amount of money they brought – and therefore it is clear it was not a "theft."
18. The plot of the goblet: The brothers understood that Yosef was seeking a pretext – but Yosef was aiming for the building up of all the tribes.
19. All the trials the brothers underwent are part of the revelation of the "Supreme Birur" (spiritual clarification).
20. In Parshat Vayeitzei: Eliezer thought that Avraham was mistaken regarding his daughter; the Kotzker reveals that in the repetition of the word "Ulay" (perhaps) lies Eliezer's desire that he take his daughter – "Elay" (to me).
21. "Genes of Tzaddikim": If there was a grandfather who was a Tzaddik – the power awakens even after generations of the wicked; and in Eliezer, this root was missing.
22. Rome and Ishmael: Two forces that will not completely destroy the world – just as Hashem established two brothers (Romulus and Remus) for the founding of Rome.
23. "I did not know" (Anochi lo yadati): Yaakov Avinu saw the Merkavah (Divine Chariot) in a dream – Lion, Eagle, Cherub, and Man – which is hinted at in the word "Anochi" (I), and he did not know that it accompanies him always; therefore he said "I did not know," for he did not know that the Chariot rests upon him in all his journeys.
24. Pride topples kingship – the Bat Ayin writes "His kingdom shall be uplifted" (tinasay) – his kingdom shall be taken away. Because if there is "tinasay" – if there is pride, then the kingship is taken away.
25. This is the reason the Hasmoneans lost their kingship, according to the words of the Ramban (Nachmanides). Because they were supposed to remain in the Priesthood and not seek kingship.