The Great Donors' Conference in Jerusalem with the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a

An evening of appreciation with our teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), for the donors who opened their pockets and helped establish the mass gathering that took place in Chevron (Hebron) on the eve of the holiday of Shavuos. The gathering was held yesterday, Thursday night of the week of Parshas Shoftim 5779 (2019), in Jerusalem. The Rav shlit"a danced with the crowd of donors and afterwards delivered his holy words before the large audience. These are his words:

"If we want to sweeten the decrees that are renewed against the People of Israel every day, it is only through traveling to Chevron (Hebron). It is now 12 midnight and there are still buses to Chevron; one can reach Kiryat Arba or the Me'aras HaMachpelah (Cave of the Patriarchs). You walk for 20 minutes; this is what I used to do for about three or four years. I would walk on foot from Kiryat Arba, taking the last bus from Jerusalem, staying there until morning, and praying Vatikin (the sunrise prayer)."

"King David merited seven years—it is written in the Tanach (Bible) that he reigned for seven years in Chevron. The Zohar says that in this merit, he earned eternal kingship and the covenant of eternal priesthood; the covenant is carved with him, as it says, 'I have made a covenant with Abraham.'"

"For Moses was in favor of equality; Moses was the first fighter for justice. He could not tolerate deprivation or favoritism. He asked why the Leviathan has favoritism, why Hashem (God) made a covenant with the Leviathan, and why He reveals all His secrets to the Leviathan."

"Leviathan represents the 50 Gates of Binah (Understanding). Yocheved, the daughter of Levi, is called the 'daughter of the Leviathan.' Why isn't it written 'Yocheved'? Why isn't it written 'Amram'? Because Yocheved is the daughter of the Leviathan! Leviathan is 'Levi-Tan' (Give to Levi), the tribe of Levi from whom the Kohanim (priests) descend."

"The Rambam (Maimonides) says that anyone who studies Torah is called a Kohen (priest). Anyone who decides that all his years are for the Torah—without work, without collecting money—is called a Kohen. Everyone can be a Kohen."

Then, the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), turned to bless the crowd of donors for the Shavuos gathering, and also blessed the donors for the fateful election gathering that is destined to take place on the night of the 16th of Elul, on Sunday.

"Anyone who contributes to the buses and expenses will have a merit in the Geulah (Redemption); in this merit, Mashiach (the Messiah) will come and build the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple) speedily in our days, Amen."

"The Rav blesses all the donors who contributed on the eve of Shavuos, and all the donors who will contribute now for the gathering on the 15th of Elul, the night of the 16th of Elul on Sunday, that there shall be a downfall for all the secularists. All the talk they spoke shall turn to nothing, and they shall all return in Teshuvah (repentance)."

"And may the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple) be built speedily in our days, Amen."

Continuation of the photo gallery from the donors' conference event in Jerusalem with the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a

Photography: Avrami Wittman