The Miracle of Hurricane Dorian: How Rabbi Berland's Prayers Saved Florida

At the end of August, all residents of Florida were notified to prepare for evacuation because the largest hurricane in the last thirty years was expected to arrive. The hurricane reached Category 5, which is the highest level.

The world's largest news organization, CNN, published an article on August 30th with these words: “Every county in Florida is under a state of emergency as the state prepares for what may be the strongest hurricane to hit its east coast in nearly three decades.” Every county in Florida is in a state of emergency as the state prepares for the arrival of the largest hurricane to hit the East Coast of the U.S. in the last thirty years.

Our mentor and teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), has a community in Miami, USA, and a 'Shuvu Banim Miami' yeshiva (Torah academy). When they heard the warnings published by the authorities, they immediately contacted Rabbi Berland shlit"a through the 'Shuvu Banim Int' website and asked him what to do.

Before observing the greatness of the events that transpired since the members of the Miami community asked Rabbi Berland about the evacuation, we must remember that about two years ago, on September 8, 2017, another hurricane struck the region. This was Hurricane Irma, which destroyed every place it reached. Just like today, back then the authorities declared a state of emergency and ordered the residents of Miami to evacuate. Important Rabbis, such as Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky zt"l (of blessed memory), also joined the call and ordered an immediate evacuation. However, when they asked Rabbi Berland shlit"a, he answered that they should stay and nothing would happen. At the last moment, Hurricane Irma bypassed the area. But now, when they asked Rabbi Berland about Hurricane Dorian, he said they must leave immediately. (Recording 1)

After the people of Miami heard Rabbi Berland shlit"a say, "Leave immediately," they began preparations to depart, but they didn't know whether to fly to another state or if it was enough to move away from the coastal area. Only the next day, on the morning of August 30th, were they able to ask the Rav (Recording 2). Now, the Rav surprised them even more with his answer. Rabbi Berland replied, "Instead of having to fly, spend a lot of money, and be tossed about on the roads, let every two families unite and give a Pidyon Nefesh (redemption of the soul). Then, there are two possibilities: either the hurricane will stop in the Caribbean Islands, or it will stop 100 km from the seashore."

The people immediately took action and sent the Pidyon (redemption money) to the Rav. Then a wondrous thing happened: the hurricane, which according to all forecasts was supposed to enter Florida, stopped in the Bahamas for two whole days. This occurrence is rare, as hurricanes typically move quickly with the winds. The hurricane caused total destruction in the Bahamas, estimated at seven billion dollars, and severe loss of life. The case was so strange that the global media began to ask—"What happened that caused the hurricane to stop for two days?"

Afterward, the hurricane continued to advance toward Florida, as the Rav had said, and then it passed about 100 km from the seashore, bypassed Florida toward the north, and entered the U.S. in the South Carolina area.

Since then, many articles have been published wondering—"What happened that caused the hurricane to change its course, contrary to all the scientists' predictions?" Many theories were tossed into the air, but only a few know that the only reason is the prayers of the Tzaddik and the Pidyon Nefesh (redemption of the soul), which caused an "awakening from below" to arouse the Upper Realms. (Videos showing the damage in the Bahamas)

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