"And Let Our Lips Substitute for Bulls" • The Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer

On the conclusion of the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Naso, our teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, made a pilgrimage during the Yimei HaHashlama (completion days) of the holiday of Shavuot, together with thousands of Anshei Shlomeinu (the members of our community).

Approximately two and a half hours after the conclusion of the Melaveh Malkah (the post-Shabbat meal) on the conclusion of the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Naso, at 12:45 AM, our teacher the Rav shlit"a appeared at the plaza of the remnant of our Holy Temple. Thousands who had arrived from all over the country were already waiting near the Western Wall, welcoming him with the song 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik' (Light is sown for the righteous). It should be noted that immediately upon stepping out of his vehicle at the entrance to the men's plaza, our teacher the Rav saw the moon and performed Kiddush Levanah (the sanctification of the new moon). Due to the intense crowding and the great commotion surrounding him, he did not prolong the prayer as is his holy custom. Afterward, he approached the remnant of our Holy Temple, the Western Wall, from which the Shechinah (Divine Presence) has never departed. He ascended the special platform prepared for him so that all of Anash (our community) could behold his holy countenance during this exalted occasion.

For nearly an hour, our teacher the Rav shlit"a recited one Tikkun HaKlali (the General Rectification) after another with melody and pleasantness. Amidst the fervor of the exalted occasion, our teacher the Rav shlit"a repeatedly kissed the holy stones of the Western Wall, while his pure eyes, clear as crystal, carried a silent prayer for the People of Israel who are in distress and captivity. At the conclusion of five recitations of the Tikkun HaKlali, our teacher the Rav recited Kaddish (the sanctification prayer) with a melody and departed from the Western Wall accompanied by hundreds of Anshei Shlomeinu singing 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik.' How fortunate are we to have merited this!

Before you is a spectacular photo gallery from the pilgrimage: