Shuvu Banim International - Rabbi Eliezer Berland

Singing and dancing at Simchat Beit HaSho’eva in honor of Rabbeinu HaKadosh
Words of the Living God about the greatness of Rabbeinu HaKadosh
Multitudes at the Hillulah
214 years since his passing

18 Tishrei 5785, the Hilulah (yahrzeit) of the Light of Lights, our Holy Rebbe, the Flowing Stream, Source of Wisdom, Rabbeinu Nachman of Breslov zy”a (may his merit protect us). Like every year, also this year, the largest Hilulah in the world was held with the participation of thousands from across Israel and the world under the direction of Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit”a.

Like last year, the Hilulah was held on the streets of Shivtei Yisrael and HaHoma HaShlishit, organized by the “Ichud Chasidei Breslov,” with the participation of the Jerusalem municipality and the office of Rabbi Chaim Brim from Agudat Yisrael. Beginning at 11:00 P.M. of Motza’ei Shabbat Kodesh, thousands of people from all over Israel began to fill up all the streets. Along with the meal in honor of the Hilulah, organized by “Shuvu Banim – Nechamat Tzion” institutions, together with Rabbi Binyamin Dafan, a man of kindness, the masses began the singing and dancing in honor of Rabbeinu HaKadosh. The joy intensified all the more with the entrance of Moreinu HaRav shlit”a, a little after 1:00 A.M. at night. At the beginning, Shiri Regesh (songs of passion) were sung, and afterwards, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a gave over the main shiur of the Hilulah, holy fire, for more than twenty minutes, about the power and greatness of Rabbeinu HaKadosh zy”a and his work in this world even after his passing. The Rav also spoke of the importance of learning Gemara, which is the main thing of Rabbeinu HaKadosh. Below is an excerpt from the shiur (courtesy of “Shivivei Or”):

The Rebbe says: I can take away the free choice of a person completely. When a person comes to me, I take the free choice from him. And this is what is brought in Sichot HaRan, that when we come to Rabbeinu, we see that our free choice has disappeared. It is written in Sichot HaRan 124, that whoever truly believes with simplicity every word of Rabbeinu, he sees that mamash Rabbeinu takes away his free choice completely – there’s no choice. The first thing is learning Gemara!

After the shiur, the Rav shlit”a began to sing the “Shir Yedidut" of Rabbi Yitzchak Breiter Hy”d, and at the conclusion of the song, the dancing continued with even greater strength, with the joy bursting forth from the hearts of the thousands. There is no describing the joy, especially with Moreinu HaRav shlit”a himself rising to dance and rejoice in honor of Rabbeinu HaKadosh. More than two hours of dancing with vitality and fervor, with the giant congregation – elders alongside children – dancing in circles, storming with endless joy. And so, about this joy, it is said: “Whoever has not seen this joy, never saw joy in his life.” A few minutes after 4:00 A.M., Moreinu HaRav shlit”a said Kaddish Al Yisrael for the elevation of the soul of his father, R’ Chaim bar Eliezer z”l, whose yahrzeit fell on this day. The Rav left to the sound of the thousands singing, “Or Zarua La’Tzaddik,” returning to his holy home. It’s worth pointing out that even after Moreinu HaRav shlit”a returned to his home, the dancing continued with growing strength, both in the area of the Hilulah, and afterwards, in our Beit Midrash, until Sunday morning. Then Shacharit of Chol HaMoed began in our Beit Midrash.