Shuvu Banim International - Rabbi Eliezer Berland

○ Singing and Dancing at the Simchat Beit HaShoeva in Honor of Rebbe Nachman

○ Words of the Living God on the Level and Greatness of Rabbeinu HaKadosh

○ Tens of Thousands at the Hilulah Celebration

○ Shacharit Prayer for Chol HaMoed of Phenomenal Length

◇ 215 Years Since the Rebbe's Passing

18th of Tishrei, 5786 – The Hilulah of the Light of Lights, Our Holy Rebbe, the Flowing Stream, the Source of Wisdom, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zy”a (may his merit protect us)

As every year, this year too, the greatest Hilulah in the world was held with the participation of thousands from across Israel and the world, led by Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit”a.

This year, the Hilulah took place in the courtyard of our Beit Midrash. Already from the time of the Maariv prayer of the night of the Hilulah, thousands of people from all over the country began filling the courtyard of the Prayer Hall. After the Maariv prayer, the chapters of Tehilim of Simchat Beit HaShoeva, and a shiur on the greatness of the Hilulah, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a announced that the central Hilulah would begin in the coming minutes. Indeed, a few minutes after the conclusion of the Maariv prayer, with the Rav’s entry into his holy home, the organizers of "Ichud Chasidei Breslov" ensured that the entire courtyard of our Beit Midrash was transformed into a place suitable for the thousands arriving for the greatest Hilulah in the world, in the presence of the living Tzaddik, together with this, fulfilling the mitzvah of greeting ones Rabbi during the festival. Even the balcony of the Rav’s home, was given a new appearance in honor of the occasion, with the Sukkah doubled in size so that all could behold the holy countenance throughout the Hilulah. In addition, the Hilulah feast was held in the Sukkah of the Beit Midrash, organized by the man of kindness, Rabbi Binyamin Dafan. The masses satisfied their souls with cakes, drinks, and giant pots of cholent that were emptied one after another. For the women’s section, the new prayer tent located on Rechov HaNevi’im was cleared out, with giant screens broadcasting the events taking place in the holy Sukkah of Moreinu HaRav shlit”a throughout the Hilulah. By 10:00 PM, the joyous dancing began with the orchestra of musicians, led by the singer R’ Shimon Marian, the organist R’ Shmuel Izik Mandelovitch, and the heart-stirring clarinetist, the artist Natan Menachem. The joy and dancing intensified sevenfold, with even greater strength and fervor, upon the arrival of Moreinu HaRav shlit”a, shortly after 11:30 PM. After a few minutes, the singing of emotional songs began, followed by Moreinu HaRav shlit”a delivering the Hilulah discourse—a shiur of holy fire on the power and greatness of Rabbeinu HaKadosh zy”a, his work in this world even after his passing, and the importance of studying the Gemara, which is the main thing of Rabbeinu HaKadosh. After the lesson, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a began singing “Shir Yedidut” of Rabbi Yitzchak Breiter, Hy”d followed by the song, “Heveta Otanu L’Kan, Tavi Otanu L’Uman -- You Brought Us This Far, Bring Us to Uman.” It is noteworthy the wonder that Moreinu HaRav shlit”a in his tremendous longing and yearning for the Rebbe’s grave in Uman, personally sang all the sections he himself composed when he broke through the Iron Curtain and opened the path to the grave of Rabbeinu HaKadosh for the masses of Am Yisrael. At the conclusion of the singing, the dancing continued with even greater strength, as joy burst forth from the hearts of the thousands. The joy, especially when Moreinu HaRav shlit”a himself rose to dance and rejoice in honor of Rabbeinu HaKadosh, is indescribable. Nearly five hours of dancing with vitality and fervor, with the huge crowd—elders alongside youths—breaking into spirited circles with endless joy. Indeed, of this joy it is said: “Whoever has not seen this joy has never seen joy in their life.” At exactly 5:00 AM, the orchestra fell silent, and Moreinu HaRav shlit”a began the Shacharit prayer for Chol HaMoed, starting with “Ura Na” – the abbreviated Tikkun Chatzot for Shabbat and festivals. He then announced that he would fulfill everyone’s obligation for the blessing of “Al Netilat Yadayim” and the blessings of the Torah. The morning Zemirot began while the sky was still blue, before the first glimmer of dawn appeared. Moreinu HaRav shlit”a led the singing of “B’ron Yachad Kokhvei Boker” with the thousands of participants. The prayer continued in its order, with Korbanot. During the wrapping of the tallit, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a said the blessing over the tallit along with the entire congregation. Then, during Pesukei D’Zimra, the Rav prolonged the singing of “Lamnatzeach” for about five minutes. At sunrise, the Rav stood for the Shacharit prayer of Chol HaMoed. Immediately after the repetition of the Amidah, from his place on the balcony, he recited the blessing “al netilat lulav.” As if he had not just finished five hours of dancing, and as if his health permitted it, the Rav shlit”a paid no heed to any of this and, with the renewal of his youthful vigor with astonishing wonder, began dancing during Hallel, extending it for nearly fifty minutes with song, melody, gratitude, and praise. At the beginning of Hallel, he extended the singing of “Betzeit Yisrael MiMitzrayim” for over ten minutes, but the main prolongation was during the melody of “Hodu” (the Chabad melody “VaElokim Malki Mikedem”) for seventeen minutes, repeating it again and again. Despite the exhaustion and fatigue from the long night, the entire crowd was revived by seeing the Rav shlit”a standing on the balcony, uplifting the community with his holy movements, fiery passion, and immense vitality! He then extended the melody of “Ana Hashem Hoshia Na” (“Adir, Ayom VaNora” from Melaveh Malkah) for another ten minutes. Of course, the Rav shlit”a waved his Four Species with the joy of the mitzvah, sweetening judgments and bringing salvation for all Israel, both in general and individually. It is now clear, after the announcement during the night of Rabbeinu’s Hilulah about the final release of the hostages, that the spiritual work of the Tzaddik—the dancing, the Hoshanot, and the immense joy—have brought about and continue to bring about awesome things Above. After concluding Hallel with the Hoshanot for the fourth day of Chol HaMoed, “El L’Mosha’ot,” the words “Po’el Yeshu’ot, Tzaddik L’Mosha’ot -- He Who Effects Salvation, the Tzaddik for Salvation” took on added significance. After a few minutes of Hoshanot, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a sang “Hoshia Et Amecha.” The Torah ark was opened for the Torah reading with the singing of “Yehei Ra’ava Kadamach” for about seven minutes. During the fourth aliyah—the aliyah of Rabbeinu HaKadosh—Moreinu HaRav shlit”a was called up to the Torah, and at its conclusion, he said the “Hashkava” prayer for the yahrzeit of his father, R’ Chaim bar Eliezer z”l who merited that his passing was on the day of the Hilulah of Rebbe Nachman -- on the 18th of Tishrei. After the Torah reading, the Rav shlit”a sang “Ki Lekach Tov” and stood for the Musaf prayer of the Three Festivals. During the repetition of the Amidah, even after nine continuous hours, the Rav took delight in every moment of prayer and every moment of prolonging melodies. He sang the melody of “V’Karev P’zureinu” and then “Vehavi’einu L’Tzion Ircha…” for over twenty minutes! The joy and dancing until complete exhaustion are indescribable! After Musaf, the Rav did not omit any part of the prayer text, including “Ane’im Zemirot” and “Adon Olam,” and even at the end, the “Tikkun HaKlali” on the holy Hilulah day of the Rebbe zy”a. After the Tikkun HaKlali, the Rav delivered a ten-minute shiur with chizzuk on Gemara learning and to utilize these holy days for in-depth Torah study with diligence. At 9:03 AM, after nine and a half continuous hours, the Rav shlit”a entered his holy home with the singing of “Or Zarua LaTzaddik...” All that remains for us is to give thanks and praise: How fortunate are we to have merited the revelation of our holy Rebbe living in this generation!