Shuvu Banim International - Rabbi Eliezer Berland

Words of Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit”a on the greatness of Hitbodedut, secluded meditation with the Creator, followed by a short prayer

From "Leket Tefilot"

One needs to know that an hour of hitbodedut is the most important thing in the world, and it is forbidden for a day to pass without an hour of hitbodedut. An hour of hitbodedut contains awesome secrets, because then one receives the 370 lights, and all the secrets of the world are revealed to the soul. Afterwards, everything that a person learns throughout the rest of the day is through the power of that hour of hitbodedut he did. Then he brings out all his secrets to the soul, from potential to actuality. Therefore, it is forbidden, God forbid, for any day to pass without an hour of hitbodedut. Then we are saved from all harm in the world and from every illnesses in the world, and there is no illness in the world that cannot be cured through an hour of hitbodedut.

The greatness and precious value of hitbodedut is something no thought can grasp at all—especially for one who merits a full hour. It is written in Chafetz Chaim – “Zachor L’Miriam” -- that an hour of hitbodedut is D’Oraita (a Torah commandment), and this is the true prayer that our Sages instituted from the giving of the Torah until the Second Temple. This is how they would pray in the First Temple, until the Men of the Great Assembly came and instituted the Shemoneh Esrei. For with the Shemoneh Esrei one ascends to Atika, but with an hour of hitbodedut one ascends to Adam Kadmon, because the Chafetz Chaim writes that an hour of hitbodedut is D’Oraita, while the Shemoneh Esrei is D’Rabbanan (a Rabbinic commandment). Especially one who merits to seclude himself in the field among the woods, trees, grasses, and bushes (sichim) nullifies “To whom does one speak (siach), to whom does one complain?” (Likutey Moharan 28). And all the advice of Rabbeinu is [relevant] from Adam HaRishon until after the resurrection of the dead, and there is no Tzaddik in the world who merited to such a radiant lens (aspaklaria me’ira) as our holy and awesome Rebbe. And one who cannot do an hour can gradually accustom himself little by little, but he must ensure that over the course of the year he reaches an hour. Then that hour accomplishes great and hidden things that no thought can grasp at all.

Ribbono Shel Olam – Master of the World, Who can do everything, from Whom no plan is withheld, please Merciful Father 3, let me merit to burn 308 for You 61 with flaming 42 fire 301, and to do 812 every 50 day 56 Hitbodedut 827 = 2460.May I merit to see Divine providence eye-to-eye, as it is written, “Behold! 60 He 12 stands 114 behind 209 our wall 506 looking 361 from 90 the windows 505 peering 230 from 90 the lattices 283” = 2460,

ד רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם כֹּל יָכוֹל אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִבָּצֵר מִמְּךָ מְזִימָה, אָנָּא אָב = 3 הָרַחֲמָן, זַכֵּנִי לִבְעוֹר 308 אֵלֶיךָ 61 אֵשׁ 301 לֶהָבָה 42, וְלַעֲשׂוֹת 812 כָּל 50 יוֹם 56 הִתְבּוֹדְדוּת 827 = 2460. וְאֶזְכֶּה לִרְאוֹת אֶת הַהַשְׁגָּחָה עַיִן בְּעַיִן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב "הִנֵּה 60 זֶה 12 עוֹמֵד 114 אַחַר 209 כָּתְלֵנוּ 506 מַשְׁגִּיחַ 361 מִן 90 הַחַלּוֹנוֹת 505 מֵצִיץ 230 מִן 90 הַחֲרַכִּים" 283 = 2460.