Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit”a arrived at the mourners’ tent at the home of the great Gaon, member of the Chief Rabbinate Council and Chief Rabbi of Beer Sheva, Rabbi Yehuda Deri ztvk”l.

As we publicized here last week, at the time that Moreinu HaRav Berland shlit”a returned to Israel and stayed in the Beer Sheva Prison, the Chief Rabbi of the city, the Gaon Rabbi Yehuda Deri ztvk”l saw to the welfare of Moreinu HaRav shlit”a and his community surrounding him.

Last week, after the bitter news which came from the hospital, the son of Rav Deri spoke with Rav Berland shlit”a, and said to him that the family was waiting for him to come to comfort them. The Rav shlit”a, who is known for his gratitude, decided to answer the family’s request and travelled especially from his home in Jerusalem to the mourners’ tent in Beer Sheva.  When the Rav reached the mourners’ tent, he comforted the family members, among them the future Chief Rabbi of Beer Sheva, Rabbi Avraham Deri shlit”a, speaking about the greatness of his father. After comforting his sons, the great rabbis, he comforted the rest of the family members, Rav Deri’s brothers, among them minister Rav Aryeh Deri, chairman of the Shas party.  The Rav said a number of words of consolation and concluded with the traditional “Min HaShamayim Tenuchamu – May you be comforted from Heaven.” Despite the place being full of comforters from all corners of Israel, including rabbis, Admorim, government ministers, and various senior officials, including the head of the Shin Bet who was also present at the time, the family, including Rav Aryeh Deri, stopped all the consolers and listened to the comforting words of Moreinu HaRav Berland shlit”a. It is worth noting that apart from the assistants and managers who came with the Rav shlit”a, a number of members of our community from Beer Sheva and even Jerusalem also merited to arrive in time to escort the Rav back to his home in Jerusalem.

Below is a photo gallery from the condolence visit (courtesy of Hithadshut magazine):