Story: Dancing with the Sheikh

One night, when they finished reading The Tikkun HaKlali, Rabbi Berland shlit"a began to speak about the verse we say, "And David said to Gad, I am in great distress; let us fall now into the hand of Hashem, for His mercies are great." Rabbi Berland shlit"a started talking about Kiddush Hashem (sanctifying God's Name), and how one must have mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) for Kiddush Hashem.

Meanwhile, morning dawned, and the Arabs began to gather there for the mosque. Rabbi Berland shlit"a was speaking about how a person needs to sacrifice himself like an offering upon the altar. Yehoshua was trembling with fear—he had small children at home, and Rabbi Berland shlit"a was talking about Kiddush Hashem!

"But behold, a wonder," Yehoshua said. "It was as if the Arabs didn't see us at all; they didn't even look in our direction. After they finished their prayers, Rabbi Berland shlit"a approached the Sheikh and began speaking with him in front of everyone. I was shaking like a leaf. After a few minutes, I rubbed my eyes in disbelief—Rabbi Berland shlit"a took the Sheikh and the Arabs and started dancing with them! He called me over to join the dance. I joined in, having no other choice, and Rabbi Berland shlit"a danced with them for about fifteen minutes. Afterward, we returned to Jerusalem."