Wedding Celebration of Rav Berland’s Grandson

In the city of Torah and Chassidut, Beit Shemesh, a wedding celebration was held for the grandson of Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit”a. The groom was Yaakov, the youngest son of Rav Nachman Berland shlit”a, together with the bride, the daughter Rav Yosef Zucker shlit”a, the baal toke’a in the kloiz on Rosh Hashanah.

The wedding celebration took place with the participation of Moreinu HaRav shlit”a, on Wednesday night of parashah “Ki Yikach Ish Ishah – When a man takes a wife,” on the eleventh day of the month of mercy and forgiveness (Elul), in the “HaKeremim” Event Hall in the city of Beit Shemesh. Thousands of chassidim and members of our community from across Israel streamed in to partake in the celebration of the house of the Tzaddik. Close to chatzot, the entire crowd watched and waited anxiously for his holy appearance. A little after 1:00 AM, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a arrived directly from his holy home. The entire hall trembled with excitement as the Rav shlit”a stepped in with his majestic holiness. The voice of the multitude burst forth in mighty song: “Kol Rinah V’Yeshuah B’Ohalei Tzaddikim.” The Rav broke into dance, full of strength, leaping and rejoicing with all his might, with the joy of a rare mitzvah. The singing intensified, and the entire crowd was swept away along with him – not out of personal joy, but out of attachment to the Tzaddik of the generation, whose joy is the joy of all of Am Yisrael. In every movement of his, one could sense wondrous holiness: his head lifted upward, his face radiating light, his whole being cleaving to the Living God. The dancing continued for a long time, as all eyes of the crowd were fixed upon him, breathing his every motion. The Tzaddik’s joy filled the hall and ignited a holy fire in the hearts of all present. Among the highlights of the evening was the appearance of the “Cossacks” troupe, with a dance full of strength and enthusiasm before the holy presence. After them entered a group of young avreichim dressed in white kittels for the “Seven Beggars” dance, from “Sippurei Ma’asiyot” of Rebbe Nachman, each one bearing his unique “defect.” The dance uplifted the hearts of the people and worked many salvations. Later on, the “Revival of the Dead” dance was also performed – the holy custom which Moreinu HaRav shlit”a has often expounded, that through the joy of a groom and bride it is literally possible to revive the dead. The Rav’s attendant, Rav Dov Zucker, arranged the event, and at the Rav’s instruction, the holy shtreimel was placed upon the head of the “dead man,” who then rose to life and began to dance in the joy of the bride and groom, to the sound of joyous shouts, as the entire crowd was filled with trembling of holiness and gladness. At close to 2:15 AM, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a arose from his place to the singing of “Or Zarua LaTzaddik,” which accompanied him with song and niggunim until his return to his home in a royal procession, close to 3:00 in the morning.