טובה הארץ אשר ה’ אלוקינו נותן לנו (דברים א:כה)

In the winter of 1933, when Hitler ym’’s took over the German Government, the oppression of the Yidden began.   Before Pesach, Reb Berish Ortner zt’’l was sent with a group of askanim to Poland to request that the Polish government intervene with the Germans on their behalf.  

When they arrived in Poland, R’ Berish traveled to Maran Reb Aharon of Belz zt’’l, who gave him various letters to askanim with connections to the Polish government and wished him hatzlacha in his endeavor.

R’ Berish remained in Belz from  Pesach until after Lag B’Omer.  Seeing that the circumstances were worsening day by day, he wanted to discuss with Maran leaving Germany and obtain Maran’s agreement to move to Eretz Yisroel. 

On Lag B’Omer, R’ Berish bid farewell to Maran, and Maran told him to move to Eretz Yisroel and to settle in the biggest city there.  Maran escorted him to the entrance of his home, saying, “If a Yid is traveling to Eretz Yisroel, one needs to escort him!”  Of course, a large group of chassidim joined the escort for R’ Berish.