"And I Will Dwell Among the Children of Israel" • Shabbat Parshat Tetzaveh

Also this Shabbat - Parshat Tetzaveh, 15th of Adar I - Shushan Purim Katan 5784, we merited an uplifting Shabbat in the shadow of our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days). Here is the full report:

On Erev Shabbat Kodesh (Friday afternoon), the Rav went out for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer at 5:05 PM and began singing "Or Zarua" (Light is sown for the righteous) for about 13 minutes, followed by the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of Mincha, the Seder HaHisksherus (order of spiritual connection) was recited according to the version composed by our teacher, the Rav shlit"a. Afterward, the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the service welcoming the Sabbath) with "Lechu Neranena" and all the psalms. "Lecha Dodi" lasted about forty-three minutes, sung together with our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, and the public with incomparable vitality and enthusiasm. The Rav then continued the prayer as usual, Maariv (the evening prayer) with all the melodies. Before entering his home, he said the Friday night Zemiros (songs) according to his holy custom. At the end of two and a half hours of the Shabbat night prayer, he returned to his holy home at 7:30 PM.

On Shabbat morning, the Rav shlit"a entered for prayer at 5:22 AM, slightly later than usual. The Shacharit (morning) prayer lasted over two and a half hours, starting from Tikkun Chatzot (the Midnight Lament) and the morning Zemiros, Korbanot (sacrificial readings), and Pesukei D'Zimra (verses of praise) with great vitality. All the melodies were sung with enthusiasm. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (the standing prayer) at 7:05 AM. After the conclusion of the Chazarat HaShatz (repetition of the prayer by the cantor), the Rav shlit"a began the Kriyat HaTorah (Torah reading), which lasted about forty minutes, as about twenty people—celebrants and those observing a yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing)—were called up to the Torah one after another. For Maftir (the final Torah portion), the Bar Mitzvah boy, the Rav's great-grandson Nachman, son of Rabbi Avraham Zucker shlit"a, was called up. He will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah this week and read the Haftarah (portion from the Prophets), "You, son of man, describe the Temple to the House of Israel..." in a clear and pleasant voice.

Upon the conclusion of Yekum Purkan and the singing of "Zera Chaya VeKayama" (living and enduring offspring) for about 5 minutes, the Rav stood for the Musaf (additional) prayer at 7:10 AM. After the Musaf prayer, the Rav shlit"a continued the service as usual, from "Kaveh el Hashem" until after "Adon Olam" and "Anim Zemirot." At the conclusion of the prayer, the Rav began the ten psalms of the Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification) with a melody and great vitality. After the Tikkun HaKlali, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, made Kiddush (sanctification over wine) and delivered a lesson of about two minutes, speaking about the greatness of the day—Shushan Purim Katan. He cited the words of Rabbi Yossi in the Gemara (Megillah 6b) that this is the "true Purim," and said that one can accomplish all necessary salvations on this day. At 8:45 AM, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, entered his holy home after nearly three and a half hours of Shacharit, Torah reading, Musaf, Tikkun HaKlali, and the lesson.

At 5:22 PM, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, entered for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer of the Holy Shabbat. What was unique this Shabbat was that as soon as the Rav entered, he immediately said Kaddish, followed by the Torah reading for Parshat Tetzaveh with three people called up, and then the Shemoneh Esrei. At the conclusion of the Mincha prayer, the Rav shlit"a went down to his room to wash his hands for the third meal. Two minutes later, he entered to conduct the "Tish" (holy table) of Seudah Shlishit (the third meal). For several minutes, the Rav shlit"a distributed Shirayim (remnants of the meal) consisting of fruits and sweets. He then began the Zemiros of the third meal according to his holy custom for about twenty minutes, after which he sang "Yah Ribon" for about thirty-five minutes. At the end of the singing, the Rav shlit"a led the Grace After Meals over a cup of wine and began delivering the weekly lesson from the book "Pela Yoetz" regarding the topic of "Awakening from Human Holiness" for about five minutes. Moving from one subject to another, he spoke about Serach bat Asher, who sang "Joseph is still alive," and the Rav sang with the public for about a minute. After the lesson, the Rav began the Maariv (evening) prayer of Motzaei Shabbat (the conclusion of Shabbat) with singing and melodies. After Maariv, the Rav performed Havdalah (the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) with the singing of "LaYehudim Hayta Ora..." (The Jews had light...). The atmosphere of Purim was strongly felt as the Rav prolonged this song for about ten minutes (!). After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah—this is the meal of David, the King Mashiach. They sang all the Zemiros with special vitality and pleasantness. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson from the holy book "Chayei Moharan." After the songs and the Grace After Meals, he entered his holy home at 8:20 PM, after two and a half hours that we merited to be together with him. In total, we merited about eight hours and forty minutes in the holy shadow of the Rav during Shabbat Tetzaveh, Shushan Purim Katan, Adar I, 5784.

Shavua Tov (a good week) and a Happy Purim Katan to all the House of Israel!